The Poetical Works of John Dryden Volume I Part 3

Heaven would no bargain for its blessings drive, But what we could not pay for, freely give.

The Prince of peace would like himself confer A gift unhoped, without the price of war: 140 Yet, as he knew his blessing's worth, took care, That we should know it by repeated prayer; Which storm'd the skies, and ravish'd Charles from thence, As heaven itself is took by violence.

Booth's[23] forward valour only served to show He durst that duty pay we all did owe.

The attempt was fair; but Heaven's prefixed hour Not come: so like the watchful traveller, That by the moon's mistaken light did rise, Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes. 150 'Twas Monk whom Providence design'd to loose Those real bonds false freedom did impose.

The blessed saints that watch'd this turning scene, Did from their stars with joyful wonder lean, To see small clues draw vastest weights along, Not in their bulk, but in their order, strong.

Thus pencils can by one slight touch restore Smiles to that changed face that wept before.

With ease such fond chimeras we pursue, As fancy frames for fancy to subdue: 160 But when ourselves to action we betake, It shuns the mint like gold that chemists make.

How hard was then his task! at once to be, What in the body natural we see!

Man's Architect distinctly did ordain The charge of muscles, nerves, and of the brain, Through viewless conduits spirits to dispense; The springs of motion from the seat of sense.

'Twas not the hasty product of a day, But the well-ripen'd fruit of wise delay. 170 He, like a patient angler, ere he strook, Would let him play a while upon the hook.

Our healthful food the stomach labours thus, At first embracing what it straight doth crush.

Wise leeches will not vain receipts obtrude, While growing pains p.r.o.nounce the humours crude: Deaf to complaints, they wait upon the ill, Till some safe crisis authorise their skill.

Nor could his acts too close a vizard wear, To 'scape their eyes whom guilt had taught to fear, 180 And guard with caution that polluted nest, Whence Legion twice before was dispossess'd: Once sacred house; which, when they enter'd in, They thought the place could sanctify a sin; Like those that vainly hoped kind Heaven would wink, While to excess on martyrs' tombs they drink.

And as devouter Turks first warn their souls To part, before they taste forbidden bowls: So these, when their black crimes they went about, First timely charm'd their useless conscience out. 190 Religion's name against itself was made; The shadow served the substance to invade: Like zealous missions, they did care pretend Of souls in show, but made the gold their end.

The incensed powers beheld with scorn from high An heaven so far distant from the sky, Which durst, with horses' hoofs that beat the ground, And martial bra.s.s, belie the thunder's sound.

'Twas hence at length just vengeance thought it fit To speed their ruin by their impious wit. 200 Thus Sforza, cursed with a too fertile brain, Lost by his wiles the power his wit did gain.

Henceforth their fougue[24] must spend at lesser rate, Than in its flames to wrap a nation's fate.

Suffer'd to live, they are like helots set, A virtuous shame within us to beget.

For by example most we sinn'd before, And gla.s.s-like clearness mix'd with frailty bore.

But, since reform'd by what we did amiss, We by our sufferings learn to prize our bliss: 210 Like early lovers, whose unpractised hearts Were long the May-game of malicious arts, When once they find their jealousies were vain, With double heat renew their fires again.

'Twas this produced the joy that hurried o'er Such swarms of English to the neighbouring sh.o.r.e, To fetch that prize, by which Batavia made So rich amends for our impoverish'd trade.

Oh! had you seen from Schevelin's[25] barren sh.o.r.e, (Crowded with troops, and barren now no more,) 220 Afflicted Holland to his farewell bring True sorrow, Holland to regret a king!

While waiting him his royal fleet did ride, And willing winds to their lower'd sails denied.

The wavering streamers, flags, and standard out, The merry seamen's rude but cheerful shout: And last the cannon's voice, that shook the skies, And as it fares in sudden ecstasies, At once bereft us both of ears and eyes.

The Naseby,[26] now no longer England's shame, 230 But better to be lost in Charles' name, (Like some unequal bride in n.o.bler sheets) Receives her lord: the joyful London meets The princely York, himself alone a freight; The Swiftsure groans beneath great Gloster's[27] weight: Secure as when the halcyon breeds, with these, He that was born to drown might cross the seas.

Heaven could not own a Providence, and take The wealth three nations ventured at a stake.

The same indulgence Charles' voyage bless'd, 240 Which in his right had miracles confess'd.

The winds that never moderation knew, Afraid to blow too much, too faintly blew; Or, out of breath with joy, could not enlarge Their straighten'd lungs, or conscious of their charge.

The British Amphitrite, smooth and clear, In richer azure never did appear; Proud her returning prince to entertain With the submitted fasces of the main.

And welcome now, great monarch, to your own! 250 Behold the approaching cliffs of Albion: It is no longer motion cheats your view, As you meet it, the land approacheth you.

The land returns, and, in the white it wears, The marks of penitence and sorrow bears.

But you, whose goodness your descent doth show, Your heavenly parentage and earthly too; By that same mildness, which your father's crown Before did ravish, shall secure your own.

Not tied to rules of policy, you find 260 Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind.

Thus, when the Almighty would to Moses give A sight of all he could behold and live; A voice before his entry did proclaim Long-suffering, goodness, mercy, in his name.

Your power to justice doth submit your cause, Your goodness only is above the laws; Whose rigid letter, while p.r.o.nounced by you, Is softer made. So winds that tempests brew, When through Arabian groves they take their flight, 270 Made wanton with rich odours, lose their spite.

And as those lees, that trouble it, refine The agitated soul of generous wine; So tears of joy, for your returning spilt, Work out, and expiate our former guilt.

Methinks I see those crowds on Dover's strand, Who, in their haste to welcome you to land, Choked up the beach with their still growing store, And made a wilder torrent on the sh.o.r.e: While, spurr'd with eager thoughts of past delight, 280 Those, who had seen you, court a second sight; Preventing still your steps, and making haste To meet you often wheresoe'er you past.

How shall I speak of that triumphant day, When you renew'd the expiring pomp of May![28]

(A month that owns an interest in your name: You and the flowers are its peculiar claim.) That star[29] that at your birth shone out so bright, It stain'd the duller sun's meridian light, Did once again its potent fires renew, 290 Guiding our eyes to find and wors.h.i.+p you.

And now Time's whiter series is begun, Which in soft centuries shall smoothly run: Those clouds, that overcast your morn, shall fly, Dispell'd to farthest corners of the sky.

Our nation with united interest blest, Not now content to poise, shall sway the rest.

Abroad your empire shall no limits know, But, like the sea, in boundless circles flow.

Your much-loved fleet shall, with a wide command, 300 Besiege the petty monarchs of the land: And as old Time his offspring swallow'd down, Our ocean in its depths all seas shall drown.

Their wealthy trade from pirates' rapine free, Our merchants shall no more adventurers be: Nor in the farthest East those dangers fear, Which humble Holland must dissemble here.

Spain to your gift alone her Indies owes; For what the powerful takes not, he bestows: And France, that did an exile's presence fear, 310 May justly apprehend you still too near.

At home the hateful names of parties cease, And factious souls are wearied into peace.

The discontented now are only they Whose crimes before did your just cause betray: Of those, your edicts some reclaim from sin, But most your life and blest example win.

Oh, happy prince! whom Heaven hath taught the way, By paying vows to have more vows to pay!

Oh, happy age! oh times like those alone, 320 By fate reserved for great Augustus' throne!

When the joint growth of arms and arts foreshow The world a monarch, and that monarch you.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 16: 'Ambitious Swede:' Charles X., named also Gustavus, nephew to the great Gustavus Adolphus.]

[Footnote 17: 'Iberian bride:' the Infanta of Spain was betrothed to Louis XIV.]

[Footnote 18: 'Otho:' see Juvenal.]

[Footnote 19: 'Galba:' Roman emperor, who adopted Piso.]

[Footnote 20: 'Famous grandsire:' Charles II. was grandson by the mother's side to Henry IV. of France.]

[Footnote 21: 'With alga,' &c. : these lines refer to the ceremonies used by such heathens as escaped from s.h.i.+pwreck. _Alga marina_, or sea-weed, was strewed about the altar, and a lamb sacrificed to the winds.]

[Footnote 22: 'Portumnus:' Palaemon, or Melicerta, G.o.d of s.h.i.+pwrecked mariners.]

[Footnote 23: 'Booth's:' Sir George Booth, an unsuccessful and premature warrior on the Royal side in 1659.]

[Footnote 24: 'Fougue:' a French word used for the fire and spirit of a horse.]

[Footnote 25: 'Schevelin:' a village about a mile from the Hague, at which Charles II. embarked for England.]

[Footnote 26: 'Naseby:' the s.h.i.+p in which Charles II. returned from exile.]

[Footnote 27: 'Great Gloster:' Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of Charles I., landed at Dover with his brother in 1660, and died of the smallpox soon afterwards.]

[Footnote 28: Charles entered London on the 29th of May.]

[Footnote 29: 'Star:' said to have shone on the day of Charles' birth, and outshone the sun.]

TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY.

A PANEGYRIC ON HIS CORONATION.

In that wild deluge where the world was drown'd, When life and sin one common tomb had found, The first small prospect of a rising hill With various notes of joy the ark did fill: Yet when that flood in its own depths was drown'd, It left behind it false and slippery ground; And the more solemn pomp was still deferr'd, Till new-born nature in fresh looks appear'd.

Thus, Royal Sir, to see you landed here, Was cause enough of triumph for a year: 10 Nor would your care those glorious joys repeat, Till they at once might be secure and great: Till your kind beams, by their continued stay, Had warm'd the ground, and call'd the damps away, Such vapours, while your powerful influence dries, Then soonest vanish when they highest rise.

Had greater haste these sacred rites prepared, Some guilty months had in your triumphs shared: But this untainted year is all your own; Your glories may without our crimes be shown. 20 We had not yet exhausted all our store, When you refresh'd our joys by adding more: As Heaven, of old, dispensed celestial dew, You gave us manna, and still give us new.

Now our sad ruins are removed from sight, The season too comes fraught with new delight: Time seems not now beneath his years to stoop, Nor do his wings with sickly feathers droop: Soft western winds waft o'er the gaudy spring, And open'd scenes of flowers and blossoms bring, 30 To grace this happy day, while you appear, Not king of us alone, but of the year.

All eyes you draw, and with the eyes the heart: Of your own pomp, yourself the greatest part: Loud shouts the nation's happiness proclaim, And Heaven this day is feasted with your name.