Mankind was first created an essay;
That ruder draught the deluge wash'd away.
How many ages pass'd, what blood and toil,
Before we made one kingdom of this isle!
How long in vain had Nature striv'd to frame
A perfect princess ere her Highness came?
For joys so great we must with patience wait;
"Tis the set price of happiness complete.
As a first fruit Heav'n claim'd that lovely boy;
The next shall live, and be the nation's joy.

INSTRUCTIONS TO A PAINTER,

FOR THE DRAWING OF THE POSTURE AND PROGRESS OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES AT SEA, UNDER THE COMMAND OF HIS HIGHNESS-ROYAL; TOGETHER WITH THE BATTLE AND VICTORY OBTAINED OVER THE DUTCH, JUNE S, 1665.

FIRST draw the sea, that portion which between
The greater world and this of ours is seen :
Here place the British, there the Holland fleet,
Vast floating armies! both prepar'd to meet.
Draw the whole world, expecting who should reign,
After this combat, o'er the conquer'd main.
Make Heav'n concern'd, and an unusual star
Declare the' importance of the' approaching war.
Make the sea shine with gallantry, and all
The English youth flock to their Admiral,
The valiant Duke! whose early deeds abroad,
Such rage in fight, and art in conduct show'd:

His bright sword now a dearer interest draws,
His brother's glory, and his country's cause.

Let thy bold pencil hope and courage spread Through the whole navy, by that hero led: Make all appear where such a Prince is by, Resolv'd to conquer, or resolv'd to die. With his extraction and his glorious mind, Make the proud sails swell more than with the wind: Preventing cannon, make his louder fame Check the Batavians, and their fury tame. So hungry wolves, though greedy of their prey, Stop when they find a lion in their way. Make him bestride the ocean, and mankind Ask his consent to use the sea and wind. While his tall ships in the barr'd Channel stand, He grasps the Indies in his armed hand.

Paint an East-wind, and make it blow away The' excuse of Holland for their navy's stay: Make them look pale, and, the bold Prince to shun, Through the cold north and rocky regions run. To find the coast where morning first appears, By the dark pole the wary Belgian steers; Confessing now, he dreads the English more Than all the dangers of a frozen shore; While from our arms, security to find, They fly so far, they leave the day behind. Describe their fleet abandoning the sea, And all their merchants left a wealthy prey : Our first success in war make Bacchus crown, And half the vintage of the year our own. The Dutch their wine, and all their brandy lose, Disarm'd of that from which their courage grows; While the glad English, to relieve their toil, In healths to their great leader drink the spoil.

His high command to Afric's coast extend, And make the Moors before the English bend : Those barbarous pirates willingly receive Conditions such as we are pleas'd to give. Deserted by the Dutch, let nations know We can our own and their great business do ; False friends chastise, and common foes restrain, Which worse than tempests did infest the main.› Within those Streights make Holland's Smyrna fleet With a small squadron of the English meet; Like falcons these, those like a numerous flock Of fowl, which scatter to avoid the shock. There paint Confusion in a various shape; Some sink, some yield; and, flying, some escape. Europe and Africa, from either shore, Spectators are, and hear our cannon roar; While the divided world in this agree, Men that fight so deserve to rule the sea.

But, nearer home, thy pencil use once more, And place our navy by the Holland shore:

The world they compass'd while they fought with
But here already they resign the main ;

Those greedy mariners, out of whose way
Diffusive Nature could no region lay,

[Spain,

At home, preserv'd from rocks and tempests, lie,
Compell'd, like others, in their beds to die.
Their single towns the' Iberian armies prest;
We all their provinces at once invest;
And in a month ruin their traffic more
Than that long war could in an age before.
But who can always on the billows lie?
The wat'ry wilderness yields no supply.
Spreading our sails, to Harwich we resort,
And meet the beauties of the British court.

The' illustrious Duchess, and her glorious train,
(Like Thetis with her nymphs) adorn the main.
The gazing sea-gods, since the Paphian Queen
Sprung from among them, no such sight had seen.
Charm'd with the graces of a troop so fair,
Those deathless pow'rs for us themselves declare,
Resolv'd the aid of Neptune's court to bring,
And help the nation where such beauties spring:
The soldier here his wasted store supplies,
And takes new valour from the ladies' eyes.

Meanwhile, like bees, when stormy winter's gone,
The Dutch (as if the sea were all their own)
Desert their ports, and, falling in their way,
Our Hamburg merchants are become their prey.
Thus flourish they, before the' approaching fight,
As dying tapers give a blazing light.

To check their pride, our fleet half-victuall'd goes, Enough to serve us till we reach our foes; Who now appear so numerous and bold, The action worthy of our arms we hold. A greater force than that which here we find Ne'er press'd the ocean, nor employ'd the wind. Restrain'd a while by the unwelcome night, The' impatient English scarce attend the light. But now the morning, (Heav'n severely clear!) To the fierce work indulgent does appear; And Phoebus lifts above the waves his light, That he might see, and thus record, the fight. As when loud winds from different quarters rush, Vast clouds encountering one another crush; With swelling sails so, from their several coasts, Join the Batavian and the British hosts....

1 Venus.

For a less prize, with less concern and rage,
The Roman fleets at Actium did engage;
They for the empire of the world they knew,
These for the Old contend, and for the New.
At the first shock, with blood and powder stain'd,
Nor Heav'n nor sea their former face retain'd:
Fury and art produce effects so strange,
They trouble Nature, and her visage change.
Where burning ships the banish'd sun supply,
And no light shines but that by which men die,
There York appears! so prodigal is he
Of royal blood as ancient as the sea!
Which down to him, so many ages told,
Has through the veins of mighty monarchs roll'd!
The great Achilles march'd not to the field
Till Vulcan that impenetrable shield

[threw.

And arms had wrought; yet there no bullets flew,
But shafts and darts which the weak Phrygians
Our bolder hero on the deck does stand
Expos'd, the bulwark of his native land;
Defensive arms laid by as useless here,
Where massy balls the neighbouring rocks do tear.
Some power unseen those princes does protect,
Who for their country thus themselves neglect.
Against him first Opdam his squadron leads,
Proud of his late success against the Swedes,
Made by that action, and his high command,
Worthy to perish by a prince's hand.
The tall Batavian in a vast ship rides,
Bearing an army in her hollow sides;
Yet, not inclin'd the English ship to board,
More on his guns relies than on his sword;
From whence a fatal volley we receiv'd;

It miss'd the Duke, but his great heart it griev'd: