Poems, &c. written upon several occasions, and to several persons by Edmond Waller.

To my Lord of Falkland.

BRave Holland leads, & with him Falkland goes: Who hears this told, and does not straight sup∣pose We send the Graces and the Muses forth, To Civilize, and to instruct the North? Not that these ornaments make swords less sharp; Apollo bears as well his Bow as Harp; And though he be the Patron of that Spring, Where in calm peace the Sac••ed Virgins sing, He courage had to guard th'invaded Throne Of Love, and cast th'ambitious ••iants down. Ah (noble Friend) with what impatience all That know thy worth, and know how prodigal Of thy great Soul thou art, longing to twist Bays with that Ivy, which so early kist▪ 〈…〉〈…〉

Thy youthful Temples, with what horror we Think on the blind events of war and thee? To Fate exposing that all-knowing breast, Among the throng as cheaply as the rest: Where Oaks and Brambles (if the Cops be burn•••• Confounded lie to the same Ashes turn'd. Some happy wind over the Ocean blow This Tempest yet, which frights our Island so▪ Guarded with Ships, and all the Sea our own, From Heaven this mischief on our heads is thrown. In a late Dream the Genius of this Land, Amaz'd, I saw, like the fair Hebrew stand, When first she felt the Twins begin to jar, And found her womb the feat of Civil War: Inclin'd to whose relief, and with presage Of better for••un•• for the present age, Heav'n sends, quoth I, this discord for our good, To warm, perhaps, but not to waste our bloud,

To raise our drooping spirits, grown the scorn Of our proud neighbours, who ere long shall mourn, (Though now they joy in our expected harms) We had occasion to resume our Arms. A Lion so with self provoking smart, His rebel tail scourging his Nobler part, Calls up his courage, then begins to roar, And charge his foes, who thought him mad before.