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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William Smith
Carmen Triumphale
[undated: June?]
Titlepage: Carmen Triumphale: / OR, / ENGLANDS / TRIUMPH / FOR / Her Restored LIBERTIE. / WITH / WHITE-HALLS SPEECH to her / Royal Master, CHARLES the Second KING of Great / BRITAIN, FRANCE and IRELAND, / Also her sad Complaint against the pretended Committee of Safety, Rumpers, / and the rest of those Cruel Tyrants, and unjust 1 Judges, who not / only defaced and spoiled Her Stately Buildings, but / also unjustly condemned her to be sold. / With two short Panagyricks to the Right Honourable 2 the City of LON-/ DON, and the University of CAMBRIDGE. / -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Numquam LIBERTAS gratior extat / Quam sub REGE pio. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- / Claudianus. / [rule] / By WILLIAM SMITH, Gent. / [rule] / LONDON, Printed for Wa. Jones, 1660.3
Clearly a rushed printing job; lots of inverted letters and missing letters: notice two on the titlepage. Could this be the same William Smith (d. 1696), of high birth, who became an actor after the Restoration? DNB has him starting out as a lawyer who quit the Inns for the stage. Claims to have attended Clare Hall. Evident interest in matters religious; offers some interesting details ie it rained on the 29th of May during the procession. Use of Ottoman details for contrast. Lots of "augustan" epithets -- noun + participle to form adjectival phrase.
Scattered Ottoman content throughout.
[1] unjust] unjnst O, OH -- cancel this note
[2]Honourable] ed; Honourble O, OH
[3] 1660.] ed; 1660.. O, OH
[ornamental design]
Englands Triumph
FOR,
Her Restored Liberties.
THough the refulgent and Illustrious Light
Of this high Theam might blind my duller sight,
Though the more serious more acute Essays
Of able Pens might be just Remora's 4
To my attempts; this Long-expected Day
Commands that I these grateful lines should pay.
My active Muse this joyful Time inspires,
And warms my Soul with more than usual fires.
But stay (my Muse) what beastly Creature's this
This terrour-causing Goblin? Sure it is
Not that three shapt Cymera, we are told,
Of by the ancient Poets; For behold
'Tis headless, wants both Body, Legs and Arms,
Good Dr. Faustus bring your strongest charmes,
Your strongest, for your best will scarce prevaile,
(I doubt) to conjure this deformed Tayle,
This Tayl compos'd of Haselrigs Charity,
Of Vains Religion, Martins Chastity,
Of Nevills Atheism, with those mighty pair
Of Horns Lord Mounson on his Front doth wear,
Of Tom Scots Secretary-ship and Lechery,
Of Fleetwoods Tears for his late Excellency,
Of Whitlocks Justice, of that Mercy that
Lisle did extend to Hewit, when he sat
Grand Butcher in Nols Inquisition, with
That Fury, (far worse than the Publick Faith)
The Good Old Cause. This long-liv'd Rump did dare
With an uncivil Civil War to tear
These Nations, and with damned Votes did make
The State to tremble and the Church to quake,
And did benight us in a wildenesse
Of frantick Lights and new-born Herisies.
At last All-seeing Heaven compassion took
And on sad England cast a milder look,
Then with a tongue that never spoke in vain
You may imagine she us'd such a strain.
Monster (more monstrous then what Africk breeds)
"Devouring Hydra with his many Heads,
"Far more prodigious then that ugly Snake
"Alcides slew in the Lern'an Lake!
"Be gone to duskie shakes of silent Night
"No more no more the pure Celestial Light,
"Contaminate with your sulphurious breath
"Be gone to th'unfrequented shades of Death;
"Upon the Stygian Banks a thousand yeares,
"(Possest with horrour, care-infusing fears)
"Wander, avaunt Fury with many heads!
"Vanish! 'tis all commanding Heaven that bids.
This said, these proud imperious Bassaes streight,
(Whose all-ore-breaking Rage the sollid weight
Of Englands Sacred Rights and Ancient Lawes
Ne're could restrain) with their dissembling Cause
And spurious brood of base dissembling Jacks,
Of Jenizaries and of Sansiacks,
Were by a cleansing, purging Northern wind
Swept clean away, and nothing left behind.
Then did Aurora (from her Rosie Bed
Rising) her Purple, blushing Mantle spread
Ore our Horizon, then the Day-Star clear
Englightned our long-shadowed Hemisphere;
And having shone a while resignes his Ray.
And re-enthrones our long desired Day.
But hold! what pleasing Musick's this, I hear?
O how it doth entice my ravisht ear!
Oh how the Thundring Drums and Trumpets sound
Whose heart rejoycing notes do not confound
My mind with dreadful Taratantara's;
No angry (yet well-rankt) Batalia's
Amaze my wondring eys; what need I fear?
These Londons peaceful Militia are.
This gallant Body to Hide-Park now goes,
Hide-Park, appointed for the Rendevouz,
Where Englands choisest *Heroes grac'd the Field, The
And in well practic'd hands their Pikes then held. Right
Imperial _ Vienna's walls did not, Honour-
See better Horse or braver bands of Foot, able the
When Charles the Fift that famous Army drew, Earl of
'Gainst the great Solyman and his numerous crew Winchel-
Now roaring volleys, now loud shouts do tear, sey M. G.
With Skies-ascending noise the Ambient Ayre: Massey,
With the shril sound Westminster Abbey rings; and Ald.
The sacred Reliques of our ancient Kings Bunce,
This thundring Eccho now awakes; yea then &c.
Our third and greatest, Edward thought again, Trained 5
Of Chresceys fearful field; that prosperous Fift Pikes
(That valiant Heroe) Henry then did lift there
Up his blest head, wondring to hear a sound, Turkish
That would, the noise of Agincourt have drownd. Hist of
An end draws nigh; the time conducting Sun Solyman
His thice auspitious glorious course hath run; the Mag. 6
Now doth the dark, incroaching night display.
Her sable curtains and excludes the Day,
Commanding all to leave th'adjacent Plain,
And joyfully home to retire again,
Where we will leave them till the next great Day,
With brisk Ly'us washing cares away.
Aurora rising in the Purple East,
The Humid Night, and Radiant Stars defac't,
When our great Senate do resolve to bring
Back and enthrone our lawful Royal King, The di-
_ Proclaiming 7 that his Majesty shall Reign scription
Of Britain, France and Ireland Soverign. of this
Now this long-wished 8 joyful, joyful *Day days So-
Its heart reviving Splendour doth display lemnity
The Sacred beams of Majesty draw near, is omited
And Loyal hearts with their bright Influence chear. because
Now favouring Heaven doth her assistance lend described
The flying Clouds commanding to discend in another
In dust-allaying drops, more precious than place by
That showre on Danae's lap Jove once did rain. a worthy
Wonder not Mortalls why these drops fall now, and lear-
Th'obsequious Clouds but their Allegiance show. ned Pen.
Englands brave Gentry should in rank stand here,
As they in order did this Day appear, May 29
I would, thrice noble Cyty, 9 here relate
The Regal Splendor and unusual State,
If time and want of room did not restrain
My now to this one sheet confined Pen.
When White-hall knew his Sacred Majestie
Within th'enclosure of her Walls to be,
Raising her lofty Tower-environed Head
Imagine thus (although scarce heard) she said,
Welcome (Great Master) Royal Charles, you are
Thrice welcome now; and you Illustrious Pair
Of High-born Princes welcome are, when I
Behold you all, O how I leap for Joy!
My Turrets all, would bow a willing head
To Kisse the ground whereon your feet do tread.
How long (Great Sir!) have I been desolate,
Wanting the luster of a Regal State,
Of a triumphant train and grand resort
Attending alwaies on my Princes Court!
How long did Earth-born Villains me possess,
How long a Sultan and a Sultanesse!
How long did Red-Coats in my Chambers sleep!
How long did me the Safe Committie keep,
Alas! I was condemned to be sold,
And to be turned into good, red Gold;
For the all-searching Rumps an art did know
(Which the best Chymist never yet could doe)
To Metamorphise houses [Parkes and all]
Into their pockets and to make them fall.
But this Day clears all doubts: for this blest Day.
Men, Women, Children, utmost joy display;
Yea I believe that harmless Infants are
Drunk with conceit of joy. Long may you here
Live, and with a peace-giving hand restore
That splendour to me, which I had before!
She said: when loud trimphant valleys tear,
With thundring Ecchoes the transparent Ayre,
The smoke of roaring Canons banish Light,
And flaming Bonefires do begin the Night.
To the City of LONDON, &c.
Pardon Illustrious City if I say
'Twas thou, which caused this their happy Day,
If thy life giving hand had not assay'd
To lend a never-discontinued aid
To this desired change, this rising Light
Had scarce dispel'd our long-tempestuous Night
How high (great City!) did thy glory rise
When valiant Walworth's hand did sacrifice
Those two pernicious * Rebells and their Cause Jack
To Englands just (by them infringed) Laws! straw and
Thy long-unequal'd deeds Eclipsed lie, Wat
(Walworth!) now Londons worthies clear outvie Tyler
Thy fame; thou sav'd the King and State (tis true)
But London gives a King to England new.
Londons best Patriots your immortal Fame,
Your glorious acts and never dying Name
Shall live, whilst Londons Bridge to th'sea gives Laws.
And Neptunes time-observing Surges aws.
Whilst through reed-bearing Banks Thames gently slides
And in a series of Meanders 10 glides
Towards Thetis kinder bosom; whilst his Rays
All-seeing Ph'bus at his rise displays
On the once far renowned structure of
Old Paul [its now become our greatest scoffe]
With grateful hands succeeding times shall rear
Up fame-preserving Statues to declare,
(If these our present times ingrateful prove)
To your immortal Names their ardent Love.
To the University of Cambridge, &c.
Now Alma Mater from the ashes raise
Thy head, adorned with Apollos Bays;
From thy Syderial 11 Face wipe of those tears
Which furrowed have thy cheekes these twice ten years
Thy discomposed, long unordered Haire
And dangling locks dresse as some time they were.
Thy Nectar-yielding Cup shall now oreflow,
And to it shall the Cornu-copia bow;
Thy night dispelling Sun shall further shine.
Then the cold Arcticke or Antarctick Line;
By armed Rage and Ignorance no more
Shall thy best Sons from thy kind breast be tore.
Now, O thrice noble 12 House, thy sacred wood
And polisht stones (once taken to make good
Defensive Rampers) great Apollo shall
With his well-tun'd, melodious Harp recall,
Amphion like, and make them to repair
The rising walls of thy intended square.
FINIS.
[4] ie hindrances; OED the remora is the sucking-fish, (Echeneis remora) believed to be capable to staying the course of any ship to which it attached itself; so an obstacle, hindrance or impediment.
[5] Trained] ed; Trailed O, OH
[6] no obvious work here: perhaps an edition of Knolles; this title does not appear until 1687, however.
[7] Proclaiming] ed; Prolaiming O, OH
[8]long-wished] ed; loug-wished O, OH
[9] Cyty] ed; Cylly O, OH
[10] Meanders] Meauders O, OH cancel note
[11] ie sideral, of the stars
[12] Clare Hall.