Pyrrhus pursues him, now o'ertakes, now kills, He blush'd, when I the rights of arms implored; This said, his feeble arm a jav'lin flung, Which on the sounding shield, scarce ent'ring, rung. Under so vast a ruin, not a grave, Nor in such flames a fun'ral fire to have: He whom such titles swell'd, such power made proud, To whom the sceptres of all Asia bow'd, On the cold earth lies th' unregarded king, A headless carcase, and a nameless thing. 522 530 540 ON THE EARL OF STRAFFORD'S TRIAL AND DEATH. GREAT Strafford! worthy of that name, though all As chemists gold from brass by fire would draw, Three kingdoms' wonder, and three kingdoms' fear; Such was his force of eloquence, to make The hearers more concern'd than he that spake; He's not too guilty, but too wise, to live; Less seem those facts which treason's nickname bore, Than such a fear'd ability for more. They after death their fears of him express, His innocence and their own guilt confess. Enacting it should make no precedent. This fate he could have 'scaped, but would not lose Death from their fears, than safety from his own, That his last action all the rest might crown. 10 20 30 ON MY LORD CROFT'S AND MY JOURNEY INTO POLAND, FROM WHENCE WE BROUGHT £10,000 FOR HIS MAJESTY, BY THE DECIMATION OF HIS SCOTTISH SUBJECTS THERE. 1 Toll, toll, Gentle bell, for the soul Of the pure ones in Pole, Which are damn'd in our scroll. 2 Who having felt a touch 3 That when we did arrive, 'Gainst the stream we did strive; 4 Nor lend An ear to a friend, Nor an answer would send To our letter so well penn'd; 5 Nor assist our affairs With their moneys nor their wares, 6 Thus they did persist Did and said what they list, 7 For when It was moved there and then, 8 And because they are loth They must give word and oath, 9 Thus the constitution Condemns them every one, 10 But John (Our friend) Mollesson 11 Like the prophets of yore, 12 And with that wicked lie, A letter they came by From our King's majesty. 13 But fate Brought the letter too late, To relieve their damn'd state. 14 The letter's to be seen, 15 But he that gave the hint, 16 That trick, Had it come in the nick, 17 Had it later been wrote, 18 On Sandys they ran aground, ON MR THOMAS KILLIGREW'S RETURN FROM VENICE, AND MR WILLIAM MURREY'S FROM SCOTLAND. 1 OUR resident Tom, From Venice is come, And hath left the statesman behind him; Talks at the same pitch, Is as wise, is as rich; And just where you left him, you find him. |