mutual reason to love each other, if suffering for each other can endear affection. You have come togetlier a pair of matchless lovers, through many difficulties; he through a long exile, various traverses of fortune, and the interposition of many rivals, who violently ravished and with-held you from him; and certainly you have had your share in sufferings. But Providence has cast upon you want of trade, that you might appear bountiful to your country's necessities; and the rest of your afflictions are not more the effects of God's displeasure (frequent examples of them having been in the reign of the most excellent princes) than occasions for the manifesting of your Christian and civil virtucs. To you, therefore, this Year of Wonders is justly dedicated, because you have made it so. You, who are to stand a wonder to all years and ages, and who have built yourselves an immortal Monument on your own ruins. You are now a Phoenix in her ashes, and, as far as humanity can approach, a great emblem of the suffering Deity: but Heaven never made so much piety and virtue to leave it miserable. I have heard, indeed, of some vittuous persons who have ended unfortunately, but never of any virtuous nation: Providence is engaged too deeply, when the cause becomes so general; and I cannot imagine it has resolved the ruin of that people at home, which it has blessed abroad with such successes. I am therefore to conclude that your sufferings are at an end; and that

one part of my Poem has not been more an history of your destruction, than the other a prophesy of your restoration. The accomplishment of which happiness, as it is the wish of all true Englishmen, so it is by none more passionately desired, than by

The greatest of your admirers,

And most humble of your servants,

JOHN DRYDEN.

THE YEAR OF WONDERS, M.DC.LXVI.

.I.

IN thriving arts long time had Holland grown,
Crouching at home, and cruel when abroad : ;!
Scarce leaving us the means to claim our own;
Our King they courted, and our merchants aw'd.
II.

Trade, which, like blood, should circularly flow,
Stopp'd in their channels, found its freedom lost :
Thither the wealth of all the world did go,

And seem'd but shipwreck'd on so base a coast.
III.

For them alone the heav'n's had kindly heat,

In eastern quarries ripening precious dew:
For them the Idumæan balm did sweat,
And in hot Ceylon spicy forests grew.

IV.

The sun but seem'd the lab'rer of the year;

Each waxing moon supply'd her watʼry store, To swell those tides, which from the line did bear Their brim-full vessels to the Belgian shore.

V.

Thus, mighty in her ships, stood Carthage long, I
And swept the riches of the world from far;
Yet stoop'd to Rome, less wealthy, but more strong;
And this may prove our second Punic war.

Volume I.

G

VI.

What-peace can be where both to one pretend? (But they more diligent, and we more strong) Or if a peace, it soon must have an end;

For they would grow too powerful were it long.

I VII.

Behold two nations then, engag'd so far,

That each seven years the fit must shake each land; Where France will side to weaken us by war, Who only can his vast designs withstand.

See how he feeds th' Iberian with delays,
To render us his timely friendship vain;
And, while his secret soul on Flanders preys,
He rocks the cradle of the babe of Spain.
IX..

Such deep designs of empire does he lay
O'er them whose cause he seems to take in hand;
And, prudently, would make them lords at sea,
To whom with ease he can give laws by land.

X.

This saw our King; and long within his breast
His pensive counsels balanc'd to and fro:
He griev'd the land he freed should be opprest,
And he less for it than usurpers do.'

XI.

His gen'rous mind the fair ideas drew

Of fame and honour, which in dangers lay ;

75

Where wealth, like fruit on precipices, grew, Me
Not to be gather'd but by birds of prey.
XII.

The loss and gain each fatally were great;
And still his subjects call'd aloud for war. Lini
But peaceful kings, o'er martial people set,
Each other's poize and counterbalance are.

XIII.

He first survey'd the charge with careful eyes,

Which none but mighty monarchs could maintain;
Yet judg'd, like vapours that from limbecs rise,
It would in richer show'rs descend again.

XIV.

At length resolv'd' assert the wat'ry ball,
He in himself did whole armadoes bring:
Him aged seamen might their master call,

And chuse for general, were he not their King.

XV.

It seems as ev'ry ship their Sovereign knows,
His awful summons they so soon obey;
So hear the scaly herd when * Proteus blows,
And so to pasture follow through the sea.
XVI.

To see this fleet upon the ocean move,

Angels drew wide the curtains of the skies;

*When Proteus blows.]

-Cœruleus Proteus immania ponti

"Armenta et magnas pascit sub gurgite Phocas.