The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 17Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 17
Dryden, John
English literature
Your native country, which Providence gave you not leave to preserve
under one king, it has given you opportunity under another to restore.
You could not save it from the chastisement which was due to its
rebellion, but you raised it from ruin after its repentance; so that the
trophies of war were the portion of the conqueror, but the triumphs of
peace were reserved for the vanquished. The misfortunes of Ireland were
owing to itself, but its happiness and restoration to your Grace. The
rebellion against a lawful prince was punished by an usurping tyrant, but
the fruits of his victory were the rewards of a loyal subject. How much
that noble kingdom has flourished under your Grace’s government, both
the inhabitants and the crown are sensible: the riches of Ireland are
increased by it, and the revenues of England are augmented. That which
was a charge and burden of the government, is rendered an advantage and
support; the trade and interest of both countries are united in a mutual
benefit; they conspire to make each other happy; the dependance of the
one is an improvement of its commerce, the pre-eminence of the other is
not impaired by the intercourse, and common necessities are supplied by
both. Ireland is no more a scion, to suck the nourishment from the mother
tree; neither is it overtopped, or hindered from growth by the superior
branches; but the roots of England diving, if I may dare to say it,
underneath the seas, rise at a just distance on the neighbouring shore,
and there shoot up, and bear a product scarce inferior to the trunk from
whence they sprung.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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