ON the Death of his Grace JOHN DUKE of ROTHES, LORD High CHANCELLOUR of SCOTLAND, &c.
ELEGIE.
ISRAEL for
Moses fourty days did Mourn,
Our Joy to Grief, twice fourty days may turn;
Scotlands Conductor,
ROTHES, Wise and Brave,
Ah! now Himself Conducted is to Grave:
ROTHES did Rule our Helm in Storms, and Grace
The Halcyon Calmness of our Oceans Peace:
Dread
Comet, ah! too dreadful not in vain.
Fatal to
Albions Pole, and
Charles his
Wain;
Judicious
DƲKE, able to quench all Jarrs,
On which may rise Uncivil, Civil Warrs,
Most prudent States-man, Sage to Reconceal,
Knowing thy
Kings Will, was the
Kingdoms Well,
In
Court, in
Camp, in
City, Field, or
Town;
Worthy to bear a
Batton or a
Gown.
No
Fate could make thy Loyalty relent:
Nor Bondage of thy long Imprisonment;
Give
Thou then Griev'd, it was that then the while
Thou could not Serve thy Master in Exyle;
Yet there
Thy Thoughts, and Corrospondence too,
Acted the most a Prisoner could do;
Yet never Winter made of Summer, more
Joyful to
Thee, when
Heavens did
Him Restore:
And made
Thy Self after a long Restraint:
A Vig'rous, and most Active Instrument,
For which, Thou didst Thy
Monarchs Love Inherit,
The due Reward of Thy Desert and Merit;
A Love most Firm, and Great, to be Admir'd,
But Chang'd to Sorrow, since
Thy Breath expyr'd.
Great
DƲKE, Lord
Chancellour, Gen'ral, Thesaurer,
His Majesties most High
Commissioner.
What Greatness could
Thou Want, Thy
King could Give,
Who only in Thy Destiny did Grieve;
He Could not also give Thee long to Live.
Yet, since
Heavens Doom, no Flesh from Death reprives;
Thou'rt Mourn'd by
Scotlands Representatives;
Thy Death makes
York, our High
Commissioner Sad:
He, even more High, then ere our Nation had.
To Pen Thy Praise, exceeds all Poets Skill;
And does require
Apollo's Choisest Quill;
Sure then
Thy Name great Honour does obtain,
To whom the Highest Praises are but Mean.
Then Blest are You
Coelestial Minds that move,
Uncessantly the Spacious
Orbs Above;
For if Your Toyl prove Irksome, You may Rest,
And Trust Your work to this New
Heavenly Guest.
M. M.