| OCR Text |
Show The Eplftle Dedicatory. there the great Queftion is freely and reafonably debated, the noife of Faction, and conftraint of Formality ; and there was laid that prodigious Scheme of Government, that foon recovered their bleeding Country, heal'd the Wounds of the Civil W a r , bleft the Empire with a lafting Peace, and flil'd its Monarch, Pater PatrU. The Parallel, m y Lord, is eafily made; w e have our Cafar too, no lefs renowned than the foremention'd Auguflus-, he firft afferted our Liberties at home againft Popery and Thraldom, headed our Armies abroad with Bravery and Succefs, gave Peace to Europe, and Security to our Religion. A n d you, any Lord, are his Memos, the private Councellor to thofe great Tranfadtions which have made England fo formidable to its Enemies, that (which I blufh to o w n ) it is grown jealous of its Friends. But here, m y Lord, appears the particular Wifdom and Circumfpection of ypur Lordfhip's Conduct, that you fo firmly retain the Favour of your Mafter without the Envy of the Subject; your Moderation and even Deportment between both, has fecur'd to your Lordfhip the Ear of the King, and the Heart of the People; the Nation has voted you their Good Angel in all Suits and Petitions to their Prince, and their Succels fills the three Kingdoms with, daily Praifes of your Lordfhip's Goodnefs. and his Majefty°s Grace and Clemency. A1 id now, m y Lord, give m e leave humbly to beg, that a-mong all the good Actions of your Lordfhip's high and happy Station, the encouragement oi Arts and Literature m a y not be folely excluded from the influence of your Favour. The Polite Mec&nits, wi.om I prefum'd to make a Parallel to your Lordfhip in the Favour of his Prince, had his Virgil, and his Horace, and his Time was moftly divided between the Emperor and the Poet; he fo manag'd his Stake of Royal Favour, that as Auguflus made him Great, fo the Mufes fix'd him Immortal ; and Maro's Excellency, m y Lord, will appear the lefs wonder, when w e confider that his Pen was fo cherifh'd with Bounty, and infpir'd by Gratitude. But I can lay no claim to the Merits of fo great a Pcrfon for m y accefs to your Lordfhip ; I have only this to recommend me without Art, void of Rhetorick, that I a m a true lover of m y King, and pay an unfeign'd Veneration to all thofe w h o are his trufty Servants, and faithful Minifters j which infers that I a m , m y Lord, with all fubmiffion, Tour Lordfhip's moft devoted, 04 moffG .ob edFieAntR hCumLblUe HSeArvRa.nt ] |
