9 Place Ormond's Duke: impendent in the air part of what was remitted to you of your own revenues, and as a memorable instance of your heroic charity, put it into the hands of Count Guiscard, who was Governor of the place, to be distributed among your fellow-prisoners. The French commander, charmed with the greatness of your soul, accordingly consigned it to the use for which it was intended by the donor: by which means the lives of so many miserable men were saved, and a comfortable provision made for their subsistence, who had otherwise perished, had not you been the companion of their misfortune: or rather sent by Providence, like another Joseph, to keep out famine from invading those, whom in humility you called your brethren. How happy was it for those poor creatures, that your grace was made their fellow-sufferer! and how glorious for you, that you chose to want, rather than not relieve the wants of others! The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spoke like a Christian: Non ignara mali, miseris succurrere disco. All men, even those of a different interest, and contrary principles, must praise this action, as the most eminent for piety, not only in this degenerate age, but almost in any of the former; when men were made de meliore luto; when examples of charity were frequent, and when they were in being, Teucri pulcherrima proles, magnanimi heroes nati meliɔribus annis. No envy can detract from this; it will shine in history; and, like swans, grow whiter the longer it endures: and the name of Ormond will be more celebrated in his captivity, than in his greatest triumphs." The folio edition has "hears."-Ed. Stern vengeance yet, and hostile terror stand: O Kneller, could thy shades and lights express 21 If its excess and fury be not known, In what thy Celia has already done? Thy infant flames, whilst yet they were conceal'd In tim❜rous doubts, with pity I beheld; With easy smiles dispell'd the silent fear, That durst not tell me what I died to hear: In vain I strove to check my growing flame, Or shelter passion under friendship's name: You saw my heart, how it my tongue belied; 10 And when you press'd, how faintly I denied- Ere reason could support the doubting maid; From your command her motions she receiv'd; 20 Since thy dear breast has felt an equal wound; And sure I am, thou wouldst not change this hour For all the white ones Fate has in its power. Yet thus belov'd, thus loving to excess, 30 Poor as it is, this Beauty was the cause, 40 Shall only be of use to read, or weep: And on this forehead, where your verse has said, cease, may 50 And as the fuel sinks, the flame decrease: 61 Fantastic fame may sound her wild alarms: Your country, as you think, may want your arms. You may neglect, or quench, or hate the flame, Whose smoke too long obscur'd your rising name: And quickly cold indiff'rence will ensue ; When you Love's joys through Honour's optic view. Then Celia's loudest prayer will prove too weak, To this abandon'd breast to bring you back; When my lost lover the tall ship ascends, With music gay, and wet with jovial friends: The tender accents of a woman's cry Will pass unheard, will unregarded die; When the rough seaman's louder shouts prevail; When fair occasion shows the springing gale; 70 And Int'rest guides the helm; and Honour swells the sail. Some wretched lines from this negl ted hand May find my hero on the foreign strand, Warm with new fires, and pleas'd with new com mand: 80 90 While she who wrote 'em, of all joy bereft, While blooming Love assures us golden fruit, 100 |