7

Stay'd not behind, nor in the grave were trod; But, as Faith pointed with her golden rod, Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever. Love led them on, and Faith, who knew them best Thy handmaids, clad them o'er with purple beams And azure wings, that up they flew so drest, And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams.

XV. TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX.* FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings,

Filling each mouth with envy or with praise, And all her jealous monarchs with amaze And rumours loud, that daunt remotest kings, Thy firm unshaken virtue ever brings Victory home, though new rebellions raise

5

Their Hydra heads, and the false North displays Her broken league to imp their serpent wings. O yet a nobler task awaits thy hand,

9

(For what can war, but endless war still breed?) Till truth and right from violence be freed, And public faith clear'd from the shameful brand Of public fraud. In vain doth valour bleed, While avarice and rapine share the land.

XVI. TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL.*

CROMWELL, Our chief of men, who through a cloud Not of war only, but detractions rude,

Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, Topeace and truth thy glorious way hast plough'd,

こ

And on the neck of crowned fortune proud

8

their] So the MS.: before 'her.' Todd.

10 This and the following lines were thus in the printed copies :

For what can war, but acts of war still breed,

Till injured truth from violence be freed,

And public faith be rescued from the brand. Newton.

* See Hollis's Memoirs, p. 511.

1 who, &c.] In the printed copy thus :

that through a crowd

Not of war only, but distractions rude.

But a cloud of war' is a classical expression. Virg. Æn. x. 809.

'Nubem belli.' Newton.

5 This and the following line were contracted in the printed copies of Phillips, Toland, Tonson, Tickell, and Fenton, into • And fought God's battles, and his works pursued.'

VOL. III.

P

Warton.

Hast rear'dGod's trophies, and his work pursued, While Darwen stream with blood of Scots imbrued,

And Dunbar field resounds thy praises loud, And Worcester's laureat wreath. Yet much remains

10

To conquer still; peace hath her victories No less renown'd than war: new foes arise Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains: Help us to save free conscience from the paw Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw.

XVII. TO SIR HENRY VANE THE YOUNGER.*

VANE, young in years, but in sage counsel old,
Than whom a better senator ne'er held
The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms re-
The fierce Epirot and the African bold, [pell'd

5

Whether to settle peace, or to unfold
The drift of hollow states hard to be spell'd,
Then to advise how war may best upheld
Move by her two main nerves, iron and gold
In all her equipage: besides to know
Both spiritual pow'r and civil, what each means,
What severs each, thou hast learn'd, which few
have done:

The bounds of either sword to thee we owe:
Therefore on thy firm hand Religion leans
In peace, and reckons thee her eldest son.

XVIII. ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN
PIEMONT.

11

AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones

Lie scatter'd on the Alpine mountains cold; Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones,

5

Forget not: in thy book record their groans Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold

Slain by the bloody Piemontese that roll'd Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans

9

The vales redoubled to the hills, and they
To Heav'n. Their matyr'd blood and ashes sow
O'er all th' Italian fields, where still doth sway
The triple tyrant; that from these may grow
A hundred fold, who having learn'd thy way
Early may fly the Babylonian woe.

XIX. ON HIS BLINDNESS.

WHEN I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide,
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more

To serve therewith my Maker, and present [bent
My true account, lest he returning chide;
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied,"
I fondly ask: But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best: his
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, [state
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

10 man's work, or his own gifts] Free will, or grace.

13 post] P. L. iv. 171,

• With a vengeance sent,

Warburton.

From Media post to Egypt. Warton.