Page:Comus and other poems - Milton (1906).djvu/88

  Fairfax, whose name in armes through Europe rings
 * Filling each mouth with envy, or with praise,
 * And all her jealous monarchs with amaze,
 * And rumors loud, that daunt remotest kings,

Thy firm unshak'n vertue ever brings
 * Victory home, though new rebellions raise
 * Thir Hydra heads, & the fals North displaies
 * Her brok'n league, to impe their serpent wings,

O yet a nobler task awaites thy hand;
 * For what can Warr, but endless warr still breed,
 * Till Truth, & Right from Violence be freed,

And Public Faith cleard from the shamefull brand
 * Of Public Fraud. In vain doth Valour bleed
 * While Avarice, & Rapine share the land.

  Cromwell, our cheif of men, who through a cloud
 * Not of warr onely, but detractions rude,
 * Guided by faith & matchless Fortitude
 * To peace & truth thy glorious way hast plough'd,

And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud
 * Hast reard Gods Trophies & his work pursu'd,
 * While Darwen stream with blood of Scotts imbru'd,
 * And Dunbarr feild resounds thy praises loud,

And Worsters laureat wreath; yet much remaines
 * To conquer still; peace hath her victories
 * No less renownd then warr, new foes aries

Threatning to bind our soules with secular chaines:
 * Helpe us to save free Conscience from the paw
 * Of hireling wolves whose Gospell is their maw.

 Rh