Annus Mirabilis

IN thriving Arts long time had Holland grown, Crouching at home, and cruel when abroad: Scarce leaving us the means to claim our own; Our King they courted, and our merchants aw'd.

Trade, which, like Blood should circularly flow, Stopp'd in their Chanels, found its freedom lost: Thither the Wealth of all the World did go, And seem'd but Shipwrack'd on so base a Coast.

Already we have conquer'd half the War, And the less dang'rous part is left behind: Our Trouble now is but to make them dare, And not so great to Vanquish as to Find.

Thus to the Eastern wealth through Storms we go, But now, the Cape once doubled, fear no more: A constant Trade-wind will securely blow, And gently lay us on the Spicy shore.