25 For from all tempers he could service draw;
       The worth of each, with its alloy, he knew;
     And, as the confidant of Nature, saw
       How she complexions did divide and brew.

  26 Or he their single virtues did survey,
       By intuition, in his own large breast;
     Where all the rich ideas of them lay;
       That were the rule and measure to the rest.

  27 When such heroic virtue Heaven sets out,
       The stars, like commons, sullenly obey;
     Because it drains them when it comes about,
       And therefore is a tax they seldom pay.

  28 From this high spring our foreign conquests flow,
       Which yet more glorious triumphs do portend;
     Since their commencement to his arms they owe,
       If springs as high as fountains may ascend.

  29 He made us freemen of the Continent,[11]
       Whom Nature did like captives treat before;
     To nobler preys the English lion sent,
       And taught him first in Belgian walks to roar.

  30 That old unquestion’d pirate of the land,
       Proud Rome, with dread the fate of Dunkirk heard;
     And trembling wish’d behind more Alps to stand,
       Although an Alexander[12] were her guard.

  31 By his command we boldly cross’d the line,
       And bravely fought where southern stars arise;
     We traced the far-fetch’d gold unto the mine,
       And that which bribed our fathers made our prize.

  32 Such was our prince; yet own’d a soul above
       The highest acts it could produce to show: 
     Thus poor mechanic arts in public move,
       Whilst the deep secrets beyond practice go.

  33 Nor died he when his ebbing fame went less,
       But when fresh laurels courted him to live: 
     He seem’d but to prevent some new success,
       As if above what triumphs earth could give.

  34 His latest victories still thickest came,
       As near the centre motion doth increase;
     Till he, press’d down by his own weighty name,
       Did, like the vestal,[13] under spoils decease.

  35 But first the ocean as a tribute sent
       The giant prince of all her watery herd;
     And the Isle, when her protecting genius went,
       Upon his obsequies loud sighs[14] conferr’d.

  36 No civil broils have since his death arose,
       But faction now by habit does obey;
     And wars have that respect for his repose,
       As winds for halcyons, when they breed at sea.

  37 His ashes in a peaceful urn[15] shall rest;
       His name a great example stands, to show
     How strangely high endeavours may be blest,
       Where piety and valour jointly go.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 5:  ‘Sacred eagle:’  the Romans let fly an eagle from the pile of a dead Emperor.]