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Nor with an idle care did he behold:

Subjects may grieve, but monarchs must redress; He cheers the fearful and commends the bold

And makes despairers hope for good success. 80 Himself directs what first is to be done And orders all the succours which they bring; The helpful and the good about him run And form an army worthy such a king.

85

The wanting orphans saw with watery eyes
Their founders' charity in dust laid low,
And sent to God their ever-answered cries;
For he protects the poor who made them so.
Nor could thy fabric, Paul's, defend thee long,
Though thou wert sacred to thy Maker's praise, 90
Though made immortal by a poet's song,

And poets' songs the Theban walls could raise.

The daring flames peeped in and saw from far
The awful beauties of the sacred quire;
But, since it was profaned by civil war,

Heaven thought it fit to have it purged by fire.

Now down the narrow streets it swiftly came
And, widely opening, did on both sides prey;
This benefit we sadly owe the flame,

If only ruin must enlarge our way.

J. DRYDEN.

95

LOO

I. late successes. In the Dutch War, 1665-7. It is a euphemism to call them 'successes'.

33. the Bridge. London Bridge, where were exhibited the heads of the Regicides who were executed after the Restoration. 64. the Change. The Royal Exchange.

68. imperial palace. Whitehall.

89. Paul's, i. e. the Cathedral.

91. a poet's song.

repairing of St. Paul's.

Waller's poem Upon His Majesty's

THE COVENANTER'S LAMENT

(1679)

After the Restoration an Act was passed for the re-establishment of Episcopacy in Scotland. The Covenanters took up arms on behalf of the Presbyterian form of church government, but Monmouth destroyed their army in 1679 at Bothwell Bridge, taking 1,200 prisoners, many of whom were hanged, and others shipped off as slaves to the West Indies.

THE men of sin prevail!

Once more the prince of this world lifts his horn;
Judah is scattered, as the chaff is borne
Before the stormy gale.

Where are our brethren? where

The good and true, the terrible and fleet?

They whom we loved, with whom we sat at meat, With whom we kneeled in prayer?

Mangled and marred they lie

Upon the bloody pillow of their rest;
Stern Dalziel smiles, and Clavers with a jest
Spurs his fierce charger by.

So let our foes rejoice;

We to the Lord, who hears their impious boasts, Will call for comfort; to the God of hosts

We will lift up our voice.

Give ear unto our song;

For we are wandering o'er our native land

As sheep that have no shepherd; and the hand
Of wicked men is strong.

Only to thee we bow:

Our lips have drained the fury of thy cup;

And the deep murmurs of our hearts go up
To Heaven for vengeance now.

5

JO

15

20

Avenge,--oh! not our years

Of pain and wrong, the blood of martyrs shed,
The ashes heaped upon the hoary head,

The maiden's silent tears,

The babe's bread torn away,

The harvest blasted by the war-steed's hoof,
The red flame wreathing o'er the cottage roof,
Judge not for these to-day!--

Is not thine own dread rod

25

30

Mocked by the proud, thy holy book disdained, Thy name blasphemed, thy temple courts profaned?— Avenge Thyself, O God!

Break Pharaoh's iron crown;

36

Bind with new chains their nobles and their kings; Wash from thine house the blood of unclean things, And hurl their Dagon down!

Come in thine own good time!

We will abide; we have not turned from thee,

Though in a world of grief our portion be,
Of bitter grief and crime.

Be thou our guard and guide!

Forth from the spoiler's synagogue we go,

That we may worship where the torrents flow
And where the whirlwinds ride.

From lonely rocks and caves

We will pour forth our sacrifice of prayer.-
On, brethren, to the mountains! seek we there
Safe temples, quiet graves!

W. M. PRAED.

40

45

50

11. Stern Dalziel. Commander-in-chief of the royal forces in Scotland in Charles II's reign. After the victory at Bothwell Bridge, he reproached Monmouth for his too great leniency. He himself threatened to 'spit and roast all insurgents'.

Clavers.

Bonnie Dundee' (1689).

40. Dagon. The God of the Philistines, here the Church of England.

TRELAWNY
(1688)

Trelawny, a Cornishman, and Bishop of Bristol, was one of the seven bishops who petitioned to be excused from reading the Declaration of Indulgence to non-Protestants. Their arrest and trial for sedition brought the discontent against James II to a head, even the Cornish miners threatening to rise and march on London.

Only the three lines, ' And shall Trelawny die,' &c., are contemporary.

A GOOD Sword and a trusty hand!
A merry heart and true!

King James's men shall understand
What Cornish lads can do.

And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawny die?

Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!

Out spake their captain brave and bold,
A merry wight was he:

'If London Tower were Michael's hold,
We'll set Trelawny free!

5

IO

'We'll cross the Tamar, land to land,

The Severn is no stay,

With 66 one and all", and hand in hand,
And who shall bid us nay?

15

And when we come to London Wall,

A pleasant sight to view,

Come forth! come forth, ye cowards all,
Here's men as good as you.

20

'Trelawny he's in keep and hold,
Trelawny he may die;

But here's twenty thousand Cornish bold
Will know the reason why!'

R. S. HAWKER.

11. Michael's hold. St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall. 15. 'One and all'. The motto of Cornwall and the County regiments.

BONNIE DUNDEE

(1689)

John Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, the last of the Cavaliers, had been employed by James II in coercing the Covenanters, by whom he was hated for his ruthlessness. He headed the Jacobite opposition to William III, but could make no headway in the Lowlands. He therefore retired to the North, where he raised an army of Highlanders, and with them defeated the regular troops under General Mackay at the pass of Killicrankie, 1689, but was himself killed in the battle.

To the Lords of Convention 'twas Claver'se who spoke, 'Ere the King's crown shall fall there are crowns to be broke;

So let each Cavalier who loves honour and me,
Come follow the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

5

'Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can, Come saddle your horses, and call up your men; Come ope the West Port, and let me gang free, And it's room for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!' Dundee he is mounted, he rides up the street, The bells are rung backward, the drums they are beat;

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But the Provost, douce man, said, 'Just e'en let him be, The Gude Town is weel quit of that Deil of Dundee.' Come fill up my cup, &c.

II. douce] good,

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