Volume Ii Part 6 (1/2)
And he, when want requires, is truly wise, Who slights not foreign aids, nor over-buys; But on our native strength, in time of need, relies.
Munster was bought, we boast not the success; 140 Who fights for gain, for greater makes his peace.
Our foes, compell'd by need, have peace embraced: The peace both parties want, is like to last: Which, if secure, securely we may trade; Or, not secure, should never have been made.
Safe in ourselves, while on ourselves we stand, The sea is ours, and that defends the land.
Be then the naval stores the nation's care, New s.h.i.+ps to build, and batter'd to repair.
Observe the war, in every annual course; 150 What has been done, was done with British force: Namur subdued,[30] is England's palm alone; The rest besieged, but we constrain'd the town; We saw the event that follow'd our success; France, though pretending arms, pursued the peace; Obliged, by one sole treaty,[31] to restore What twenty years of war had won before.
Enough for Europe has our Albion fought: Let us enjoy the peace our blood has bought.
When once the Persian king was put to flight, 160 The weary Macedons refused to fight: Themselves their own mortality confess'd: And left the son of Jove to quarrel for the rest.
Even victors are by victories undone; Thus Hannibal, with foreign laurels won, To Carthage was recall'd, too late to keep his own.
While sore of battle, while our wounds are green, Why should we tempt the doubtful die again?
In wars renew'd, uncertain of success; Sure of a share, as umpires of the peace. 170
A patriot both the king and country serves: Prerogative and privilege preserves: Of each our laws the certain limit show; One must not ebb, nor the other overflow: Betwixt the prince and parliament we stand; The barriers of the state on either hand: May neither overflow, for then they drown the land.
When both are full, they feed our bless'd abode; Like those that water'd once the paradise of G.o.d.
Some overpoise of sway, by turns, they share; 180 In peace the people, and the prince in war: Consuls of moderate power in calms were made; When the Gauls came, one sole dictator sway'd.
Patriots, in peace, a.s.sert the people's right; With n.o.ble stubbornness resisting might: No lawless mandates from the court receive, Nor lend by force, but in a body give.
Such was your generous grandsire; free to grant In parliaments, that weigh'd their prince's want:
But so tenacious of the common cause, 190 As not to lend the king against his laws; And, in a loathsome dungeon doom'd to lie, In bonds retain'd his birthright liberty, And shamed oppression, till it set him free.
O true descendant of a patriot line, Who, while thou shar'st their l.u.s.tre, lend'st them thine!
Vouchsafe this picture of thy soul to see; 'Tis so far good, as it resembles thee: The beauties to the original I owe; Which when I miss, my own defects I show: 200 Nor think the kindred Muses thy disgrace: A poet is not born in every race.
Two of a house few ages can afford; One to perform, another to record.
Praiseworthy actions are by thee embraced; And 'tis my praise, to make thy praises last.
For even when death dissolves our human frame, The soul returns to heaven from whence it came; Earth keeps the body--verse preserves the fame.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 24: 'John Dryden:' this poem was written in 1699; the person to whom it is addressed was cousin-german to the poet, and a younger brother of the baronet. He repaid this poem by a 'n.o.ble present' to his kinsman.]
[Footnote 25: 'Rebecca's heir:' he inherited his mother's fortune.]
[Footnote 26: 'Gibbons:' Dr Gibbons, physician.]
[Footnote 27: 'Maurus:' Sir Richard Blackmore.]
[Footnote 28: 'Milbourn:' the foe of Dryden's 'Virgil,' and a clergyman.]
[Footnote 29: 'Garth:' author of 'The Dispensary.']
[Footnote 30: 'Namur subdued:' in 1695, King William took Namur, after a siege of one month.]
[Footnote 31: 'Treaty:' the treaty of Ryswick, concluded in September 1697.]
EPISTLE XIV.[32]