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 Those smallest Things of Nature let me know, Rather than all their greatest Actions do. Whoever would deposed Truth advance Into the Throne usurp'd from it, Must feel at first the Blows of Ignorance, And the sharp Points of envious Wit, So when by various turns of the Celestial Dance, In many thousand Years A Star, so long unknown, appears, Though Heaven it self more beauteous by it grow, It troubles and alarms the World below, Does to the Wife a Star to Fools a Meteor show. With Courage and Success you the bold work begin; Your Cradle has not idle been: None e'er but Hercules and you could be At five Years Age worthy a History. And ne'er did Fortune better yet Th' Historian to the Story fit: As you from all old Errors free And purge the Body of Philosophy; So from all modern Follies He Has vindicated Eloquence and Wit. His candid Style like a clean Stream does slide, And his bright Fancy all the way Does like the Sun-shine in it play; It does like  Thames, the best of Rivers, glide, Where the God does not rudely overturn, But gently pour the crystal Urn, And with judicious Hand does the whole Current guide. H' has all the Beauties Nature can impart, And all the comely Dress without the Paint of Art.

A. COWLEY.