A CONGRATULATION To our newly restored PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMON-VVEALTH of ENGLAND.

HAIL, Sacred Common-weal; for sure thou art
The joy and comfort of each honest heart.
How wert thou clouded in thy Virgin-birth,
That made our Zion soon lose all her mirth?
Thou first-born of great Jove, and yet kept under
By sons of Earth, which was our greatest wonder;
But now it doth revive our hearts affection,
To see again thy much wisht resurrection.
Can a true English heart now silent be,
Being freed from Bondage and from Tyrannie?
And will it not lowd 10 Paeans sing?
And shout forth praises to our Heavenly King?
What makes our Muses silent now to be
In this great change? Were all for Monarchie
Inspir'd and tun'd? Athens I'me sure free State
Brought forth great Captains, as well men of pate.
Your Fountain's dry, or else your great Pan's dead,
Are all come life-lesse sourls ha'ing lost your head?
Or has the second birth of our Free-State
Sent ye all packing hence, and wrought your fate?
Some say that in a free-born Common-weal
Wits will increase, and come more liberal.
That all are silent struck, I much admire;
Did Interest or gain your souls inspire?
If your great Heroe were alive agen,
Hee'd little thank such mercenary men,
That clawd the Father, and when he was gon,
Eat up their words, and then forsook his Son.
Sure it is just that each one should inherit
The due reward of his great Acts and Merit.
And though great Caesar vow'd Romes slavery,
Yet Rome grew great by Caesars gallantry:
His fault was Caesars, aiming at a Crown,
T'enslave the Publick, tread our freedoms down.
But who would not of men a Caesar be,
So sweet is Rule and Royal Soveraigntie?
But thanks Great Senators, who'd not forgot
Out Publick freedoms, nor the common Plot
Of the stout Royalists both new and old,
That to enslave us all were grown so bold.
Blessed be providence 'cause ye again up stand
Without new Wars, by small help of mans hand.
Be wise then now ye Rulers, Kisse the Son,
Be not self-seekers, but let all be don
In Righteonsnesse and Justice unto all,
Then by the hands of foes you shall not fall;
And let th'Oppresseds loads be laid aside;
Let trust and charge in honest hands reside.
So will you flourish, and the World shall see
The righteous fruits of your new Olive-tree:
And then Ile say, predict and prophecy,
Your State will stand to perpetuity.
So prayeth
W. H.

LONDON, Printed by J. T. in the year 1659.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.