W INDS OR CASTLE,

In a MONUMENT to our late Sovereign King

CHARLES II. of ever blessed Memory.

“ Dum juga montis aper; Auvios dum piscis amabit, “ Dúmque thymo pafcentur apes, dum rore cicadæ ; “ Semper Honos, Nomenque tuum, Laudéfque mane

“6 bunt. * Si canimus sylvas, fylvæ sint Consule dignæ.” VIRG.

To the immortal Fame of our late dread Sovereign

King CHARLES II. of ever blessed Memory; and to the facred Majesty of the most august and mighty Prince JAMES II. now by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. this following Poem is in all humility dedicated by his ever devoted and obedient Subject and Servant,

THO. OTWAY..

THO

HOUGH poets immortality may give,

And Troy does still in Homer's nuinbers live : How dare I touch thy praise, thou glorious frame, Which must be deathless as thy raiser's name :

But

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But that I wanting fame am sure of thine

5 To eternize this humble fong of mine?.. At least the memory of that more than man, From whose yast mind thy glories first began, Shall ev'n my mean and worthless verse commend, For wonders always did his name attend. Though now (alas!). the fad grave he lies, Yet shall his praise for ever live, and laurels from it rise,

Great were the toils attending the command Of an ungrateful and a stiff-neck'd land, Which, grown too wanton, 'cause 'twas over-blest, 15 Would never give its nursing fathe rest; But, having spoild the edge of ill-forg'd law, By rods and axes had been kept in awe ; But that his gracious hand the sceptre held, In all the arts of mildly guiding skill’d; Who saw those engines which unhing'd us move, Griev'd at our follies with a father's love, Knew the vile ways we did t' affli&t him take, And watch'd what hafte we did to ruin make; Yet when upon its brink we seem'd to stand, 25 Lent to our succour a forgiving hand. Though now (alas !) in the sad grave he lies, Yet shall his praise for ever live, and laurels thence arise.

Mercy 's indeed the attribute of heaven, For gods have power to keep the balance even,

30 Which if kings loose, how can they govern

well?
Mercy should pardon, but the sword compel:
Compassion's else a kingdom's greatest harm,
Its warmth engenders rebels till they swarms

And

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And round the throne themselves in tumults spread, 35
To heave the crown from a long-fufferer's head.
By example this that godlike king once knew,
And after, by experience, found too true. :
Under Philistian lords sve long had mourn'd,
When he, our great Deliverer, return’d;.

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But thence the deluge of our tears did cease,
The royal dove thew'd us such marks of peace :
And when this land in blood he might have laid,
Brought balsam for the wounds ourselves had made..
Though now (alas !) in the sad grave he lies, 45
Yet shall his praise for ever live, and laurels from it rise.

Then, matrons bless'd him as he pass'd along,
And triumph echo'd through th' enfranchis’d throng:
On his each hand his royal brothers Thone,
Like two supporters of Great Britain's throne : 50
The first, for deeds of arms, renown’d, as far
As Fame e'er flew to tell great tales of war;
Of nature generous, and of stedfast mind,
To flattery deaf, but ne'er to merit blind,
Resery'd in pleasures, but in dangers bold, 53
Youthful in actions, and in conduct old,
True to his friends, as watchful o'er his foes,
And a just value upon each bestows ;
Slow to condeinn, nor partial to commend,
The brave man's patron, and the wrong'd man's
friend.

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Now justly feated on th' imperial throne,
In which high sphere no brighter ftar e'er shone :

Virtue's

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Virtue's great pattern, and rebellion's dread,
Long may he live to bruise that serpent's head,
Till all his foes their juft confusion meet,
And growl and pine beneath his mighty feet!

The second, for debates in council fit,
Of steady judgment and deep piercing wit ;
To all the noblest heights of learning bred,
Both men and books with curious search had read ; 70
Fathom'd the ancient policies of Greece,
And having form’d from all one curious piece,
Learnt thence what springs best move and guide a state,
And could with ease direct the heavy weight.
But our then angry fate great Glo'ster seiz’d, 75
And never since seem’d perfectly appeas'd:
For, oh! what pity, people bless’d as we
With plenty, peace, and noble liberty,
Should so much of our old disease retain,
To make us surfeit into slaves again!

So Slaves to those tyrant lords whose yoke we bore, And serv'd so base a bondage to before ; Vet ’twas our curse, that blessings flowd too fast, Or we had appetites too coarse to taste. Fond Israelites, our manna to refuse, And Egypt's loathsome fleth-pots murmuring chufe. Great Charles saw this, yet hulh'd his rising breast, Though much the lion in his bosom prest : But he for sway seem'd so by nature made, That his own passions knew him, and obey'd : 90 Master of them, he soften'd his command, The fword of rule scarce threaten'd in his hand :

Stern

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тоо

Stern majesty upon his brow might fit,
But smiles, ftill playing round it, made it sweet :
So finely mix’d, had Nature dar'd tafford 95
One least perfection more, h’ had been ador'd.
Merciful, just, good-natur’d, liberal, brave,
Witty, and pleasure's friend, yet not her slave :
The paths of life by noblest methods trod ;
Of mortal mold. but in his mind a god.
Though now (alas !) in the fad grave he lies,
Yet shall his praise for ever live, and laurels from it rise.

In this great mind long he his cares revolv'd,
And long it was ere the great mind resolv'd :
Till weariness at last his thoughts compos'd; 105
Peace was the choice, and their debates were clos'd.
But, oh!
Through all this ille, where it seems most design’d,
Nothing so hard as wish’d-for peace to find.
The elements due order here maintain,
And pay their tribute in of warmth and rain :
Cool shades and streams, rich fertile lands abound,
And Nature's bounty flows the seasons round.
But we, a wretched race of men, thus bleft,
Of so much happiness (if known, pofleft) 115
Mistaking every noblest use of life,
Left beauteous Quiet, that kind, tender wife,
For the unwholsome, brawling harlot, Strife.
The man in power, by wild ambition led,
Envy'd all honours on another's head ;
And, to supplant some rival, by his pride
Embroil'd that stare bis wisdom ought to guide.

The

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