One may strive "On every Subject's Heart to seal his Love ... What Breast so hard? what Heart of human make, / But softning did the kind Impression take?"
— Duke, Richard (1658-1711)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson [etc.]
Date
1717
Metaphor
One may strive "On every Subject's Heart to seal his Love ... What Breast so hard? what Heart of human make, / But softning did the kind Impression take?"
Metaphor in Context
Dead is the King, who all our Lives did bless!
Our Strength in War, and our delight in Peace!
Was ever Prince like him to Mortals giv'n,
So much the Joy of Earth and Care of Heav'n!
Under the Pressure of unequal Fate,
Of so Erect a Mind and Soul so Great!
So full of Meekness and so void of Pride,
When born aloft by Fortune's highest Tide!
His kindly Beams on the ungrateful Soil
Of this Rebellious, Stubborn, Murm'ring Isle
Hatch'd Plenty; Ease and Riches did bestow,
And made the Land with Milk and Honey flow!
Less blest was Rome, when mild Augustus sway'd,
And the glad World for Love, not Fear, obey'd.
Mercy, like Heaven's, his chief Prerogative!
His Joy to save, and Glory to forgive!
Who lives, but felt his Influ'nce, and did share
His boundless Goodness and paternal Care?
And whilst with all th'endearing Arts he strove
On every Subject's Heart to seal his Love,
What Breast so hard? what Heart of human make,
But softning did the kind Impression take?
Belov'd and Loving! with such Virtues grac'd,
As might on common Heads a Crown have plac'd!
How skill'd in all the Mysteries of State!
How fitting to sustain an Empire's Weight!
How quick to know! how ready to advise!
How timely to prevent! how more than Senates wise!
His Words how charming, affable and sweet!
How just his Censure! and how sharp his Wit!
How did his charming Conversation please
The blest Attenders on his Hours of Ease;
When graciously he deign'd to condescend,
Pleas'd to exalt a Subject to a Friend!
To the most Low how easie of access!
Willing to hear and longing to redress!
His Mercy knew no Bounds of Time or Place,
His Reign was one continu'd Act of Grace!
Good Titus could, but Charles could never say,
Of all his Royal Life he lost a Day.
Excellent Prince! O once our Joy and Care,
Now our Eternal Grief and deep Despair!
O Father! or if ought than Father's more!
How shall thy Children their sad Loss deplore?
How grieve enough; when anxious thoughts recal
The mournful Story of their Sov'reign's fall?
Oh! who that Scene of Sorrow can display;
When, waiting Death, the fearless Monarch lay!
Tho' great the Pain and Anguish that he bore,
His Friends and Subjects Grief afflict him more!
Yet even that, and coming Fate, he bears;
But sinks and faints to see a Brother's Tears!
The mighty Grief, that swell'd his Royal Breast,
Scarce reach'd by Thought, can't be by Words exprest!
Grief for himself: For Grief for Charles is vain,
Who now begins a new Triumphant Reign,
Wellcom'd by all kind Spirits and Saints above,
Who see themselves in him, and their own likeness love!
Our Strength in War, and our delight in Peace!
Was ever Prince like him to Mortals giv'n,
So much the Joy of Earth and Care of Heav'n!
Under the Pressure of unequal Fate,
Of so Erect a Mind and Soul so Great!
So full of Meekness and so void of Pride,
When born aloft by Fortune's highest Tide!
His kindly Beams on the ungrateful Soil
Of this Rebellious, Stubborn, Murm'ring Isle
Hatch'd Plenty; Ease and Riches did bestow,
And made the Land with Milk and Honey flow!
Less blest was Rome, when mild Augustus sway'd,
And the glad World for Love, not Fear, obey'd.
Mercy, like Heaven's, his chief Prerogative!
His Joy to save, and Glory to forgive!
Who lives, but felt his Influ'nce, and did share
His boundless Goodness and paternal Care?
And whilst with all th'endearing Arts he strove
On every Subject's Heart to seal his Love,
What Breast so hard? what Heart of human make,
But softning did the kind Impression take?
Belov'd and Loving! with such Virtues grac'd,
As might on common Heads a Crown have plac'd!
How skill'd in all the Mysteries of State!
How fitting to sustain an Empire's Weight!
How quick to know! how ready to advise!
How timely to prevent! how more than Senates wise!
His Words how charming, affable and sweet!
How just his Censure! and how sharp his Wit!
How did his charming Conversation please
The blest Attenders on his Hours of Ease;
When graciously he deign'd to condescend,
Pleas'd to exalt a Subject to a Friend!
To the most Low how easie of access!
Willing to hear and longing to redress!
His Mercy knew no Bounds of Time or Place,
His Reign was one continu'd Act of Grace!
Good Titus could, but Charles could never say,
Of all his Royal Life he lost a Day.
Excellent Prince! O once our Joy and Care,
Now our Eternal Grief and deep Despair!
O Father! or if ought than Father's more!
How shall thy Children their sad Loss deplore?
How grieve enough; when anxious thoughts recal
The mournful Story of their Sov'reign's fall?
Oh! who that Scene of Sorrow can display;
When, waiting Death, the fearless Monarch lay!
Tho' great the Pain and Anguish that he bore,
His Friends and Subjects Grief afflict him more!
Yet even that, and coming Fate, he bears;
But sinks and faints to see a Brother's Tears!
The mighty Grief, that swell'd his Royal Breast,
Scarce reach'd by Thought, can't be by Words exprest!
Grief for himself: For Grief for Charles is vain,
Who now begins a new Triumphant Reign,
Wellcom'd by all kind Spirits and Saints above,
Who see themselves in him, and their own likeness love!
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "seal" in HDIS (Poetry); found again "impression"
Date of Entry
04/17/2005
