Oh! no, says the shepherd, I mourn none of these,
Content with such changes as Heaven shall please;
Tho’ now we have got the wrong side of the year,
’Twill turn up again, and fresh beauties appear:
But the loss that I grieve for no time can restore;
Our master that lov’d us so well is no more;
That oak which we hop’d wou’d long shelter us all,
Is fallen; then well may we shake at its fall.
Where find we a pastor so kind and so good,
So careful to feed us with wholesomest food,
To watch for our safety, and drive far away
The sly prouling fox that would make us his prey?
Oh! may his remembrance for ever remain
To shame those hard shepherds who, mindful of gain,
Only look at their sheep with an eye to the fleece,
And watch ’em but so as the fox watch’d the geese.
Whom now shall I choose for the theme of my song?
Or must my poor pipe on the willow be hung?
No more to commend that good nature and sense,
Which always cou’d please, but ne’er once gave offence.
What honour directed he firmly pursu’d,
Yet would not his judgment on others intrude;
Still ready to help with his service and vote,
But ne’er to thrust oar in another man’s boat.
No more, honest shepherd, these sorrows resound,
The virtues thou praisest, so hard to be found,
Are yet not all fled, for the swain who succeeds
To his fields and his herds is true heir to his deeds;
His pattern he’ll follow, his gentleness use,
Take care of the shepherds and cherish the muse:
Then cease for the dead thy impertinent care,
Rejoice, he survives in his brother and heir.
ON THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY MONARCH
KING JAMES,
ON HIS EXALTATION ON THE THRONE OF ENGLAND.
Being an excellent new song. From a “Collection of One Hundred and Eighty Loyal Songs, written since 1678.”
To the tune of “Hark! the Thundering Cannons roar.”
Hark! the bells and steeples ring!
A health to James our royal King;
Heaven approves the offering,
Resounding in chorus;
Let our sacrifice aspire,
Richest gems perfume the fire,
Angels and the sacred quire
Have led the way before us.
Thro’ loud storms and tempests driven,
This wrong’d prince to us was given,
The mighty James, preserved by Heaven
To be a future blessing;
The anointed instrument,
Good great Charles to represent,
And fill our souls with that content
Which we are now possessing.
Justice, plenty, wealth, and peace,
With the fruitful land’s increase,
All the treasures of the seas,
With him to us are given;
As the brother, just and good,
From whose royal father’s blood
Clemency runs like a flood,
A legacy from Heaven.