The Vision.
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at an hour when busie Nature lay
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Dissolv'd in slumbers from the noisy Day,
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When gloomy Shades and dusky Atomes spread
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A darkness o're this Unviersal Bed,
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And all the gaudy beams of light were fled;
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My flutt'ring fancy 'midst this silent peace,
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Careless of sleep, and unconcern'd with ease,
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Drew to my wandring thoughts an object near,
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Strange in its form, and in appearance rare.
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Methought (yet sure it cou'd not be a Dream,
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So real all its Imperfections seem)
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With Princely Port a stately Monarch came,
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Airy was his mien, and Noble was his frame.
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A sullen sorrow brooded on his Brow;
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He seem'd beneath some weighty Fate to bow;
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Distrust and Grief upon his Eyelids rest,
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And show the strugling troubles of his Breast.
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Upon his Head a nodding Crown he wore,
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And in his Hand a yielding Scepter bore;
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Forlorn and careless did his strokes appear,
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And every motion spoke a Wild Dispair.
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This mournful scene did all my passions move,
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And challeng'd both my pity and my love,
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And yet I thought him by the ruins made
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Above my pity, and beyond my aid;
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Long did he in a pensive silence stand,
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For sure his thoughts cou'd not his words command:
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Too big for Speech---------
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'Till sullen murmurs from his bosom flew,
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And thus a draught of his disorders drew.
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Almighty Powers! By whose consent alone
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Ordain'd, I did ascend the Regal Throne,
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Led by your dark Decrees and Conduct there,
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I, as your great Vicegerent, did appear
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Beneath my Charge, whilst crowding Nations fate
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And bow'd and did admire my rising Fate,
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'Twas then my Laurels fresh and blooming grew,
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And a loud fame of all my Glories flew;
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My willing Subjects bless and clap the day,
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The bravest and the best were all my friends,
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Whilst Faction in confusion sneak'd away;
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At distance grinn'd, but cou'd not reach their ends.
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Such Faith unto my promises were shown,
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My Word, the took for Oaths were useless grown;
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My very Word compos'd their hopes and fears,
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Sacred 'twas held, and all serene appears.
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Until my fate revers'd did backwards reel,
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Blurr'd all my Fame, and alter'd Fortunes Wheel;
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Ye Gods! Why did ye thus unconstant prove?
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Was I the Envy of th' Abodes above?
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Or was this stately Majesty but given
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To be the Cheat and Flatt'ry ev'n of Heaven?
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Can ne're a Saint implore Coelestial aid?
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Nor yet the Virgin Goddess Interceed?
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'Twas for her her Cause engag'd I suff'ring lye;
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'Twas to advance her just Divinity:
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Yes, I avow the Quarrel and the Cause,
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'Twas for my Faith, and to out-cope the Laws.
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I'de rather be forsaken and alone,
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Than sit a craving Monarch on a Throne:
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Let all my cringing Slaves at distance stand.
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Fawn on th' Invading Foe, and kiss his Hand;
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Leave me, their Prince, farsaken and forlorn,
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Expos'd to all their sights and publick scorn.
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Let after Ages judge the mighty Test,
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Judge the Magnific Grandure of my breast.
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I saw my great forefather yet afore
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Seal all his Sacred Vows with Martyr'd gore:
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His Royal Issue branded with disgrace,
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Saw all th' Efforts they us'd t' Exclude the Race:
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And yet these Terrours all I dare invade,
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Thus Conscience, thus Religion does perswade.
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I'll stand or fall by both those Tenets still,
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And be the second Martyr to my Will:
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And then he stop'd, his fiery Eye-Balls move,
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And thus with his resisting Fate he strove,
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And stood, like Capaneus Defying Jove.
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When strait a noise, from whence it came unknown,
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Was heard to answer in an angry tone;
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Dye then unpity'd Prince, for thus thy Fate
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Long since, by its Decrees, did antidate:
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To such perversness, what regard is shown,
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What Merit coud'st thou plead to mount a Throne?
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To thy repeated Wishes Heav'n was kind,
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And pleas'd the wild Ambition of thy mind;
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It put a Scepter in thy eager Hand,
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Yet not t'oppose the Genius of the Land,
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If Reason cou'd not sway thy Actions here,
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Heav'ns not oblig'd by Wonders to appear.
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See how thy Creatures at a distance stand,
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Skulk from thy troubles to a safer Land;
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Those who their Beings to thy bounty own,
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Forsake their fawning Cheats, and now are gone.
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Those who were Friends to thee and to thy Cause,
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Bold for their Rights, and for their Countries Cause,
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Thou, from thy darker Counsels, did'st remove,
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And want their aid now they refuse their love.
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Some more imperfect sounds did reach my Ear,
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But sense return'd, and day light did appear.
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