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GONDIBERT,
24.
Thou Hermegild, who art for valour Crown'd,
For honour trusted, and for wisdom heard;
And you whom Counsel has no less renown'd,
Observe how virtue against peace has err'd.
Thou Hermegild, who art for valour Crown'd,
For honour trusted, and for wisdom heard;
And you whom Counsel has no less renown'd,
Observe how virtue against peace has err'd.
25.
Still I have fought, as if in Beauty's sight,
Out-suffer'd patience, bred in Captives Breasts;
Taught fasts, till Bodies like our Souls grew light;
Out-watch'd the jealous, and out-labour'd Beasts.
Still I have fought, as if in Beauty's sight,
Out-suffer'd patience, bred in Captives Breasts;
Taught fasts, till Bodies like our Souls grew light;
Out-watch'd the jealous, and out-labour'd Beasts.
26.
These were my merits, my reward is Pow'r;
An outward Trifle, bought with inward peace;
Got in an Age, and rifled in an hour;
When feav'rish love, the People's Fit, shall cease.
These were my merits, my reward is Pow'r;
An outward Trifle, bought with inward peace;
Got in an Age, and rifled in an hour;
When feav'rish love, the People's Fit, shall cease.
27.
For did not Pow'r on their frail love depend,
Prince Oswald had not treated with that love;
Whose glory did in hastie darkness end;
A spark which vanish'd, as it upward strove.
For did not Pow'r on their frail love depend,
Prince Oswald had not treated with that love;
Whose glory did in hastie darkness end;
A spark which vanish'd, as it upward strove.
28.
By scorn of dangers and of ease, he sought
The Lombards hearts, my Rhodalind, and Crown;
And much his youth had by his practice wrought,
Had Gondibert not levell'd his renown:
By scorn of dangers and of ease, he sought
The Lombards hearts, my Rhodalind, and Crown;
And much his youth had by his practice wrought,
Had Gondibert not levell'd his renown:
29.
Had Gondibert not staid the Peoples Eyes
(Whose virtue stept 'twixt Oswald and their sight)
Who knows but Rhodalind had been his Prise,
Or war must have secur'd Paternal right.
Had Gondibert not staid the Peoples Eyes
(Whose virtue stept 'twixt Oswald and their sight)
Who knows but Rhodalind had been his Prise,
Or war must have secur'd Paternal right.
30.
Sad and uneasie is a long-kept Throne;
Not that the People think long pow'r unjust,
But that for change, they wish best Monarchs gone;
Fond change, the People's soon repented lust!
Sad and uneasie is a long-kept Throne;
Not that the People think long pow'r unjust,
But that for change, they wish best Monarchs gone;
Fond change, the People's soon repented lust!
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