Poems, viz. 1. A panegyrick to the king. 2. Songs and sonnets. 3. The blind lady, a comedy. 4. The fourth book of Virgil, 5. Statius his Achilleis, with annotations. 6. A panegyrick to Generall Monck. / By the Honorable Sr Robert Howard.

A PANEGYRICK to Generall MONCK.

'TIs not your pow'r, that has inspir'd my muse, T'were mean to praise that which you scorn to use. 'Tis that above the reach of pow'r in you I praise, Victorious over Conquest too.

Yet you more truly glorious will appear, To dispose Scepters, than you could to wear. For ravish'r Crowns are still another's due, But thus bestow'd, they are all ow'd to you. How much your Debtour is our Nation grown, People their freedome owe, the Prince his Throne. Brought from his barbarous exile to be Crown'd, And practice mercy that he never found. So when the Trojan Prince was almost lost In Storms, among ungentle billows tost, Displeased Neptune from the surges rose; And storms of frowns among the tempests throws.

At which the waves no longer durst aspire, But to obedient calmnesse all retire.

At your approach, phanatique storms so shrink, And factious waves to seeming quiet sink. That Wave which to the vastest swelling rose, Found destiny in attempting to oppose. Under your weight and principles they sunk, And his unto your brighter Genius shrunk.

So common fires seem to be undone At the victorious shining of the Sun. He too that hated King's, just fate designes Should stoop to one sprung from a Prince's loins. Yet little does your birth share with your deeds, Your Godlike acts, your Princely ••ace exceeds. Whilst you despise those long prevailing charms Of pow'r, ready with its open arms.

So holy men, in heavenly firmnesse staid, Refus'd those honor's others would have paid; T'was such a Temper only could have brought, That which we strongly hop't, and weakly sought. Such conquests as to mighty minds are due, Sought your embraces; whilst alone for you So clearly victory it selfe declar'd, That neither common sword, nor fortune shar'd. Whilst we amaz'd your perfect conquest find, Wrought only by your conduct and your mind. Their pow'r and fates that you before you saw, Did not excite your thoughts, nor could they awe:

You took no measure from their fates or them, Whilst pow'r and danger you alike contemn; For their ambitions were not your designes, You did not fear their fates, but fear'd their crimes.

Yet by degrees you mov'd, as after Night The Sun begins to shew the World its light. At whose approach, darknesse its place resignes, And though it seems to move not, yet it shines.

So softly you began to spread your beams, Through all our factions dark in all extreams. And though at first, you scarce a motion show'd, Yet early glory from your actions flow'd. May you still shine, as now at your full height, Till you to greater glory passe through fate. You that a KING a Scepter gave to sway, And taught rebellious Subjects to obey;

FINIS.

Notes

• Aeneas so described by Virg. lib. 1.
• La••∣bert.