Directions to a painter for describing our naval business in imitation of Mr. Waller / being the last works of Sir Iohn Denham ; whereunto is annexed, Clarindons house-warming, by an unknown author.

TO THE KING.

By Sir JOHN DENHAM.

IMperial Prince! King of the Seas and Isles! Dear Object of our Ioy, and Heavens smiles! What boots it that thy Light doth gild our days, A••d we lie basking in thy milder Rays; While swarms of Insects, from thy warmth begun, Our Land devour, and intercept our Sun? Thou, like Ioves Minos, rul'st a greater Creet; And for its hundred Cities, count'st thy Fleet. Why wilt thou that state-Daedalus allow, Who builds the Bull, a Labrinth and a Cow? If thou art Minos, be a Iudge severe, And in's own Maze confine the Engineer▪

O may our Sun, since he too nigh presumes, Melt the soft Wax wherewith he imps his plumes! And may he falling leave his hated Name Vnto those Seas his War hath set on flame From that Inchanter having clear'd thine Eyes, Thy native sight will peirce within the Skies, And view those Kingdoms calm with Ioy and Light, Where's Vniversal Triumph, but no Fight. Since both from Heav'n thy Race and Pow'r descend, Rule by its pattern there to reascend. Let Iustice onely awe, and Battel cease: Kings are but Cards in War, they're Gods in Peace▪