A collection of the choicest epigrams and characters of Richard Flecknoe being rather a new work, then [sic] a new impression of the old.
Flecknoe, Richard, d. 1678?
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THE POURTRAIT OF HIS MAJESTY, Made a little before HIS Happy Restauration.
KIngs like the Sun in their full Majesties,
Are too resplendant bright for subjects eies;
But when ecclips'd, then every one can see
Without that splendor, what their persons be.
In which conjuncture, whosoe'er has seen
This Sun of ours, may well affirm of Him,
His Person's such, as He for that alone
(His Birth away) deserves the Royal Throne.
Such Majesty there's in it, and such Grace,
Both awing and delighting in His Face;
Without those Kingly Robes adorn the Throne,
He shews more King, than those who have them on.
His Stature's tall, and of the comeliest make,
His Vizage oval, His Hair thick and black;
In ample Curls on's Shoulders falling down,
Adorning more His Head, than any Crown.
His Eyes are lively, full of flame and sprit,
And of that colour most delights the sight.
Page [unnumbered]Royal and largely Featur'd all the rest,
Shewing the largness of H•s Royal Brest.
Then for His Exercise's, He in all
The noblest Gallants, and most Martial,
Even the most exc lent so far excels,
He's King in them, as He's in all things else;
And who'd be absolute in every thing,
As well as Birth and Power, shou'd be a King:
Nor shall you e'er in any person find,
A greater strength of Body, nor of Mind;
Which with long travel H'as improved so,
He know's what ere befits a Prince to know.
Not learn'd o'th' dead, but of the World and Men,
Those Living Authors, and H'as studied them;
So as each Nations Wisdom He does know,
And each one's Language to express it too.
Whence He compar'd to other Princes, sit
Dully at home, and nothing know but it;
Seems just like some huge Gallion does come,
From farthest Indies, richly laden home;
Compar'd to some poor Hoy or Bylander,
Who never farther than their own Coasts were,
And never none to Fortune more did ow,
Than to Misfortune He for being so.
For Moral Vertues then, H'as every one
In their full height and exaltation.
Justice not clouded with Severity,
Nor Temperance, with sower Austerity.
And ne'er in none more Courage was, nor more
Wisdom and Prudence with less vanity, nor
Page [unnumbered]With lesser Artifice, th•n or's Passions He
Commands so absolutely and Sov'raignly;
As shews Him King over Himself, as well
As other Men, nor does He less excell,
In Civil Vertues, which adorn no less,
The Royal Throne, as Mildness, Gentleness,
Obligingness and Debonarity,
With such a winning affability,
He more does conquer with a gentle word,
Than ever any conquer•d by the Sword.
Mean time He is so chearful and so gay,
None from His presence e'er went sad away;
Nor yet cou'd all His troubles, nor His cares,
Render Him less gay and chearful, which declares
His Mind's above them all, and H'as within
Him, somewhat higher than His being King.
Just like the highest Region of the Air,
Where never Storms nor Tempests can repair.
For Your more noble Courtly Vertues then,
In which Kings too shou'd excel other Men;
As far as Courts do other Houses, He
Appears in every one to excellency.
Dances so admirably, as your Eye
As well as Ears are charm'd with Harmony;
Knows Musick, Poetry, Gallantry, and Wit,
And none knows better how to judge of it.
And as He is a King 'mong Courtiers, so
'Mong Ladies he's both King and Courtier too.
How happy are His Subjects then, t'have one
For King, Heaven seems to have chosen Him alone
Page [unnumbered]To make them happy? One, they need but pray,
That as H'as born Adversity, He may
But bear Prosperity as well, and then
As still H'as been, He'll be the best of Men.
One finally, in whom y'united find,
Besides His Birth, His Person, and His Mind.
All that which found in others one by one,
Raise them to heighth of Admiration.
The Wise, the Valiant, the Majestical,
The Mild, the Gallant, and the King in all.
More glorious are His sufferings then, and more
Injurious Fortune, persecutes Him for
His Royal Birth alone, who had He been
Born private Man, deserves to be a King.
Such is her ignorant blindness does not know
His eminent worth, whom she disfavors so.
Who'd find, if she had eyes, and cou'd but see,
None e'er deserv'd her favor more than He.
