Should some one from the clouds that had looked down on the sad face of things, when our Temples lay in dust, our Palaces in desolation, and the Altars demolished; when these Citie Gates were dashed to pieces, Gibbets and Executions erected in every Street, and all things turned into universal silence and solitude, behold now the change of this daies glorious scean; that we see the Churches in repair, the sacred Assemblies open'd, our Cities re-edified, the Markets full of People, our Palaces richly furnished, and the Streets proud with the burden of their Triumphal Arches, and the shouts of a rejoycing multitude: How would he wonder and stand amaz'd, at the Prodigie, and leap down from his lofty station, though already so near to heaven, to joyne with us in earth, participate of our felicitie, and ravish'd with the Ecstasie, cry out aloud now with Us. Set open the Temple-Gates, let the Prisoners go free, the Altars smoak perfumes, bring forth the Pretious things, strow the Waies with Flowers, let the Fountains run Wine, Crown the Gobblets, bring Chapplets of Palmes and Lawrells, the Bells ring, the Trumpets sound, the Cannon roar, O happy Descent, and strange Reverse! I have seen{11} E_nglands_ Restorer, Great _CHARLES the II._ RETURN'D, REVENG'D, BELOV'D, CROWN'D, RE-ESTABLISH'D. _Terrasque Astraea Revisit._ And O that it were now in my power to speak some great thing, worthy this great day; I should put all the flowers of _Orators_ and Raptures of _Poets_ into one lofty & high Expression, and yet not Reach what I would say to Your Majestie: For never since there was a Citie, or Kingdom, did a Day appear more glorious to _England_, never since it was a Nation, and in which there either was, or ought to be so universal a Jubilation: Not that Your Triumphal Charriots do drag the miserable Captives, but are accompanied by freed Citizens; perfidie is now vanquished, popular fury chayn'd, crueltie tam'd, luxury restrained, these lie under the spondells of Your Wheeles, where Empire, Faith, Love, and Justice Ride Triumphant, and nothing can be added to Your _M_a_j_esties glory but its perpetuitie. But whence, alas! should I have this confidence, after so many _Elogies_ and _Panegyricks_ of great and Eloquent men, who consecrate the memorie of this daies happinesse; and (were the subject, like that of all other things) would have left me nothing more to add, unless he who was sometimes wont to employ his pen for Your _M_ajestie being absent, should now be silent that you are present, and inflame me with a kind of new Enthusiasme: I find myself then compell'd out of a grateful sense of my dutie for the publick benefit, and if your _M_ajestie forbid not, or withdraw your influence, who shall hinder, that even my slender voice should not strive to be heard, in such an universall{12} consort, wherein everybody has a part, every one a share?