So great a trust to him alone was due;
Well have they trusted whom so well they knew.
The saint, who walked on waves, securely trod,
While he believed the beck'ning of his God;
But when his faith no longer bore him out,
Began to sink, as he began to doubt.
Let us our native character maintain;
'Tis of our growth, to be sincerely plain.
To excel in truth we loyally may strive,
Set privilege against prerogative:
He plights his faith, and we believe him just;
His honour is to promise, ours to trust.
Thus Britain's basis on a word is laid,
As by a word the world itself was made[1].
Footnote:
1. From this Epilogue we learn, what is confirmed by many proofs
elsewhere, that the attribute for which James desired to be
distinguished and praised, was that of openness of purpose, and
stern undeviating inflexibility of conduct. He scorned to disguise
his designs, either upon the religion or the constitution of his
country. He forgot that it was only the temporising concessions of
his brother which secured his way to the throne, when his
exclusion, or a civil war, seemed the only alternatives. His
brother was the reed, which bent before the whirlwind, and
recovered its erect posture when it had passed away; and James, the
inflexible oak, which the first tempest rooted up for ever.
* * * * *
DON SEBASTIAN.
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