How on his royal bed that woeful day
The much-lamented mighty monarch lay ;
Great in his fate, and ev'n o'er that a king,
No terror could the Lord of Terrors bring.
Through many fteady and well-manag'd years
He'd arm'd his mind 'gainft all thofe little fears,
Which common mortals want the power to hide,
When their mean fouls and valued clay divide.
He'd study'd well the worth of life, and knew
Its troubles many, and its bleffings few:
Therefore unmov'd did Death's approaches fee,
And grew familiar with his deftiny;
Like an acquaintance entertain'd his fate,
Who, as it knew him, feem'd content to wait,
Not as his gaoler, but his friendly guide,
While he for his great journey did provide.
Oh couldst thou exprefs the yearnings of his mind
To his poor mourning people left behind!
But that I fear will ev'n thy fkill deceive,
None but a foul like his fuch goodness could conceive.
For though a ftubborn race deserving ill,
Yet would he fhew himself a father ftill.
Therefore he chofe for that peculiar care,
His crown's, his virtue's, and his mercy's heir.
Great James, who to his throne does now fucceed,
And charg'd him tenderly his flocks to feed';
To guide them too, too apt to run aftray,
And keep the foxes and the wolves away.
Here, painter, if thou canft, thy art improve,
And fhew the wonders of fraternal love;
How mourning James by fading Charles did ftand,
The dying grafping the furviving hand;
How round each other's necks their arms they cast, 490
Moan'd with endearing murmurings, and embrac'd;
And of their parting pangs fuch marks did give,
'Twas hard to guess which yet could longest live.
Both their fad tongues quite loft the power to speak,
And their kind hearts feem'd both prepar'd to break. 495
Here let thy curious pencil next display,
How round his bed a beauteous offspring lay,
With their great father's bleffing to be crown'd,
Like young fierce lions ftretch'd upon the ground,
And in majestic filent forrow drown'd.
This done, fuppofe the ghaftly minute nigh,
And paint the griefs of the fad ftanders-by;
Th' unweary'd reverend father's pious care,
Offering (as oft as tears could stop) a prayer.
Of kindred nobles draw a forrowing train,
Whose looks may speak how much they shar'd his pain; How from each groan of his, deriving smart,
Each fetch'd another from a tortur'd heart.
Mingled with these, his faithful fervants place,
With different lines of woe in every face;
With downcaft heads, fwoln breafts, and streaming eyes,
And fighs that mount in vain the unrelenting skies.
But yet there ftill remains a task behind,
In which thy readiest art may labour find.
At distance let the mourning queen appear,
(But where fad news too foon may reach her ear;)
Defcribe her proftrate to the throne above,
Pleading with prayer the tender cause of love:
Shew troops of angels hovering from the fky
(For they, whene'er she call'd, were always nigh); 520
Let them, attend her cries and hear her moan,
With looks of beauteous fadnefs like her own,
Because they know her lord's great doom is feal d,
And, cannot (though she asks it) be repeal'd.
By this time think the work of Fate is done,
So any farther fad defcription fhun.
Shew him not pale and breathless on his bed,
'Twould make all gazers on thy art fall dead;
And thou thyfelf to fuch a scene of woe
Add a new piece, and thy own statue grow.
Wipe therefore all thy pencils, and prepare
To draw a profpect now of clearer air.
Paint in an eaftern fky new dawning day,
And there the embryos of time difplay;
The forms of many finiling years to come,
Just ripe for birth, and labouring from their womb;
Each ftruggling which shall eldership obtain,
To be firft grac'd with mighty James's reign.
Let the dread monarch on his throne appear,
Place too the charming partner of it there.
O'er his their wings let Fame and Triumph spread,
And foft-ey'd Cupids hover o'er her head;
In his, paint fmiling, yet majestic grace,
But all the wealth of beauty in her face.
Then from the different corners of the earth
Defcribe applauding nations coming forth,
Homage to pay, or humble peace to gain,
And own aufpicious omens from his reign.
Set at long diftance his contracted foes
Shrinking from what they dare not now oppose;
Draw fhame.or mean despair in all their eyes,
And terror left th' avenging hand should rise.
But where his fmiles extend, draw beauteous peace,
The poor man's chearful toils, the rich man's ease;"
Here, fhepherds piping to their feeding sheep,
Or ftretch'd at length in their warm huts afleep;
There jolly hinds spread through the fultry fields,
Reaping fuch harvefts as their tillage yields;
Or thelter'd from the fcorchings of the fun,
Their labours ended, and repast begun ;
Rang'd on green banks, which they themselves did raise,
Singing their own content, and ruler's praise.
Draw beauteous meadows, gardens, groves, and bowers,
Where Contemplation beft may pass her hours:
Fill'd with chafte lovers plighting conftant hearts, 565
Rejoicing Mufes, and encourag'd Arts.
5 Draw every thing like this that thought can frame,
Beft fuiting with thy theme, great James's fame. Known for the man who from his youthful years, By mighty deeds has earn'd the crown he wears; Whofe conquering arm far-envy'd wonders wrought, When an ungrateful people's caufe he fought; When for their rights he his brave fword employ'd, Who in return would have his rights deftroy'd: But heaven fuch injur'd merit did regard 2 (As heaven in time true virtue will reward);
So to a throne by Providence he rose,
And all who e'er were his, were Providence's foes.
O! would your pity give my heart
One corner of your breast,
"Twould learn of yours the winning art,
And quickly fteal the rest.
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