Ecclesiastical History of England, Volume 2—The Church of the CommonwealthStoughton, John
History
Ecclesiastical History of England, Volume 2—The Church of the Commonwealth
Stoughton, John
Great Britain -- Church history
The University of Oxford, under the Protectorate, professed as much
loyalty to his Highness Oliver Cromwell, as it had ever done to his
Majesty King Charles. No addresses could be more deeply charged with
grateful expressions and ingenious compliments than those laid at
the feet of the great warrior and prince of the Commonwealth. Some
curious specimens of them are preserved in a little volume, entitled,
"Musarum Oxoniensium ΕΛΑΙΟΦΟΡΙΑ"--written to celebrate the peace which
Cromwell concluded with the Dutch in 1654. Owen takes the lead, and
for once invokes the muse. Zouch, Harmer, Bathurst, Busby, Locke,
Philip Henry, and others, dwell on the same subject in Greek, Latin,
or English verse; but what is most remarkable, South figures among
the most glowing eulogists--he who, thirty years afterwards, in the
pulpit of Westminster Abbey, denounced Cromwell as a bankrupt, beggarly
fellow, and ridiculed him as first entering the Parliament-house with a
threadbare, torn cloak, and a greasy hat, perhaps neither of them paid
for.[260]
We subjoin part of his eulogy, having first ventured to render it into
English rhyme:--
"Great ruler of the land and sea profound,
Thy praise the elements conspire to sound;
Thy genius deeper than the mighty deep,
Thy fame spreads wider than the billows sweep.
If thou ascend thy chariot, either pole
Bears up the wheels which still triumphant roll.
Thy martial scabbard, hanging by thy side,
Ensheaths thy country's power, and life, and pride.
'Tis thine alone to rule the raging main,
And bind proud Neptune in thy sovereign chain.
Thou bravest victor, with triumphant hand,
Scatt'rest thy trophies over sea and land.
In gentlest, noblest deeds, thy days abound,
The peaceful olive binds thy honours round.
Batavia's realm, rejoicing in thy smile,
Now shares the friendship of our British isle;
That isle, encircled by its ocean guard,
And by the victories of thy peerless sword."
[Sidenote: _Walton's Polyglott._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account