He deems that proof a measure to the rest,
Concluding well within his kingly breast,
His fowls of nature too unjustly were opprest.
He therefore makes all birds of

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every sect
Free of his farm, with promise to respect
Their several kinds alike, and equally protect.
His gracious edict the same franchise yields
To all the wild increase of woods and fields,
And who in rocks aloof, and who in steeples builds:
To Crows the like impartial grace affords,
And Choughs and Daws, and such republic birds:
Secur'd with ample privilege to feed,

Each has his district, and his bounds decreed:
Combin'd in common interest with his own,
But not to pass the Pigeons' Rubicon.

Here ends the reign of this pretended Dove;
All prophecies accomplish'd from above,
For Shiloh comes the sceptre to remove.
Reduc'd from her imperial high abode,
Like Dionysius to a private rod,

The Passive Church, that with pretended grace
Did her distinctive mark in duty place,

Now touch'd, reviles her Maker to his face
What after happen'd is not hard to guess:
The small beginnings had a large increase,
And arts and wealth succeed (the secret spoils of

peace.)

'Tis said, the Doves repented, though too late, Become the smiths of their own foolish fate:

Nor did their owner hasten their ill hour;

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But, sunk in credit, they decreas'd in power:
Like snows in warmth that mildly pass away,
Dissolving in the silence of decay.

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The Buzzard, not content with equal place, Invites the feather'd Nimrods of his race; To hide the thinness of their flock from sight, And all together make a seeming goodly flight: But each have separate interests of their own; Two Czars are one too many for a throne. Nor can the usurper long abstain from food; Already he has tasted Pigeons' blood: And may be tempted to his former fare, When this indulgent lord shall late to heaven repair. [come, Bare benting times, and moulting months may When, lagging late, they cannot reach their home; Or rent in schism (for so their fate decrees) Like the tumultuous college of the bees, They fight their quarrel, by themselves opprest; The tyrant smiles below, and waits the falling feast. Thus did the gentle Hind her fable end, Nor would the Panther blame it, nor commend; But, with affected yawnings at the close, Seem'd to require her natural repose: For now the streaky light began to peep; And setting stars admonish'd both to sleep. The dame withdrew, and, wishing to her guest The peace of heaven, betook herself to rest. 2590 Ten thousand angels on her slumbers wait, With glorious visions of her future state.

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2585

BRITANNIA REDIVIVA;

A POEM ON THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE, BORN ON THE TENTH OF JUNE, 1688.

Dii Patrii Indigetes, et Romule, Vestaque Mater,
Quæ Tuscum Tiberim, et Romana Palatia servas,
Hunc saltem everso Puerum succurrere sæclo
Ne prohibete satis jampridem sanguine nostro
Laomedontææ luimus Perjuria Trojæ.

VIRG. GEORG. I.

OUR Vows are heard betimes! and Heaven takes

care

To grant, before we can conclude the

prayer:

Preventing angels met it half the way,
And sent us back to praise, who came to pray.
Just on the day, when the high-mounted sun 5
Did farthest in his northern progress run,
He bended forward, and e'en stretch'd the sphere
Beyond the limits of the lengthen'd year,

To view a brighter sun in Britain born;
That was the business of his longest morn;
The glorious object seen, 'twas time to turn.
Departing Spring could only stay to shed
Her bloomy beauties on the genial bed,
But left the manly Summer in her stead,

10

With timely fruit the longing land to cheer,
And to fulfil the promise of the year.

Betwixt two seasons comes the auspicious heir, This age to blossom, and the next to bear.

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30

*Last solemn sabbath saw the Church attend; The Paraclete in fiery pomp descend; But when his wondrous + octave roll'd again, He brought a royal infant in his train. So great a blessing to so good a king None but the Eternal Comforter could bring. Or did the mighty Trinity conspire, As once, in council to create our sire? It seems as if they sent the new-born guest To wait on the procession of their feast; And on their sacred anniverse decreed To stamp their image on the promis'd seed. Three realms united, and on one bestow'd, An emblem of their mystic union show'd: The Mighty Trine the triple empire shar'd, As every person would have one to guard. Hail, son of prayers! by holy violence Drawn down from heaven; but long be banish'd And late to thy paternal skies retire : [thence, To mend our crimes whole ages would require; To change the inveterate habit of our sins, And finish what thy godlike sire begins. Kind heaven, to make us Englishmen again, No less can give us than a patriarch's reign. * Whit Sunday. Orig. ed.

Trinity Sunday. Orig. ed.

The sacred cradle to your charge receive,
Ye seraphs, and by turns the guard relieve;
Thy father's angel, and thy father join,
To keep possession, and secure the line;
But long defer the honours of thy fate:
Great may they be like his, like his be late;
That James this running century may view,
And give his son an auspice to the new.

Our wants exact at least that moderate stay:
For see the Dragon* winged on his way,
To watch the travail,+ and devour the prey.
Or, if allusions may not rise so high,
Thus, when Alcides rais'd his infant cry,
The snakes besieg'd his young divinity:

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But vainly with their forked tongues they threat;
For opposition makes a hero great.

To needful succour all the good will run,
And Jove assert the godhead of his son.

O still repining at your present state,
Grudging yourselves the benefits of fate,
Look up, and read in characters of light
A blessing sent you in your own despite.
The manna falls, yet that celestial bread
Like Jews you munch, and murmur while you
May not your fortune be like theirs, exil'd,
Yet forty years to wander in the wild :

Or if it be, may Moses live at least,

To lead you to the verge of promis'd rest.

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feed.

70

Alluding only to the Commonwealth party, here and in

other places of the poem. Orig. ed.

Rev. xii. 4. Orig. ed.