Classic Poem

I sing that hero over France who reigned
Whose right by conquest & by birth was gained
Who by long miseries severe was taught
To rule his subjects as a father ought
Who knew to vanquish & to pardon all
To calm dread factions loud incessant brawl
Who overcame Mayenne the " federate league
Iberia and stopped the horrid plague
Of civil war, then King of France became;
Adding the father's, to the victors' name.

Come awful Truth descending from on high
Shed power and splendor on this history;
That Kings may hear thee, it is for thee to shew
What dread effects from their divisions grow
Tell how fierce Discord troubled all our land
Holding fair France chained in her iron band
Tell the misfortunes that her people bore
The wrongs done by the princes of her shore
Come, & if Fiction did in olden time
Join to thy voice her own sweet silver chime
If her fair hand adorned thy lofty head
If her dark shade enhanced thy glory shed
Let her with me walk in thy steps of light
And show thy wond'rous charms in their attraction bright.

Valois reigned still, of energy bereft
His weak hands lose the reins of power left
To float in air: the shaken state unbound
Had forceless laws & rights which all confound:
Or rather, Great Valois now reigned no more;
It was not now that prince whom glory bore
To fields of battle, e'ven in infancy,
Ever instructed by proud victory.
Whose progress Europe saw & trembling shook
And who his countrys' sorrows with him took
When all the admiring nations of the north
Full of his virtues called the warrior forth
Low at his feet each laid a sparkling crown
And Each awe-struck its head bowed humbly down
Then from a soldier free intrepid brave
Valois became a King, & softness' slave
He slept effeminate on the imperial throne
His weakness bent beneath the o'er burd'ning crown.
Quelus, Saint Megrim, Joyeux Epernons
(All famed alone in festal banquet song:)
Ruled for him; while soft sunk in pleasure wave
He there in languid lethargy did lave.
Now was the Guise's hour by fortune crowned
They in his downfall all their greatness found
In Paris they the league confederate formed
Whose rival might his pow'rless weakness stormed
The mob unchained; vile vassals of the great
Served tyrants & with persecuting hate
Followed their prince, whom now his friends forsook
Trembling like dastards by pale terror shook
The people chased him from the Louvres wall
And through the streets he fled unknown of all
Till Bourbon came to work each rebels fall

The virtuous Bourbon full of warlike might
To his blind prince restored again the light
Gave back his pow'r, & led his wand'ring feet
From shame to where bright Glory held her seat
From sports & pleasures to the battle plain
He took his King to honnour once again
Rome shook, the Spaniards trembled, Europe all
Now fixed their eyes on that unhappy wall
For each felt inter'st in those miseries famed
And th' worlds attention Now Fair Paris claimed

They saw inhuman Discord standing high
On tow'rs whose lofty summits threat the sky
In accents loud, the banded league excite
With stately Mayenne to the bloody fight
And churchment Spanish succors to invite
That monster feirce inflexible bloodstained
On her own subjects is her vengeance rained
With the warm life-blood of her party dyed
Of mortal ills she swells the o'erflowing tid[e]
Reign like a tyrant in her votaries breasts
And for the crimes she tempts a certain forfeit — wrests

Near those Green borders of the Occident
Where Seine in silver foldings ever went
Flying from Paris, in the present day
A still & fair retreat for Natures play
Then 'twas a sanguine Theatre of blood
Where armies for the dreadful combat stood
Th' unhappy King arrayed his warlike band
And there the[y] saw each stately hero stand
The fierce supporter of his native land
Vengeance unites those, whom their sects divide
To Bourbo[n] each his fortune doth confide:
The noble Bourbon, in all bosoms reigns
And binds in unity the hearts he gains
It seemed that all, one creed & cheiftain owned
For he in every breast thus pow'rful was — throned
The Bourbons ancestor Saint Louis held
His place 'mid angels & from thence beheld
His son, & watched him with a fathers eyes
For from his radiant palace of the skies
He saw in him the splendor of his race
Which he through the futures mists could dimly trace
He wept his errors' & his brav'ry loved
Which when it had by coming wars been proved
He willed to honour with a royal crown
And as from heavens high thrones he gazed adown
On this low earth a mightier purpose filled
His mind celestial & his spirit willed
T' illuminate his soul with anger tight
To show religion clothed in glory bright
But towards this happiness great & supreme
Henry advanced by paths unknown, unseen
Saint Louis formed his strong unerring stay
As still he travelled in that secret way
But yet concealing the extended arm
Which sheilded off all hostile force or harm
Lest that the hero of his conquest sure
Might with less danger less reward secure

And now already at the ramparts feet
Had the two parties oft' in battle met
And through our desert feilds the feind of war
Had borne his rage even to the seas afar
When Valois held with Bourbon sad discourse
Of which his frequent sighs stopt oft the course
" See how the warring fates have humbled me
" My shame is yours, yours is my injury
" And lo! the hostile league which rears its brow
" Seditious against its prince hates also you
" It threats us both; confounds us in its rage
" And war inveterate war doth now pursuing wage
" Paris as master, loves not to sustain
Nor I who rule, nor you who ought to reign
" They know when death has taken me to his
" Realm that law high blood & merit to the helm
Will call you, but your greatness guessing now
" They from the crown which trembles on my brow
" Think to exclude you, & religion dread
" Her fatal curse has launched against your — head
" Tremendous Rome of soldiers unposessed,
" Yet bearing war in e'very field & breast
Has placed her thunder in the Spaniards hand
" To roll it forth o'er ocean shore & land.
Me, subjects, freinds & relatives, forsake
All shun me, hate me, arms to oppose me take
And greedy Spain by my sad losses rich
Her utmost power her utmost might doth
Stretch, she sends her hosts my fields to overwhelm
To desolate thy much-loved fruitful realm
Against these enemies destroying all
Then let us also foreign succors call
Of England let us gain the illustrious queen
Yes let her armies mixed with ours be seen
I know a hatred, everlasting, strong
Hath reigned between us centuries past long
I know that London Paris emulates
And ardently her wished destruction waits
But since my glory, hath been touched with blight
After those insults offered to my might
My subjects kingdom, country I resign
I hate this people, punishment condign
Shall be their portion, he who swiftest hurls
Vengeance upon them & who first unfurls
The bloody banner, shall be to my eyes
The truest Frenchman, Bourbon now arise
I will not on this embassy employ
My secret agents their advance is slow
But Henry you, you Bourbon I implore
Go with your fame & seek fair Albions shore
For Kings will only listen to your voice
'Tis you alone can make my heart rejoice
Your warrior help to unhappy Valois lend
For nought but that will peace or vic'try send

He said, the hero jealous of his might
Willed not to part the glory of the fight
He felt in listning greif & anger lower
For those past times when vigorous was his power
Strong in his virtue; & without intrigue,
Or help himself & Conde shook the league
But forced his masters projects to fulfil
To leave his gathered laurels against his will
He held the stern strokes parting from his hand
And sorrowing left his sunlit native land
The astonished bands unknowing his design
For his return with heartfelt wishes pine

And now already on the journey gone
Of all his favourites and freinds alone
Mornay went with him faithful confidante
Unflattering counsel in the day of want
Too virtuous support of errors side
By love of Church & country equal tied
Hater of courtiers, but by courts beloved
Detesting Rome yet her esteem he proved

Near two tall rocks where waves with sullen noise
Dash whitened waters to the o'er arching skies
Dieppes port appeared before the heros eyes
The sailors press on board in eager bands
While the ships guided by their skilful hands
Fly o'er the sea by hundred wings sustained
Impetuous Boreas 'mid the loud winds chained
To Zephyrs breath those plains pellucid gave
With ev'ry glassy scarcely rippling wave
They raise the anchor far they fly the shore
Now dark & distant England rose before
When instant vanished day-lights brilliant star
The dimmed air whistled bellowed from afar
The solemn sea & with old oceans moan
Was heard to mingle heavens cloud rending groan
Now thunder kindled splendor in the sky
Now the blue lightning flashing from on high
With dread abysses gulphed in seas beneath
Showed ev'ry where to shudd'ring sailors death
The hero by a furious sea beseiged
All horribly around black billows raged
With shroud like sheets of foam by tempests wrought
Still only of his countrys sorrows thought
He turned towards her in his greiving mind
Seemed to accuse the ship-arresting wind

So but less gen'rous Ceasar to the wave
His own & Romes almighty destinies gave
When for earths empire he with Pompey fought
And thus in stormswept seas his safety bravely sought

And now the eternal Ruler of the skies
Who swells the waves & on the whirlwind flies
That God whose will ineffable profound
Appoints each Kingdom its determined bound
From where the heavens are lighted by his throne
On the French hero looked in mercy down
He guided him th' unquiet seas along
To Jersey who uprose the waves among
The howling world of waters round her cast
Tranquil she lay on ancient Oceans breast
There led by heaven the hero sought for rest

Near to the banks a frowning forest grew
Whose giant boughs a midnight darkness threw
Around a peaceful cavern, natures work
And lo amid the obscurity & mirk
An old man in the woodland silence lay
Who there wore out the remnant of his day
Far from the hum of cities & the strife
Of gorgeous palaces; a courtiers life
Disdaining, here of bustling men unknown
He lived content, unenvying even a throne
Himself his study; from all sorrow free
He thought of bygone days & pensively
Recalled his former follies unopressed
By riotous passions he abode at rest
Stre[t]ched on the enamelled border of a fount
While his aspiring thoughts to heaven would mount
Beneath his feet he trod all human joys
And listened only to the still small voice,
Whispering within him, & the Eternals praise
He to the firmament for aye did raise
The God whom thus he served the Ever-Good
Wisdom divine sent to his solitude
She showed him Gods uncomprehended ways
And in the book of fates instructed him to gaze

This ancient hermit knew by wisdom taught
The might warrior destiny had brought
To his secluded isle the warr[i]or here
Oft in the peasants Cabin did appear
Flying the noise of courts he sought t' oerthrow
The diadems pride which glittered on his brow
That tumult which disturbed the Christian State
Formed their discourse as neath some tree they sate
Mornay who in his sect was still unshook
In Calvins faith a strong assurance took
Bourbon yet doubted: Yet he prayed to heaven
That some bright ray of splendor might be given
To peirce the thick gloom that enwrapped his eyes
T'illume the righteous pathway to the skies
The holy truth said he, too often lost
In human errors on that wide sea tost
Must I who look for light to God alone
Sorrowing in ignorance forever groan
Alas! that God so good, who holds the sway
O'er men I would have served if he had — taught the way
The ancient man replied Adore thy God
Weak mortal fear eternals iron rod
In former times I saw with saddend eyes
The faith of Calvin e'ven in France arise
Feeble in birth low walking in the shad[e]
She unsupported slow advances made
Still onward marching in obscurity
She forced her foes at her advance to flee
At last I saw her seated on a throne —
Before her hundreds kneeling slave-like down
Insultingly I saw her raise her brow
& with disdainful foot our altars overthrow
Then fled I courts & to this grotto went
My loved religions downfall to lament
There on a lingering hope myself I cast
That this new doctrine would not always last

To mens caprice, she her existence owes
They soon shall see her die as now she grows
The works of men are weak & fragile still
They dissipate & vanish at the will
Of that omnipotent who ever stands
Above the ruin of a hundred lands
'Mid warring Kings & sectaries unmoved
Reposes at [h]is feet his best beloved
Meek truth who seldom shows her glorious light
To mortal man proud of his worthless — might
To those who ask sincerely from the heart
In happy hour she deigns herself to impart
You if you pray shall still in light rejoice
Amid the music of her welcome voice
The Lord of heaven his arms has round — you thrown
& leads you towards your natal countrys crown
Praise him weak mortal hark his dread command
Hath gone in thunder forth o'er sea & land
Victory! Victory! is thy portion now
A sunlike crown shall sparkle on thy brow
The ways of glory ope before thine eye
But until truth has visited from on hight
Thy inward sight think not the wall to mount
Of Paris till thou hast bathed in the fount
Of heavenly knowledge, but all things above
Fly the sweet poison of enchanting love
Resist the pleasures, 'gainst thy passions fight
With manly courage let them not affright
Thy yet undaunted soul, & know one day
When thou in triumph o'er the league dost sway
After a horrid seige which busy Fame will
Give to future ages with thy name
All the glad people shall in plenty live
On that which thy benevolence shall give
Then raise their spirits to their fathers God
Point to the ignorant the righteous road
Those who are humble may to him resort
And know the lowly have a sure support
He said each word seemed as a flaming dart
Peircing the troubled depths of Henrys heart
And as he heard the venerable sage
He seemed transported to that happy age
When God conversing with the human kind
Taught e'en the wise & lightened e'en the blind
When simple virtue saw his wondrous might
And awed e'en Kings by their superior light
He left the hermit with fast-bursting sighs
& tears in streams flowed sadly from his eyes
And as he left he saw the first born ray
Of that fair morning which a glorious day
Should soon before his longing soul arise
Mornay beheld him with untouched surprise
God still from him the precious truth concealed
And but to Henry left her unrevealed
Thus though on earth he had the name of sage
Remained unoped to him to holy page.
While the recluse comanded by the Lord
Showed Bourbon his imperishable word
The winds were hushed the cloud-veiled heavens cleared
The radiant sun in splendor reappeared
The glad prince now his stately vessel gains
& o'er the waters flew to Albions verdant plains

Now when he reached at last the English shores
Round which eternally old Ocean roars
In secret he admired the happy fate
Of those who flourished in that powerful state
For now no more existed the abuse
Of those wise laws whose horrible misuse
Caused blood in streams to flow throug[h] plain & field
Of mighty heros the sad destiny sealed
Now on that throne whence hundred Kings
Descend, a woman princess of her people reigned
Lo! at her feet the fates lie fast enchained
The splendours of her name all men surprise
With far renown far ring the lofty skies
It was Elizabeth whose wisdom great
Made Europe chuse her to decide its fate
The people neath her reign forget their greif
As in the fields the sea the harvest sheaf
Their fruitful flocks oerspread the verdant plain
And their tall thundring ships the azure main
Feared on the earth o'er every sea they reign
Their fleet imperious Neptune condescends
Humbly to serve, from all the earths far ends
It summons fortune to their happy shores
Who swift obeying lavish riches pours
London once barberous, now the bright day-star
Of arts & temple to the God of war
The worlds great granary renowned afar
Each year assemble in the ancient walls
Of Westminster, three powers whom wisdom calls
With whose renown the universe doth ring
The peoples deputies the nobles & the King
These join'd form one strong formidable band
Spreading their terrors to the farthest land
Happy the nations who respect their Kings
Happiest the sovereign that around him flings
Joy peace & plenty worships liberty
From dark suspicions of his subjects free

Bourbon exclaimed when this fair scene he saw
Oh! when shall France like you obey the law
Ye monarchs of the earth come from afar
Behold a woman close the doors of war
While discord reigns in all the earth around
England alone true happiness has found
And now he reached that city fair & vast
Where as around his wandring eyes he cast
Freedom & peace appeared on e'vry side
Daughters of heaven & bold Britannias pride
He saw the conquerors tower appeared on high
& the proud palace threat the lofty sky
Elizabeths abode & there he went
All unattended for his heart was bent
Not on parade & pomp & empty show
The heros thoughts in other channels flow
How best his masters interests to speed
& with Elizabeth to intercede
He spoke; his speech was manly breif & free
No phrase unworthy his high dignity
Superfluous encumbered style or part
The eloquence welled freshly from his heart
He told the need of France his masters need
& for her help nobly submissive prayed
Lowly in greatness humble nevver mean
You serve Valois exclaimed the astonished queen
For his sake have you crossed the dangerous sea
Doth Henri for Valois petition me
Your difference from the western shores — hath rung
To where the mornings gates are open flung
You for him armed incredulous I see!
You whose dread sword hath forced him oft to flee
Free from revenge or malice he replied
The miseries of Valois have quelled his prid[e]
Chained like a slave by worthless pleasures power
They came to loose him in auspicious hour
Happier if resting on my firm support
He had foregone the counsels of his court
And now great queen join in this needful war
Let the high name of England spread afar
T'crown your virtues now defend our laws
Revenge with me my masters righteous cause
Eliza heard & ardent longed to know
The source whence all these mighty troubles flow
She said impatient; Fame who swiftly flies
Around the globe of earth & arch of skies
Hath told me much, but mingled truth with lies
You were a witness of those quarrels long
You lived & fought those dreadful scenes among
Relate the cause, unfold the mystery,
Of that which joined you with you[r] enemy
None saving Bourbon know the heart to reach
Your warlike deeds all future Kings shall teach
Alas! cried Bourbon must my memory
Of those curst times recall the history
Rather that heaven high witness of my grief
Should in oblivion give my mind releif
Why ask you of this slow reluctant tongue
That narrative which through the world hath rung
Of th' princes of my blood the shame to tell
& how my King in shameful pleasures fell
I feel my trembling heart refuse the task
O Queen some tale less darkly shaded ask
But you have ordered 'tis for me to obey
Though but unvarnished truths I know to say
I cannot hide the faults disguise the crimes
Or veil the horrors of those blood-stained times
Not armed with Sophistry or cunning vain
My words are sober unadorned & plain