ON THE EARL OF BALCARRES.
109
Whom, in the storms of bad success,
And all that Error calls unhappiness,
His virtue and his virtuous wife did still accompany!
And all that Error calls unhappiness,
His virtue and his virtuous wife did still accompany!
With these companions 't was not strange
That nothing could his temper change.
His own and country's union had not weight
Enough to crush his mighty mind!
He saw around the hurricanes of state,
Fixt as an island 'gainst the waves and wind.
Thus far the greedy sea may reach;
All outward things are but the beach;
A great man's soul it doth assault in vain!
Their God himself the ocean doth restrain
With an imperceptible chain,
And bid it to go back again.
His wisdom, justice, and his piety,
His courage both to suffer and to die,
His virtues, and his lady too,
Were things celestial. And we see,
In spite of quarrelling philosophy,
How in this case 't is certain found,
That Heav'n stands still, and only earth goes round.
That nothing could his temper change.
His own and country's union had not weight
Enough to crush his mighty mind!
He saw around the hurricanes of state,
Fixt as an island 'gainst the waves and wind.
Thus far the greedy sea may reach;
All outward things are but the beach;
A great man's soul it doth assault in vain!
Their God himself the ocean doth restrain
With an imperceptible chain,
And bid it to go back again.
His wisdom, justice, and his piety,
His courage both to suffer and to die,
His virtues, and his lady too,
Were things celestial. And we see,
In spite of quarrelling philosophy,
How in this case 't is certain found,
That Heav'n stands still, and only earth goes round.
