[Footnote 11: 'Freemen of the Continent:' by the taking of Dunkirk.] [Footnote 12: 'Alexander:' Alexander VII., at this time Pope.] [Footnote 13: 'Vestal:' Tarpeia.] [Footnote 14: 'Loud sighs:' the tempest which occurred at Cromwell's death.] [Footnote 15: 'Peaceful urn:' Dryden no true prophet--Cromwell's bones having been dragged out of the royal vault, and exposed on the gibbet in 1660.] * * * * * ASTRÆA REDUX. A POEM ON THE HAPPY RESTORATION AND RETURN OF HIS SACRED MAJESTY CHARLES II., 1660. "Jam redit et virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna."--VIRG. "The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes, Renews its finish'd course; Saturnian times Roll round again." Now with a general peace the world was blest, While ours, a world divided from the rest, A dreadful quiet felt, and worser far Than arms, a sullen interval of war: Thus when black clouds draw down the labouring skies, Ere yet abroad the winged thunder flies, An horrid stillness first invades the ear, And in that silence we the tempest fear. The ambitious Swede,[16] like restless billows tost, On this hand gaining what on that he lost, 10 Though in his life he blood and ruin breathed, To his now guideless kingdom peace bequeath'd. And Heaven, that seem'd regardless of our fate, For France and Spain did miracles create; Such mortal quarrels to compose in peace, As nature bred, and interest did increase. We sigh'd to hear the fair Iberian bride[17] Must grow a lily to the lily's side; While our cross stars denied us Charles' bed, Whom our first flames and virgin love did wed. 20 For his long absence Church and State did groan; Madness the pulpit, faction seized the throne: Experienced age in deep despair was lost, To see the rebel thrive, the loyal cross'd: Youth that with joys had unacquainted been, Envied gray hairs that once good days had seen: We thought our sires, not with their own content, Had, ere we came to age, our portion spent. Nor could our nobles hope their bold attempt 30 Who ruin'd crowns would coronets exempt: For when by their designing leaders taught To strike at power, which for themselves they sought, The vulgar, gull'd into rebellion, arm'd; Their blood to action by the prize was warm'd. The sacred purple, then, and scarlet gown, Like sanguine dye to elephants, was shown. Thus when the bold Typhoeus scaled the sky, And forced great Jove from his own Heaven to fly, (What king, what crown from treason's reach is free, If Jove and Heaven can violated be?) 40 The lesser gods, that shared his prosperous state, All suffer'd in the exiled Thunderer's fate. The rabble now such freedom did enjoy, As winds at sea, that use it to destroy: Blind as the Cyclop, and as wild as he, They own'd a lawless, savage liberty;