ON THE BRITISH PRINCES.
105
5 For as all warlike Nations take delight
To hear how brave their Ancestors could fight,
You have advanc'd to wonder their Renown,
And no less virtuously improv'd your own.
For 'twill be doubted, whether you do write,
10 Or they have acted at a nobler hight.
You of their ancient Princes have retriev'd
More than the Ages knew, in which they liv'd;
Describ'd their Customs, and their Rites anew,
Better than all their Druids ever knew:
15 Unriddled their dark Oracles, as well,
As those themselves, that made them, could foretell.
For as the Britons long have hop'd in vain,
Arthur would come to govern them again;
You have fulfill'd that Prophecy alone,
20 And in this Poem plac'd him on his Throne.
Such magic Pow'r has your prodigious Pen,
Toraise the Dead, and give new Life to Men.
To hear how brave their Ancestors could fight,
You have advanc'd to wonder their Renown,
And no less virtuously improv'd your own.
For 'twill be doubted, whether you do write,
10 Or they have acted at a nobler hight.
You of their ancient Princes have retriev'd
More than the Ages knew, in which they liv'd;
Describ'd their Customs, and their Rites anew,
Better than all their Druids ever knew:
15 Unriddled their dark Oracles, as well,
As those themselves, that made them, could foretell.
For as the Britons long have hop'd in vain,
Arthur would come to govern them again;
You have fulfill'd that Prophecy alone,
20 And in this Poem plac'd him on his Throne.
Such magic Pow'r has your prodigious Pen,
Toraise the Dead, and give new Life to Men.
to every distinguishing Reader; and that it is Butler's is no less clear, not only from the Manner, but also by its being found among his other Manuscripts accompanied by the Palinodie which follows it; but to make the Matter still more demonstrable, I must add, that I find several of the Lines and Thoughts in his common-place Collection.
Those Readers who have a mind to be satisfied of the Justness of our Poet's Satyr, are referred to Mr. Howard's Poem called the British Princes.
