WHEN 1 first the Ark was landed on the Shore, | |
| And Heav’n had vowed to curse the Ground no more, | |
| When Tops of Hills the longing Patriark saw, | |
| And the new Scene of Earth began to draw, | |
| The Dove was sent to View the Waves Decrease, | 5 |
| And first brought back to Man the Pledge of Peace. | |
| ’Tis needless to apply, when those appear | |
| Who bring the Olive, and who Plant it here. | |
| We have before our Eyes the Royal Dove, | |
| Still Innocence is Harbinger to Love. | 10 |
| The Ark is open’d to dismiss the Train, | |
| And people with a better Race the Plain. | |
| Tell me, you Pow’rs, why should vain Man pursue | |
| With endless Toyl each object that is new, | |
| And for the seeming Substance leave the true? | 15 |
| Why should he quit for Hopes his certain good, | |
| And loath the Manna of his daily food? | |
| Must England still the Scene of Changes be, | |
| Tost and Tempestuous like our Ambient Sea? | |
| Must still our Weather and our Wills agree? | 20 |
| Without our Blood our Liberties we have; | |
| Who that is Free would fight to be a Slave? | |
| Or what can Wars to after Times Assure, | |
| Of which our Present Age is not secure? | |
| All that our Monarch would for us Ordain | 25 |
| Is but t’ injoy the Blessings of his Reign. | |
| Our Land’s an Eden and the Main’s our Fence, | |
| While we preserve our State of Innocence: | |
| That lost, then Beasts their Bruital Force employ, | |
| And first their Lord and then themselves destroy. | 30 |
| What Civil Broils have cost we knew too well; | |
| Oh! let it be enough that once we fell, | |
| And every Heart conspire, with every Tongue, | |
| Still to have such a King, and this King Long. | |
