LAment and Wonder, Reader, here lies one
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Intombd, who did refuse t ascend a Throne;
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Who Dyed, by the common stroke of Fate,
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As other Men, but livd not at that Rate;
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By Nature Great, yet Greater by Successe,
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But above all, was in himself Greatest.
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He was a Souldier second unto none
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In Courage, and a General well known
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In Prudence; and tis equally as true,
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He was a Loyal, Faithful Subject too;
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The Tyrant whom, both Kings and Nations feard,
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He only feard him not, but boldly Dard.
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The Tyrant being dead, this Genral came,
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And saw th succeeding Rage, then Overcame;
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Not by the Noise of Arms, but by the Deep
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Silence of Counsels, which he knew to keep;
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Strange kind of Conqring this, and almost New,
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In one Dayes space three Kingdoms to subdue,
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(Without engaging of his Tongue, or Sword)
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And yet of Either would not be the Lord;
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Accompting it more Grandeur for to save
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Three Scepters, and Restore them, than to have:
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For being made an Umpire, did decree
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Twas better to Restore, a King, than be:
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And thus resolvd, the King he did Restore,
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Then Him, as Caesar, Humbly did Adore.
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It was King CHARLES, for whose most worthy Sake
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(And not his own) he did this Conquest make;
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That all may know by reading of his Story,
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Humility was his Aim, not Glory;
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Since with more Modesty unto the King
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He did submit, than those who injurd him:
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Most happy man, who didst three Kingdoms gain,
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That CHARLES th Second might solely in them Reign.
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A Prince, whose Virtues are so Great, that He,
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Deserves more Kingdoms Crowns, as well as three:
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Forgetting nothing but past Injuries;
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Mindful of nothing, but good Offices.
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Even Him he did restore unto his Throne;
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With Him, PEACE, JUSTICE, and RELIGION.
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That done, Ten years survivd, that he might see
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What was restored, might conserved be;
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And so become more famous to maintain
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The Crowns Support, and Peace, than to obtain.
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For which, his Cares and Life he valued not
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To keep that alwayes, which at once he got.
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All good Men were his Friends, his Foes were they,
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Who GOD, the KING, and COUNTREY disobey.
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Titles, Honours, Wealth, he did inherit,
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(High as they were) yet much beneath his Merit:
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Though Fortune Raisd him above others, he
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Had in himself the more Humility.
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At length, this brave Heroick Genral Dyd,
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About the time his Son had tane a Bride;
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That so the Joyes in her might seem to dry
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Those Tears, which ought to fall ats Obsequy:
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And though those Joyes were Great, yet could not boast
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For to compensate what the Publick lost
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In him; nor is there any Remedy
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Of Grief, if masterd by Calamity;
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Which is so great, that nothing can repair,
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Although he left a Son, his worthiest Heir:
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For Virtue hath no Parent, from whose Race,
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It may derive to Successors its Grace.
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HEROES are such by Birth, and such they Dye
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Without Transmission to Posterity;
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And such a one as this nor England saw,
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Nor ever shall the World to keept in awe.
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He Vaulted is with Kings, although tis known
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He was no King, because he would be none.
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What though he lie by Kings, by whose stout Hand
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And Policy, even Kings themselves do stand;
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It is great Honour, but tis justly shown
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To give a Tomb to him, who savd the Throne:
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Yet, though these Marbles do consume, thy Fame
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Shall even by Age renew, still be the same:
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For he, who Living, did refuse to have
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The Worlds Applause, best claims it in the Grave:
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And he deserves Heavns favours to partake,
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To whom the Earth could no Requital make;
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