MacLean, Gerald, editor. The Return of the King : An Anthology of English Poems Commemorating the Restoration
of Charles II / edited by Gerald MacLean
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
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Caledon's Gratulatory Rapture
[undated: after 29 May]
Charles is clearly back and in some sense in command, so the sense that these verses commemorate a particular day -- "This Day, This Solemn-memorable Day" -- suggest composition shortly after 29 May.
[ornamental header]
CALEDONS GRATULATORY RAPTURE
At the Happy Return of our Dread Lord and
SOVERAIGN
KING CHARLES
THE SECOND.
HEnce Hellish fury's to your Stygian Cells,
Here is nor Time, nor Place, for Charms, or Spells,
Our Horizontall Pho/ebus doth appear
To guild the Zodiack of this Hemisphear
5: With Royal Rayes: Although your furious rage
Long forc'd thir Clyms, to prove the dismall stage
Of Treasons, Murthers, Ruins, Rapins, When
Pow'r was usurped by the scum of men:
The Throne was Raz'd, And Sacred Majestie
10: Was sacrifized to the Tyrannie
Of worst of Vermin, All the Royall Race
Exil'd, and Royalty in high disgrace
Enter'd; How (then) obscured was our Light?
Our Day transformed to Cymerian night?
Yet from thus Pho/enix's ashes, lo, their springs
A Pho/enix that's the Diadem of Kings:
With what transcending glory doth he rise,
To clear the shads of our long dark'ned skies;
The Thron's repaired, Majesty restor'd,
20: The Regal Race return'd, admir'd, ador'd!
Brave Heroe's, great restorers of the Crown!
All future ages shall your true renown
Admire; And the unparalelled Storie
Proclaim, of your so much deserving Glorie.
25: But gen'rous George, the George most high deserves
Of Royal bounty, which as yet reserves
A Magazine of Honour, to Proclame
The meritorious grandour of his Fame:
While Regicids with infamie arraign'd,
30: And all their Complice's with shame are stain'd.
Then Loyal Natives, let us chaunt and sing
With chearful Acclamations Carolling
This Day, This Solemn-memorable Day
How beautified, by the Royal Ray
35: Of Sacred Majestie? How hearts, and tongues
Englarged are, in chearful cries and songs?
The Heaven's resoun'd, The Eccho's do reply,
The sweet concordance of this Harmony:
Long live Renown'd, Renown'd long be the Raign
Of Charl's the Second, our Dread Soveraign.
FINIS.