of whom the younger Pliny speaks; Nec sunt parum multi, qui carpere amicos suos judicium vocant; I am rather too secure of you on that side. Your candor in pardoning my Errors may make you more remiss in correcting them; if you will not withal consider that they come into the world with your approbation, and through your hands. I beg from you the greatest favour you can confer upon an absent person, since I repose upon your management what is dearest to me, my Fame and Reputation; and, therefore, I hope it will stir you up to make my Poem fairer by many of your blots. If not, you know the story of the Gamster who married the rich Man's Daughter and, when her Father denied the Portion, Christened all the Children by his Sirname, that, if in conclusion they must beg, they should do so by one Name as well 10 as by the other. But since the reproach of my faults will light on you, 'tis but reason I should do you that justice to the Readers to let them know, that, if there be anything tolerable in this Poem, they owe the Argument to your choice, the Writing to your encouragement, the Correction to your judgment, and the Care of it to your friendship, to which he must ever acknowledge himself to owe all things, who is, Sir, IN thriving Arts long time had Holland | For them alone the Heav'ns had kindly heat; In Eastern Quarries ripening precious Dew: Thus, mighty in her Ships, stood Carthage The Loss and Gain each fatally were great; long, And still his Subjects call'd aloud for War: And swept the Riches of the world from far, | But peaceful Kings, o're martial people set, Yet stoop'd to Rome, less wealthy, but more | Each other's poize and counter-ballance are. strong: And this may prove our second Punick War. 6 What peace can be, where both to one pretend? (But they more diligent, and we more strong) Or if a peace, it soon must have an end; 13 He, first, survey'd the Charge with careful eyes, Which none but mighty Monarchs could maintain ; Yet judg'd, like vapours that from Limbecks rise, For they would grow too pow'rful were it It would in richer showers descend again. / long. 10 Whether they unctuous Exhalations are, This saw our King; and long within his Which loses footing when to Mortals shown. breast His pensive counsels ballanc'd too and fro; He griev'd the Land he freed should be oppress'd, And he less for it than Usurpers do. II His gen'rous mind the fair Ideas drew cth' Iberian. The Spaniard. Let Munsters Prelate ever be accurst, Lewis had chas'd the English from his shore; But Charles the French as Subjects does invite: In whom we seck the German Faith in Would Heav'n for each some Solomon restore, Who, by their mercy, may decide their right.. vain : 46 The doubled charge his Subjects love supplies, Who, in that bounty, to themselves are kind: 47 53 Diffusive of themselves, where e're they pass, They make that warmth in others they expect ; Their Valour works like Bodies on a glass, And does its Image on their men project. 54 With equal pow'r he does two Chiefs create, Our Fleet divides, and straight the Dutch Two such, as each seem'd worthiest when alone; Each able to sustain a Nations fate, appear, In number, and a fam'd Com Prince Rupert and mander, bold: Duke Albemarl sent The Narrow Seas can scarce Duke of Albemarl's Battel, first day. their Navy bear Since both had found a greater to sea. in their own. 48 Or crowded Vessels can their Soldiers hold. 55 Both great in Courage, Conduct and in The Duke, less numerous, but in Courage Fame, |