We saw the event that followed our success ; France, though pretending arms, pursued the peace, What twenty years of war had won before. Thus Hannibal, with foreign laurels won, To Carthage was recalled, too late to keep his own. A patriot both the king and country serves, Of each our laws the certain limit show; The barriers of the State on either hand: May neither overflow, for then they drown the land. Such was your generous grandsire, free to grant1 In parliaments that weighed their Prince's want : 1 Your generous grandsire; Sir Erasmus Dryden, who was likewise the poet's grandfather. He was imprisoned under Charles I for refusing to contribute to the general loan in 1626, But so tenacious of the common cause O true descendant of a patriot line, Who, while thou sharest their lustre, lend'st them thine, 'Tis so far good as it resembles thee. The beauties to the original I owe, Which when I miss, my own defects I show. One to perform, another to record. Praiseworthy actions are by thee embraced; For even when death dissolves our human frame, VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS1. Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, From sin and sorrow set us free, Our hearts with heavenly love inspire; 1 This paraphrase of the Latin hymn popularly attributed to Charlemagne was first printed in Tonson's folio edition of Dryden's Poems, 1701. Come, and thy sacred unction bring To sanctify us, while we sing. Plenteous of grace, descend from high, Rich in thy sevenfold energy! Thou strength of his Almighty hand, mm Whose power does heaven and earth command. Who dost the gift of tongues dispense, Make us eternal truths receive, Eternal Paraclete, to thee! J |