XXXVII. Let muniter's prelate ever be accurst, In whom we feek the German faith in vain : Alas, that he should teach the English first, That fraud and avarice in the church could reign! XXXVIII. Happy, who never trust a stranger's will, Whole friendship's in his intereft understood! Since money given but tempts him to be ill, When power is too remote to make him good. ΧΧΧΙΧ. Till now, alone the mighty nations strove; The reft, at gaze, without the lifts did stand; And threatening France, plac'd like a painted Jove, Kept idle thunder in his lifted hand. XL. That eunuch guardian of rich Holland's trade, Who envies us what he wants power t'enjoy ; Whole noifeful valour does no foe invade, And weak affistance will his friends destroy. XLI. Offended that we fought without his leave, XLII. With France, to aid the Dutch, the Danes unite: France as their tyrant, Denmark as their flave. But when with one three nations join to fight, They filently confefs that one more brave. XLIII. Lewis had chas'd the English from his shore ; XLIV. Were fubjects fo but only by their choice, And not from birth did forc'd dominion take, Our prince alone would have the public voice; And all his neighbours realms would deferts make. XLV. He without fear a dangerous war pursues, Which without rashness he began before : As honour made him firft the danger chufe, So ftill he makes it good on virtue's score. XLVI. The doubled charge his fubjects love fupplies, Who in that bounty to themselves are kind! So glad Egyptians fee their Nilus rise, And in his plenty their abundance find. XLVII. With equal power he does two chiefs create, alone; Each able to fustain a nation's fate, Since both had found a greater in their own. XLVIII. Bath great in courage, conduct, and in fame, Yet neither envious of the other's praise; Their duty, faith, and intereft too the fame, Like mighty partners equally they raife. XLIX. The prince long time had courted fortune's love, But once poffefs'd did abfolutely reign: Thus with their Amazons the heroes ftrove, And conquer'd first those beauties they would gain. L. The duke beheld, like Scipio, with difdain, To fright those flaves with what they felt before. LI. Together to the watery camp they haste, LII With them no riotous pomp, nor Asian train, To infect a navy with their gaudy fears; To make flow fights, and victories but vain : But war feverely like itfelf appears. LIII. Diffufive of themselves, where'er they pass, LIV. Our fleet divides, and straight the Dutch appear, LV. The Duke, lefs numerous, but in courage more, LVI. Both furl their fails, and ftrip them for the fight; Their folded fheets difmifs the useless air: Th' Elean plains could boaft no nobler fight, When struggling champions did their bodies bare. LVII. Borne each by other in a diftant line, The fea-built forts in dreadful order move: So vast the noife, as if not fleets did join, But lands unfix'd, and floating nations ftrove. LVIII. Now pafs'd, on either fide they nimbly tack; Both ftrive to intercept and guide the wind: And, in its eye, more closely they come back, To finish all the deaths they left behind. LIX. On high-rais'd decks the haughty Belgians ride, LX. And as the built, fo different is the fight; Stung with her love, the stoops upon the plain, CIX. With fuch kind paffion haites the prince to fight, And spreads his flying canvafs to the found: Him, whom no danger were he there could fright, Now abfent every little noife can wound. cx. ; As in a drought the thirsty creatures cry, CXI. With fuch glad hearts did our despai: iug men Salute th' appearance of the prince's fleet; And cach ambitiously would claim the ken, That with firft eyes did diftant fafety meet. |