XV. To the Lord General FAIRFAX. Fairfax, whofe name in arms through Europe rings, Thy firm unfhaken virtue ever brings Their Hydra heads, and the false North displays O yet a nobler task awaits thy hand, 5 (For what can war, but endless war still breed?) 10 Till truth and right from violence be freed, And public faith clear'd from the shameful brand XVI. To the Lord General CROMWELL. Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud Guided by faith and matchlefs fortitude, To peace and truth thy glorious way haft plough'd, And on the neck of crowned fortune proud Haft rear'd God's trophies, and his work pursued, While Darwen stream with blood of Scots imbrued, And Dunbar field resounds thy praises loud, 5 And And Worcester's laureat wreath. Yet much remains To conquer ftill; peace hath her victories XVII. To Sir HENRY VANE the younger, Vane, young in years, but in fage counsel old, Than whom a better fenator ne'er held 10 The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms repell'd' The fierce Epirot and the African bold, Whether to fettle peace, or to unfold The drift of hollow ftates hard to be spell'd Then to advise how war may best upheld In all her equipage: befides to know 5. Both fpiritual pow'r and civil, what each means, 10 What fevers each, thou haft learn'd, which few have done : The bounds of either fword to thee we owe : XVIII. On the late maffacre in Piemont. of old, Avenge, O Lord, thy flaughter'd faints, whofe bones Their moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they 5 To Heav'n. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow 10 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 confider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, To ferve therewith my Maker, and prefent That That murmur, foon replies, God doth not need And poft o'er land and ocean without reft; XX. To Mr. LAWRENCE. Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous fon, On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire ΤΟ 5 10 XXI. To CYRIAC SKINNER *. Cyriac, whofe grandfire on the royal bench And what the Swede intends, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know S Toward folid good what leads the nearest way; 10 For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And difapproves that care, though wife in show: That with fuperfluous burden loads the day, And, when God fends a chearful hour, refrains. XXII. To the fame. Cyriac, this three years day these eyes, though clear, * Son of William Skinner, Efq; and grandson of Sir Vincent Skinner; and his mother was Bridget, one of the daughters of the famous Sir Edward Coke Lord Chief Juftice of the King's Bench. of |