"Kings may our Hands with Iron Fetters bind, / With Chains severer, you secure the Mind."
— Oldmixon, John (1672/3-1742)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed, and are to be Sold by John Nutt [etc.]
Date
1703
Metaphor
"Kings may our Hands with Iron Fetters bind, / With Chains severer, you secure the Mind."
Metaphor in Context
To Love, to Fight, no better Reasons move,
Than hopes to have it said, they Fight and Love.
In Treason, or in Numbers safe, they dare,
And as they Love, thro' Wantonness they war.
If Rich their Master and his Slaves appear,
They neither matter what indeed they are.
The Province bought, his dreadful Arms invade,
The King's a Conq'ror, and the Muse well paid.
With Pomp, and many Words, his deeds are writ,
The Monarch's Conquests, like the Poets wit.
More Nations have not, were his Fable true,
By the Great Lewis, been enslav'd than you.
The Court you chose, a proper Scene to shew,
How far the Fairest are excell'd by you.
Where sighing Princes at your Feet are seen,
And suppliant Crouds adore you as their Queen.
For such they think you are, or shou'd have been.
By Laws confin'd, an Empire you despise,
And uncontroul'd, command us with your Eyes.
Kings may our Hands with Iron Fetters bind,
With Chains severer, you secure the Mind.
Monarchs to save their Subjects, shou'd employ,
The Pow'r, which first they did from them enjoy.
Carlisle, like Lewis, Conquers to destroy.
Too well our want, and your Desert you know,
We're still but paying, what you say we owe.
Deaf to our Praise, our Services you scorn,
They're a just Debt, and merit no Return.
Were you less fair, you fewer Slaves wou'd find,
And ev'n to those, to keep 'em, must be kind.
But when such Numbers to your Temple croud,
Our warm Devotion makes the Goddess proud.
She sees 'em, unconcern'd, before her fall,
Thinks 'tis their Duty, and despises all,
In Courts you hope, and Cities to maintain,
And spread the Terror of your Tyrant Reign.
Love, from Ambition, and from Tumult flies,
And in the distant Shade, in Ambush lies.
There with the Muses, and the Nymph He plays,
Walks in the Meads, or on the Mountain strays.
He sits by cooling Springs, he haunts your Bow'rs,
And steals upon your soft and silent Hours.
As much as you provoke, you dread him there,
And where you met him once, to meet him fear.
But know--if Love affects to reign in Shades,
He oft the Pallace, and the Throne invades.
Amid your Guards, you will not be secure,
When the God pleases to exert his Pow'r.
Your shining Slaves, will only serve to Grace,
The Triumphs of the Man he means to bless.
Knights, Peers and Princes you may now refuse,
For one whom Love will to revenge 'em choose,
Without a Title, and without a Muse,
The Gentleman who recommended this Subject to me for an Epistle, is so good a Judge, that if I have pleas'd him in the Imitation of Mr. Waller's manner, I am sure the World will be satisfied. I own the attempt bold, and my Success doubtful, but if I may take the Assurances of those Friends who have seen it, I have not much to fear from the Criticks that shall see it hereafter.
(pp. 138-40)
Than hopes to have it said, they Fight and Love.
In Treason, or in Numbers safe, they dare,
And as they Love, thro' Wantonness they war.
If Rich their Master and his Slaves appear,
They neither matter what indeed they are.
The Province bought, his dreadful Arms invade,
The King's a Conq'ror, and the Muse well paid.
With Pomp, and many Words, his deeds are writ,
The Monarch's Conquests, like the Poets wit.
More Nations have not, were his Fable true,
By the Great Lewis, been enslav'd than you.
The Court you chose, a proper Scene to shew,
How far the Fairest are excell'd by you.
Where sighing Princes at your Feet are seen,
And suppliant Crouds adore you as their Queen.
For such they think you are, or shou'd have been.
By Laws confin'd, an Empire you despise,
And uncontroul'd, command us with your Eyes.
Kings may our Hands with Iron Fetters bind,
With Chains severer, you secure the Mind.
Monarchs to save their Subjects, shou'd employ,
The Pow'r, which first they did from them enjoy.
Carlisle, like Lewis, Conquers to destroy.
Too well our want, and your Desert you know,
We're still but paying, what you say we owe.
Deaf to our Praise, our Services you scorn,
They're a just Debt, and merit no Return.
Were you less fair, you fewer Slaves wou'd find,
And ev'n to those, to keep 'em, must be kind.
But when such Numbers to your Temple croud,
Our warm Devotion makes the Goddess proud.
She sees 'em, unconcern'd, before her fall,
Thinks 'tis their Duty, and despises all,
In Courts you hope, and Cities to maintain,
And spread the Terror of your Tyrant Reign.
Love, from Ambition, and from Tumult flies,
And in the distant Shade, in Ambush lies.
There with the Muses, and the Nymph He plays,
Walks in the Meads, or on the Mountain strays.
He sits by cooling Springs, he haunts your Bow'rs,
And steals upon your soft and silent Hours.
As much as you provoke, you dread him there,
And where you met him once, to meet him fear.
But know--if Love affects to reign in Shades,
He oft the Pallace, and the Throne invades.
Amid your Guards, you will not be secure,
When the God pleases to exert his Pow'r.
Your shining Slaves, will only serve to Grace,
The Triumphs of the Man he means to bless.
Knights, Peers and Princes you may now refuse,
For one whom Love will to revenge 'em choose,
Without a Title, and without a Muse,
The Gentleman who recommended this Subject to me for an Epistle, is so good a Judge, that if I have pleas'd him in the Imitation of Mr. Waller's manner, I am sure the World will be satisfied. I own the attempt bold, and my Success doubtful, but if I may take the Assurances of those Friends who have seen it, I have not much to fear from the Criticks that shall see it hereafter.
(pp. 138-40)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
John Oldmixon, Amores Britannici. Epistles Historical and Gallant, In English Heroic Verse: From several of The Most Illustrious Personages of their Times. In Imitation of the Heroidum Epistolæ of Ovid. With Notes explaining the Most Material Passages in every History (London: John Nutt, 1703). <Link to UVa E-Text Center>
Date of Entry
06/07/2005
Date of Review
05/23/2011
