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Secular Poetry.

PART IV.

Jurea Grana.

1641-1661.

Note.

As in the Sacred Poetry (in Vol. I.) I have brought together in the following pages such scattered pieces as have been traced by me. The sources for each is given

in relative foot-note.

As our edition includes the complete Prose Works as well as Verse, and so the whole of the translated quotations (usually brief) I have not deemed it needful to repeat these except in the few cases where their length and value seemed to require that they should find separate place among the Poetry e. g. in the prose of "Olor Iscanus" and elsewhere, there are couplets and other short bits which it is not worth-while repeating in the Verse. But as with Bishop (Jeremy) Taylor's verse-renderings I believe Aurea Grana' will be accepted as a not exaggerate title for these fugitive pieces, which have nearly all the gleam if not the weight of gold-grains, albeit there is bare sand enough also. G.

Aurea Grana.

I.

TO CHARLES I. ON HIS RETURN
FROM SCOTLAND.1

S kings doe rule like th' heavens, who

dispense

To parts remote and neare, their influence; So doth our CHARLES move also; while he posts From South to North, and back to southerne coasts. Like to the starry orbe, which in it's round Move's to those very poynts; but while 'tis bound For North, there is-some guesse-a trembling

fitt

And shivering in the part that's opposite.

What were our feares and pantings, what dire fame

Eucharistica Oxoniensia

1 From In Caroli Regis nostri e Scotia reditum gratulatoria. (Oxoniæ. 1641). See our Memorial-Introduction pp xxxvi-vii. Another set of Verses signed as above with the addition 'Soc.' are shewn by the Soe' not to have been by the Silurist, who never was a Fellow of any College. G.

Hear'd we of Irish tumults, sword, and flame! Which now we thinke but blessings, as being sent

Only as matter, whereupon 'twas mean't,

The Brittish thus united might expresse,
The strength of joynèd Powers to suppresse,

Or conquer foes; this is great Brittaine's blisse;

The island in it selfe a just world is,

Here no commotion shall we find or feare,
But of the Court's removeall, no sad teare

Or clowdy brow, but when you leave vs, then
Discord is loyalty professed, when

Nations do strive, which shall the happier bee
T'enjoy your bounteous ray's of majestie.
Which yet you throw in undivided dart :
For things divine allow no share or part.
The same kind vertue doth at once disclose,
The beauty of their thistle, and our rose.
Thus you doe mingle soules and firmely knitt,
What were but joyn'd before; you Scots-men fitt
Closely with vs, and reuniter prove,

You fetch'd the crowne before, and now their love.
H. Vaughan. Ies. Col.

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