Four Pastoral Eclogues IV

Sicilian Muse begin a loftier Flight, Not all in Trees and lowly Shrubs delight: Or if your Rural Shades you still pursue, Make your Shades fit for able Statesmens view.

The time is come, by antient Bards foretold, Restoring the Saturnian Age of Gold: The Vile, Degen'rate, Whiggish Offspring ends, A High-Church Progeny from Heaven descends.

O Learned Oxford, spare no Sacred Pains To Nurse the glorious Breed, now thy own Bromley reigns.

And thou Great Scarsdale, Darling of this Land, Do'st foremost in that fam'd Commission stand; Whose deep Remarks the list'ning World admires, By whose auspicious Care old Ranelagh expires. Your mighty Genius no strict Rules can bind; You punish Men for Crimes, which you want time to find.

Senates shall now like Holy Synods be, And Holy Synods Senate-like agree. Monmouth and Mostyn here instruct the Youth, There Binckes and Kimberley maintain the Sacred Truth. Powis and Hamlin here with equal Claim, Thro' wide West-Saxon Realms extend their Fame; There Birch and Hooper Right Divine convey, Nor treat their Bishops in a Human way.

Now all our Factions, all our Fears shall cease, And Tories rule the promis'd Land in Peace. Malice shall die, and noxious Poisons fail, Harley shall cease to trick, and Seymour cease to rail: The Lambs shall with the Lions walk unhurt, And Halifax and Howe meet civilly at Court. Viceroys, like Providence, with distant Care, Shall govern Kingdoms where they ne'er appear: Pacifick Admirals, to save the Fleet, Shall fly from Conquest, and shall Conquest meet: Commanders shall be prais'd at William's Cost, And Honour be retriev'd before tis lost. Brereton and Burnaby the Court shall grace, And Howe shall not disdain to share a Place. Forgotten Molineux and Mason now Revive and shine again in Fox and Howe.

But as they stronger grow and mend their Strain, By choice Examples of King Charles's Reign; Bold Bellasis and Patriot D'Av'nant then, One shall employ the Sword, and one the Pen: Troops shall be led to plunder, not to fight, The Tool of Faction shall to Peace invite, And Foes to Union be imploy'd the Kingdoms to Unite.

Yet still some Whigs among the Peers are found, Like Brambles flourishing in barren Ground. Somers maliciously imploys his Care To make the Lords the Legislature share. Burnet declares how French Dragooning rose, And Bishops Persecuting Bills oppose: Till Rochester's cool Temper shall be fir'd, And North's and Nottingham's strong Reasonings be admir'd.

But when due Time their Counsels shall mature, And fresh Removes have made the Game secure; When Somerset and Devonshire give Place To Wyndham's Bradford, and to Richmond's Grace, Both Converts great; when Justice is refin'd, And Corporations garbled to their Mind, Then Passive Doctrines shall with Glory rise, Before them hated Moderation flies, And Antichristian Toleration dies. Granville shall seize the long expected Chair, Godolphin to some Country-Seat repair; Pembroke from all Employments be debarr'd, And Marlborow, for antient Crimes, receive his just Reward.

France, that this happy Change so wisely has begun, Shall bless the great Design, and bid it smoothly run. Come on, young James's Friends, this is the Time, come on; Receive just Honours, and surround the Throne. Boldly your Loyal Principles maintain, Hedges now rules the State, and Rooke the Main. Grimes is at Hand the Members to Reward, And Troops are trusted to your own Gerhard. The faithful Club assembles at the Vine, And French Intrigues are broach'd o'er English Wine. Freely the Senate the Design proclaims, Affronting Wyndham, and applauding James. Good antient Members with a solemn Face, Propose that Safety give to Order place; And what they dare not openly dissuade, Is by Expedients ineffectual made. E'en Finch and Mulgrave, whom the Court caress, Exalt its Praises, but its Power depress; And that Impartial Justice may be seen, Confirm to Friends what they refus'd the Queen. Bishops who most advanc'd Good James's Cause In Church and State, now reap deserv'd Applause: While those who rather made the Tow'r their Choice, Are stil'd Unchristian by the Nation's Voice. Avow'dly now St. David's Cause they own, And James's Votes for Simony atone. Archbishop Ken shall from Long-Leat be drawn, While firm Nonjurors from behind stand crouding for the Lawn. And thou, Great Weymouth, to reward thy Charge, Shalt Sail to Lambeth in his Grace's Barge.

See by base Rebels James the Just betray'd, See his Three Realms by vile Usurpers sway'd; Then see with Joy his lawful Heir restor'd, And erring Nations own their injur'd Lord.

O would kind Heaven so long my Life maintain, Inspiring Raptures worthy such a Reign! Not Thracian-Saint-John should with me contend, Nor my sweet Lays harmonious Hammond mend: Not tho' young D'Av'nant, Saint John should protect, Or the shrewd Doctor, Hammond's Lines correct. Nay, should Tredenham in St. Mawes compare his Songs to mine; Tredenham, tho' St. Mawes were Judge, his Laurel should resign.

Prepare, Auspicious Youth, thy Friends to meet; Sir George already has prepar'd the Fleet. Should Rival Neptune (who with envious Mind In times of Danger still this Chief confin'd) Now send the Gout, the Hero to disgrace, Honest George Churchill may supply his Place.