So when the Pana u is steed, 30 SEEING THE DUKE OF ORMOND'S* PICTURE AT SIR GODFREY KNELLER'S. UT from the injur'd canvas, Kneller, strike These lines too faint: the picture is not Exalt thy thought, and try thy toil again : * James Duke of Ormond, eldest son of Thomas, Earl of Ossory. He succeeded his grandfather in title and estate in the year 1688; was bred at Christ Church in the university of Oxford, and after holding many considerable posts during the reigns of King William and Queen Anne, was, in the beginning of the reign of George the First, attainted of high treason on account of his being concerned in the unpopular measures of the last four years of Queen Anne's reign. He died in exile in the year 1745, at a very advanced age. † At the battle of Landen the Duke of Ormond was taken prisoner after his horse was shot under him, and he had received many wounds. Mr. Dryden, in his dedication prefixed to his Fables in the year 1699, says, "Yet not to be wholly silent of all your charities, I must stay a little on one action, which preferred the relief of others to the consideration of yourself. When, in the battle of Landen, your heat of courage (a fault only pardonable to your youth) had transported you so far before your friends, that they were unable to follow, much less to succour you; when you were not only dangerously, but in all appearance mortally wounded, when in that desperate condition you were made prisoner, and carried to Namur, at that time in possession of the French; then it was, my Lord, that you took a considerable Place Ormond's Duke: impendent in the air 9 Till weak with wounds, and cover'd o'er with blood, 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 melioribus 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." Stern vengeance yet, and hostile terror stand: O Kneller, could thy shades and lights express 21 CELIA TO DAMON. Atque in amore mala hæc proprio, summeque secundo M LUCRET. lib. iv. HAT can I say, what arguments can prove My truth, what colours can describe my love; If its excess and fury be not known, In what thy Celia has already done? Thy infant flames, whilst yet they were conceal'd 10 And when you press'd, how faintly I deniedEre guardian thought could bring its scatter'd aid; 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; 30 And sure I am, thou wouldst not change this hour Poor as it is, this Beauty was the cause, 40 |