Tertullus Christianus, or, Thanks for the Kings indulgence, with a rebuke of ingratitude.

Tertullus Christianus , Or Thanks for the Kings Indulgence , with a Rebuke of Ingratitude . BE gone Sarcastick Harpyes and your Spawns , Hence ye rough Satyrs , and ye flattering Fawns : Cynicks avast , whose wits composed be Of Chymick drugs , Salt , Sulphur , Mercury . Whilst joyful Non-conformists welcome in Their year of Jubilee with cheerful din ; And with a Clang sent from the Silver Trump Blow joy to friends , and strike into a dump Repining Foes Come , sound aloud , and clear ; Let no harsh jarring in your notes appear . Conform in this : Transports of gladness shall Pass for Fanaticism Venial . Confinement to a Cage and place obscure To sing well now must needs have taught you sure . If Memnons broken statue , by the ray Of rising Phaebus warm'd the harp could play ; And if Drebellus Organs , thaw'd alone By the Suns heat , gave a melodious tone ; What ? shall not we , when , such a Light is shewn , Prove that our Instruments are right in tune ? A Light , like that which Peters Angel brought , ( And which the same Celestial power hath wrought ) Whose piercing Lustre hath dissolv'd our chains . And th' Iron-gate relaxed without pains . Setting us Gratis in the open street O● Liberty , with clear unshackled feet . Look now but up , and see a brighter Scene , How the Wrack rides , and Heavens are made serene By Royal breath ; The Sun with free aspect Doth equal light and warmth to all project . The Floods are calm'd , the swelling Surges cease , Asswag'd by powerful Trident ; that in peace The Halcyons now may build their nests . — But oh , What mean yon ominous Porpus to and fro , Lifting their swarthy backs above the Main , As if they did predict some Hurricane Or dreadful Tempest ? which way stands the wind ? South East by East . That Quarter is unkind ; But yet me thinks the sky looks very clear , Within the Compass of our Hemisphear . Take the Perspective then , contract your eye . Well , now a little cloud I do descry Like a Mans hand stretcht out , ( here Like 's the same ) A great way off , towards the Mediterrane . Why , this same Cloud , unless you hasten in , Will all ' orecast , and wet you to the skin . How skill you that ? Perhaps 't will disappear In time , or meetly turn to wind : how 'ere We 'r in good safty yet , if 't come no near . Why ? hear you not what France of late hath done ? How they 've a Channell cut from the Garown To the Levant ? an expeditious way , Pontifex . Whereby the Bridge-maker of Thymbris may Convey materials to our narrow Seas , And let in such Philistines as he please By such a Bridge , as Xerxes numerous hoast Discharg'd themselves upon the Thracian coast , Well , stay but till you see his Gallies float , And then perhaps in a small Fishers Boat , Like him , he 'l backward Cross the Ocean , As right Successor to a Fisherman . But why such strange surmizes ? sure ye be Slipt from the discipline of Agape . Ha's the late signal Favour merited No better sentiments , or judgement bred ? The Pope must come , because it may be so ; He 'l thrust-in's body , where he gets-in's Toe . Is Charls and James , and great Eliza's name Grown Cyphers then , d' ye think ? away for shame , And keep your May-bees closs , nor let them swarm So soon ; you 'l find their stings will do much harm , And many inward swellings cause , whose rage Honey alone , and sweetness will asswage . Would you that Shem and Japhet slight the Ark , Because a Cham himself doth there imbark ? Or should the Sheep and Doves have kept away Because it harbour'd Wolves and Birds of prey ? Where Prudence rules affairs , all will do well , And noxious things are kept within their Cell . Well aim'd that ancient Sage , who said or sung , Each thing two Handles had , a right and wrong : You think perhaps by your lefthanded slights T' augment the number of the Benjamites ; But hit aright , I guess , you never will , No gain their glory by your awkard skill . What wayward mood incites you to catch hold Of the hot end , when you may take the cold ? Forbear in time , 't will scortch your hands , I wis ; Spit but on 't first , and you shall find it hiss . This is like Moses Rod ; offer to take It by the head , 't will prove a biting snake ; Catch th' end that 's tractable , 't will straight commence A staffe both for support , and for defence , And may perhaps , if rightly us'd , no less Then his in time effect strange miracles Do not like peevish Children then refuse The profferd good , which you deny'd would chuse ; Nor shew your selves such idiot Rustick folk To chew the wrong end of the Artichoak ; Nor yet such Cockneys , as your mouths to rake With awnes of wheat , when you the grain may take . Believe a Friend , you 'l make him so : and this May prove the Prodrome of a greater bliss . Retire a while ; Let those that dread the title Of New-Phanaticks , shew their skill a little . And furbish th ir'Artillery , to contest With this new Romish , or Romantick Beast . Let them with their ador'd Rati●cination Combate this Monster of their own Creation : Forbear , good Pope , and keep beyond the Sea ; Thou' rt kil'd already in Effigie . Or if to vent their passion they but mean ? 'T will serve in time t'evacuate their spleen . Whilst our Tertullus , fraught with gratitude , Doth with his old Preamble now conclude , Since we by Thee great quietness enjoy , Nor Poenall Laws for Conscience us annoy , But very worthy deeds Thou dost dispense Unto this Nation , by thy providence , We always do accept so great Redress , Most Noble Felix , with all thankfulness . Deus nobis haec otia fecit . W. W.