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ODE.

MR. COWLEY'S BOOK PRESENTING ITSELF TO THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF OXFORD.

HAIL, Learning's Pantheon! Hail, the sacred ark Where all the world of science does embark! [stood, Which ever shall withstand, and hast so long withInsatiate Time's devouring flood.

Hail, tree of knowledge! thy leaves fruit! which well Dost in the midst of paradise arise,

Oxford! the Muses' paradise,

From which may never sword the bless'd expel!
Hail, bank of all past ages! where they lie
T'enrich with interest posterity!

Hail, Wit's illustrious Galaxy!

Where thousand lights into one brightness spread; Hail, living University of the dead!

Unconfus'd Babel of all tongues! which e'er
The mighty linguist Fame, or Time, the mighty tra-
That could speak, or this could hear. [veller,

Majestick monument and pyramid !

Where still the shades of parted souls abide
Embalm❜d in verse; exalted souls which now
Enjoy those arts they woo'd so well below;
Which now all wonders plainly see,
That have been, are, or are to be,
In the mysterious library,

The beatifick Bodley of the Deity!....

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Will you into your sacred throng admit
The meanest British Wit?

You, general-council of the priests of Fame,
Will you not murmur and disdain,
That I a place among you claim,
The humblest deacon of her train?
allow me th' honourable chain?
The chain of ornament, which here

Will

you

Your noble prisoners proudly wear;

A chain which will more pleasant seem to me
Than all my own Pindarick liberty!

Will ye to bind me with those mighty names submit,
Like an Apocrypha with holy Writ?

Whatever happy book is chained here,
No other place or people need to fear;
His chain's a passport to go every-where.

As when a seat in heaven

Is to an unmalicious sinner given,

}

Who, casting round his wondering eye, Does none but patriarchs and apostles there espy; Martyrs who did their lives bestow,

And saints, who martyrs liv'd below; With trembling and amazement he begins To recollect his frailties past and sins;

He doubts almost his station there;

His soul says to itself, "How came I here ?"
It fares no otherwise with me,

When I myself with conscious wonder see
Amidst this purify'd elected company.

}

With hardship they, and pain,

Did to this happiness attain:

No labour I, nor merits, can pretend;

I think predestination only was my friend.

Ah,
that my author had been ty'd like me
To such a place and such a company!
Instead of several countries, several men,

And business, which the Muses hate,
He might have then improv'd that small estate
Which Nature sparingly did to him give;
He might perhaps have thriven then,

And settled upon me, his child, somewhat to live.

'T had happier béen for him, as well as me;
For when all, alas! is done,

We books, I mean, You books, will prove to be
The best and noblest conversation:

For, though some errors will get in,

Like tinctures of original sin;

Yet sure we from our fathers' wit

Draw all the strength and spirit of it,

Leaving the grosser parts for conversation,

As the best blood of man's employ'd in generation.

ODE.

SITTING AND DRINKING IN THE CHAIR MADE

OUT OF THE RELICKS OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE'S SHIP.

CHEER up, my mates, the wind does fairly blow, Clap on more sail, and never spare;

Farewell all lands, for now we are

In the wide sea of drink, and merrily we go. Bless me, 't is hot! another bowl of wine,

And we shall cut the burning Line :

Hey, boys! she scuds away, and by my head I know
We round the world are sailing now.

What dull men are those that tarry at home,
When abroad they might wantonly roam,

And gain such experience, and spy too
Such countries and wonders, as I do!
But pr'ythee, good pilot, take heed what you do,
And fail not to touch at Peru!

With gold there the vessel we 'll store,

And never,

and never be poor,

No, never be poor any more.

}

What do I mean? What thoughts do me misguide? As well

upon a staff may witches ride

Their fancy'd journeys in the air,

As I sail round the ocean in this chair!

'Tis true; but yet this chair which here you see,

For all tis quite now, and gravity,

Has wander'd and has travell❜d more

Than ever beast, or fish, or bird, or ever tree, before:
In every air and every sea 't has been, ['t has seen.
"T has compass'd all the earth, and all the heavens
Let not the Pope's itself with this compare,
This is the only universal chair.

The pious wanderer's fleet, sav'd from the flame
(Which still the relicks did of Troy pursue,
And took them for its due),

A squadron of immortal nymphs became :
Still with their arms they row about the seas,
And still make new and greater voyages:
Nor has the first poetick ship of Greece
(Though now a star she so triumphant show,
And guide her sailing successors below,
Bright as her ancient freight the shining fleece)
Yet to this day a quiet harbour found;
The tide of heaven still carries her around.
Only Drake's sacred vessel (which before
Had done and had seen more

Than those have done or seen,

Ev'n since they Goddesses and this a Star has been), As a reward for all her labour past,

Is made the seat of rest at last.

Let the case now quite alter'd be,

And, as thou went'st abroad the world to see,
Let the world now come to see thee!

The world will do 't; for curiosity

Does, no less than devotion, pilgrims.make;

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