[Line: 311 long and doubtful] Fairfax, to enhance his exploit, called it 'four months close siege'. It was actually not quite eleven weeks, but the place yielded to nothing but starvation.] _An Elegy upon the most Incomparable King Charles the First._ Call for amazed thoughts, a wounded sense And bleeding hearts at our intelligence. Call for that Trump of Death, the Mandrake's groan Which kills the hearers: this befits alone Our story which through times vast Calendar, Must stand without example or repair. What spouts of melting clouds, what endless springs Pour'd in the Ocean's lap for offerings, Shall feed the hungry torrent of our grief, Too mighty for expression or belief? 10 Though all those moistures which the brain attracts Ran from our eyes like gushing cataracts, Or our sad accents could out-tongue the cries Which did from mournful Hadadrimmon rise, Since that remembrance of Josiah slain In our King's murder is reviv'd again. O pardon me that but from Holy Writ Our loss allows no parallel to it: Nor call it bold presumption that I dare Charles with the best of Judah's Kings compare: 20 The virtues of whose life did I prefer The text acquits me for no flatterer. For he like David perfect in his trust, Was never stain'd like him, with blood or lust. One who with Solomon in judgement tried, Was quick to comprehend, wise to decide (That even his Judges stood amaz'd to hear A more transcendent mover in their sphere), Though more religious: for when doting love Awhile made Solomon apostate prove, 30 Charles ne'er endur'd the Truth which he profest, To be unfix'd by bosom-interest. Bold as Jehosaphat, yet forc'd to fight, And for his own, no unconcerned right. Should I recount his constant time of pray'r, Each rising morn and ev'ning regular, You'd say his practice preach'd, 'They ought not eat Who by devotion first not earn'd their meat:' Thus Hezekiah he exceeds in zeal, Though not (like him) so facile to reveal 40 The treasures of God's House, or His own heart, To be supplanted by some foreign art. And that he might in fame with Joash share When he the ruin'd Temple did repair, His cost on Paul's late ragged fabric spent Must (if no other) be His monument. From this survey the kingdom may conclude His merits, and her losses' magnitude: Nor think he flatters or blasphemes, who tells That Charles exceeds Judea's parallels, 50 [Sidenote:--_Sparguntur in omnes, In te mista fluunt_--Claudian.]