Amidst the peaceful triumphs of his reign, What wonder if the kindly beams he shed Revived the drooping Arts again; If Science raised her head, And soft Humanity, that from rebellion fled! Our isle, indeed, too fruitful was before; But all uncultivated lay Out of the solar walk and Heaven's highway; With rank Geneva weeds run o'er, And cockle, at the best, amidst the corn it bore. The royal husbandman appear'd, And plough'd, and sow'd, and till'd; The thorns he rooted out, the rubbish clear'd, And bless'd the obedient field: When straight a double harvest rose; Such as the swarthy Indian mows; Or happier climates near the line, Or Paradise manured and dress'd by hands divine. XIII. As when the new-born Phoenix takes his way, His rich paternal regions to survey, Of airy choristers a numerous train Attends his wondrous progress o'er the plain; So, rising from his father's urn, So glorious did our Charles return; The officious Muses came along-- A gay harmonious quire, like angels ever young: The Muse that mourns him now, his happy triumph sung, Even they could thrive in his auspicious reign; And such a plenteous crop they bore Of purest and well-winnow'd grain, As Britain never knew before. Though little was their hire, and light their gain, Yet somewhat to their share he threw; Fed from his hand, they sung and flew, Like birds of Paradise that lived on morning dew. Oh, never let their lays his name forget! The pension of a prince's praise is great. Live, then, thou great encourager of arts! Live ever in our thankful hearts; Live blest above, almost invoked below; Live and receive this pious vow, Our patron once, our guardian angel now! Thou Fabius of a sinking state, Who didst by wise delays divert our fate, When faction like a tempest rose, In death's most hideous form, Then art to rage thou didst oppose, To weather-out the storm: Not quitting thy supreme command, Thou held'st the rudder with a steady hand, Till safely on the shore the bark did land: The bark that all our blessings brought, Charged with thyself and James, a doubly royal fraught. XIV.