ON THE
DEATH
OF HIS GRACE
The Duke of ALBEMARLE.
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WHO wou'd on Greatness, or on Worth rely,
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When Hero's thus like common men must die?
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Cou'd Virtue, Merit, or cou'd Valour save
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Deserving Men, from the Impartial Grave;
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None surely cou'd with so much Justice be
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Secur'd from Fate, Great Albemarle, as Thee;
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Whose mighty Actions to the World has shown,
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'Tis more to merit, than usurp a Crown;
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When gen'rously You did refuse and scorn
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That usurp'd Titles shou'd Your Name adorn,
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Esteeming it a far more glorious thing
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For to Restore, than be Your Self a King.
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Those Baits of Pow'r which Empire did impart,
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Prov'd far too weak to tempt Your Loyal Heart.
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When Civil Broils (for our Offences hurl'd
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By Angry Heaven on our Sep'rate World,)
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Whose Rage almost Three Kingdoms had destroy'd,
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And wrought a Ruine none cou'd scarce avoid,
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Relenting Fate through pity then ordain'd
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You shou'd those Ills redress, our State sustain'd;
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And by an Act, as gen'rous as unknown,
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Restore Our Soveraign to his Native Throne:
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Nothing cou'd too, Your Prudence more declare
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Than the Wise Conduct of this great Affair.
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Through Tracts of Blood you did not Conquest trace;
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A Haleyon calm did all Your Triumphs grace.
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Those Pow'rs which oft had Royal Arms withstood,
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You soon dispers'd without one drop of Blood.
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Secure You wrought what Rebels scarcely fear'd;
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As Lightning kills before the Thunder's heard.
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Thus, through Your Noble Conduct we were blest
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From all the Toils of horrid War, with Rest.
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When not Content with what we did Enjoy,
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Unless Batavia's Traffick we destroy;
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A War's begun, which nothing did advance
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To either Nation, but make Potent France.
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Whil'st on the Sea, others for Empire fight,
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In Court-Enjoyments You took small delight;
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Nor yet Content with former Glories gain'd,
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Unless You now, Your Countries Cause maintain'd.
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Victorious York did First the Dutch subdue,
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Their Second Conquest Fate reserv'd for You;
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Who so improv'd, what was before begun,
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As Belgick Fleets did from our Canon run;
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And whilst You Gen'ral on the Ocean Ride,
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No Hostile Fleet did on our Seas abide.
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These Glorious Actions prov'd that You cou'd be,
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Great Albion's Patron both at Land and Sea;
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And with more Justice may that Title Clame,
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Than he who England does for Patron Name.
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He only help'd a poor distressed Maid,
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You vanquish'd those, who did our Rights Invade.
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Rights, our * great Antiquary prov'd to be
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As Ancient Ours, as is the British-Sea.
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Fore-knowing Fate only ordain'd that He,
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Shou'd prove an Emblem, and a Type of Thee.
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His Fab'lous Stories scarcely known, but You
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A Monster worse than that great Hero slew:
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A Monster us'd to Act such horrid things,
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As it durst shed the Sacred Blood of Kings.
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For which brave deed, Thy Name shall ever be
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Ador'd and Reverenc'd by Posterity.
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And may Auspicious Fate still grant that You,
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May as their Wonder, prove their Pattern too.
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But now at length Death claims, Great Sir, from You
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A Debt, as Mortal, was to Nature due.
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Nor can those Lawrels Conquering bows adorn,
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Protect those Hero's that are Mortal born.
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Too well, alas, Th' Imperious Tyrant knew,
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He only You, cou'd through Your Self subdue.
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In other Parts he vainly strove to wound
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Your too much Heart he only Mortal found.
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Thus to some Grove the aged Phenix flies,
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Builds its own Nest, and through its own means dies.
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In Bloody Fields his Malice You defi'd,
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And like a Gen'ral in Your Chair You di'd.
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An Exit Your great Courage did befit,
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Which seem'd to Conquer, when it did submit.
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Natures great Debt You willing were to pay,
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Yet scorn'd to do it an ignoble way.
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And though Y' are Dead, to future Ages fame
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With such Advantage shall transmit Your Name,
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As no Oblivion shall thy Deeds obscure,
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As long as Time, or History indure.
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Thy Sacred Reliques too shall be convey'd,
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And be amongst our English Monarchs laid,
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With all the pomp a grateful Prince can give,
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Whilst in his Thoughts You shall for ever live.
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No Mausolaeum can secure Thy rest,
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Like such a Lodging in His Royal brest.
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Protected thus within that Sacred Place,
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Envy, nor Time, Your Merits shall Deface.
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Who wou'd not then prove that Great Monarch's Friend,
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Who does His Kindness beyond Life extend;
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And to Your Mem'ry nobly strives to pay
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Past Obligations in a gen'rous way.
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Yet who like You, when Fate seem'd most to frown,
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Sav'd an Usurp'd, Secur'd an Envied Crown,
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And Three Great Kingdoms did from Ruine free,
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Deserves those Honors which are pay'd to Thee.
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