Classic Poem

MADAM

I M mur'd with Rocks of Ice, no Wretches left
Hopeless of Life, of Heat and Light bereft,
Under the Influence of the rugged Bear ,
Where but one Day and Night in all the Year,
With ne'er so much transporting Joy could meet
The dawning Day, as Your Approach we greet.
Your Beams reviv'd us from the Belgian Shore,
Which now our long-lov'd Princess does restore:
What could make us so rich? Or them so poor?
The World nought equal to our Joy can find,
But the despairing Grief you left behind.
We from the Mighty States have now gain'd more.
Than by our Aid they ever got before,
When the Great Vere 's and Sidney 's won such Fame,
That each of them immortaliz'd his Name .
Not Alva 's Rage would have distress'd them so,
As, Madam, we have done, recalling You.
Our ador'd Princess to Batavians lent,
Is home to us with mighty Interest sent:
For we, with Her, have won the Great Nassau ,
Whose Sword shall keep the Papal World in awe.
She comes, She comes, the Fair , the Good , the Wiss ,
With loudest Acclamations rend the Skies;
Rock all the Steeples , kindle ev'ry Street ,
Thunder ye Cannons from each Fort and Fleet .
To all the neighb'ring Lands sound out your Joys ,
And let France shake at the triumphant Noise .
Bless'd be the rising Waves , the murm'ring Gales ,
Sustain'd the mighty Cargo , swell'd the Sayls .
Bless'd be the Vessel , as that was which bore
The Sacred Remnant , when there was no Shore .
Not the returning Dove they welcom'd so,
As we our MARY , who brings Olive too;
That only promis'd Safety to their Lives ,
This our lost Peace and Liberty revives .
Bless'd, bless'd be his Invasion , which made way
For this most happy and illustrious Day
So brave an Action , so Renown'd a Name ,
Was ne'er yet written in the Book of Fame .
Let Parasites call Princes Wise , and Brave ,
Who bear inglorious Arms , but to inslave .
Our Prince will break those Chains wherewith they bind:
'Tis his true Glory to enlarge Mankind.
In any Land you would Dominion gain;
And MADAM, in each Common-wealth would Reign .
Where'er your God-like PRINCE from us should go,
They would, like us, submit without a Blow.
In his short Sway more Wisdom . He has shown,
Than here before in Ages has been known.
The Name of KING adds nothing to his Fame ,
But his great Vertues dignifie that Name .
What Land can boast of such a matchless Pair ,
Like Him so wise , so brave; like You so wise , so fair?
Where'er so many sacred Virtues joyn,
They to a Scepter shew a Right Divine .
Who are approv'd so Valiant, Wise and Just ,
Have the best Titles to the highest Trust.
Tho from the Loins of greatest Kings deriv'd,
That Title 's not so strong, nor so long-liv'd;
For Princes more of solid Glory gain,
Who are thought fit , than who are born to Reign .
MADAM,
The Humblest of Your
Majesties Subjects ,
THO. SHADWELL.