The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 388 pages of information about The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1.

The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 388 pages of information about The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1.

   In Henry’s change his charge as ill succeeds; 320
  To that long story little answer needs: 
  Confront but Henry’s words with Henry’s deeds. 
  Were space allow’d, with ease it might be proved,
  What springs his blessed Reformation moved. 
  The dire effects appear’d in open sight,
  Which from the cause he calls a distant flight,
  And yet no larger leap than from the sun to light.

   Now let your sons a double paean sound,
  A Treatise of Humility is found. 
  ’Tis found, but better it had ne’er been sought, 330
  Than thus in Protestant procession brought. 
  The famed original through Spain is known,
  Rodriguez’ work, my celebrated son,
  Which yours, by ill-translating, made his own;
  Conceal’d its author, and usurp’d the name,
  The basest and ignoblest theft of fame. 
  My altars kindled first that living coal;
  Restore, or practice better, what you stole: 
  That virtue could this humble verse inspire,
  ’Tis all the restitution I require. 340

    Glad was the Panther that the charge was closed,
  And none of all her favourite sons exposed. 
  For laws of arms permit each injured man,
  To make himself a saver where he can. 
  Perhaps the plunder’d merchant cannot tell
  The names of pirates in whose hands he fell;
  But at the den of thieves he justly flies,
  And every Algerine is lawful prize. 
  No private person in the foe’s estate
  Can plead exemption from the public fate. 350
  Yet Christian laws allow not such redress;
  Then let the greater supersede the less. 
  But let the abettors of the Panther’s crime
  Learn to make fairer wars another time. 
  Some characters may sure be found to write
  Among her sons; for ’tis no common sight,
  A spotted dam, and all her offspring white.

    The savage, though she saw her plea controll’d,
  Yet would not wholly seem to quit her hold,
  But offer’d fairly to compound the strife, 360
  And judge conversion by the convert’s life. 
  ’Tis true, she said, I think it somewhat strange,
  So few should follow profitable change: 
  For present joys are more to flesh and blood,
  Than a dull prospect of a distant good. 
  ’Twas well alluded by a son of mine
  (I hope to quote him is not to purloin),
  Two magnets, heaven and earth, allure to bliss;
  The larger loadstone that, the nearer this: 
  The weak attraction of the greater fails; 370
  We nod a while, but neighbourhood prevails: 
  But when the greater proves the nearer too,
  I wonder more your converts come so slow. 
  Methinks in those who firm with me remain,
  It shows a nobler principle than gain.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Poetical Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.