Page:The Works of Abraham Cowley - volume 1 (ed. Aikin) (1806).djvu/243

We now the question well decided see,
Which eastern Wits did once contest,
At the great Monarch's feast,
"Of all on earth what things the strongest be?"
And some for women, some for wine, did plead;
That is, for Folly and for Rage,
Two things which we have known indeed
Strong in this latter age;
But, as 't is prov'd by Heaven, at length,
The King and Truth have greatest strength,
When they their sacred force unite,
And twine into one right:
No frantick commonwealths or tyrannies;
No cheats, and perjuries, and lyes;
No nets of human policies;
No stores of arms or gold (though you could join
Those of Peru to the great London mine);
No towns; no fleets by sea, or troops by land;
No deeply-entrench'd islands, can withstand,
Or any small resistance bring
Against the naked Truth and the unarmed King.

The foolish lights which travellers beguile
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$End the same night when they begin;
No art so far can upon nature win
As e'er to put-out stars, or long keep meteors in.
Where's now that Ignus fatuus, which ere-while
Misled our wandering isle?
Where's the impostor Cromwell gone?
Where's now that Falling-star, his son?