Page:Songs compleat, pleasant and divertive (Wit and mirth or, Pills to purge melancholy).djvu/376

  The change of Ministry late order'd here,
Was fated sure for this Auspicious Year;
That you Predestin'd at a glorious hour,
To be chief Judge of Legislative Power:
Might by your Skill that Royal right asserts,
Like Heaven reconcile the Jarring parts;
Nor shines your Influence Sir, here alone, }
The Church must your unequal'd Prudence own, }
Firm to support the Cause, but rough to none: }
Eusebia's Sons in Law divine profest,
May learn from you, how Truth should be exprest;
Whither in Modest Terms, like Balm, to heal,
Or raving Notions falsly counted Zeal.
Oh sacred Gift in vulgar matters great,
But in Religious Tracts divinely sweet;
Which ancient Bagington can witness well,
And the rich Library before it fell:
Your Rural Hours amongst wise Authors past,
Your Soul with their unvalued Wealth possest;
And well may he to heights of Knowledge come,
Who learning Pantheon, always kept at home:
Thus once Sir you were blest, and sure the Fiend,
That first Intail'd a Curse on humankind;
A second Time a dire unequall'd Cross,
Design'd the Publick, by your private loss:
Oh who had seen that love to learning bore,
The Matchless Authors of the Days of Yore,
The Fathers, Prelates, Poets, Books where Arts
Renown'd, Explain'd the Men of rarest Parts:
Shrink'd up their shrivell'd Bindings, scorch their Names,
And yield Immortal worth to Temporary Flames:
That would not Sigh to see the Ruins there,
Or wish to quench them with a falling Tear:
  But as in Story where we Wonders view,
As there were Flames, there was a Phænixnix?] too;
An Excellence from the burnt Pile did rise,
That still atton'd for past Calamities:
So my Prophetick Genius—In its height,
Viewing your Merit, Sir, foretels your Fate;