1Those glittering globes of light which grace

2The vast expansion, when they leave their place

3Or hide their radiant heads, we never wonder;

4

Their place and splendency’s supplied by number3

.

5But should the sun forsake

the line ecliptic4

,

6Then total nature would be

epileptic5

;

7Just so’s our case since

royal Charles did die6

;

8In horrid, trembling trances now we lie.

9Coy

Asoph7

may her sparkling splendour hide

10Four hundred years, yet we no change abide,

11And

sad Electra8

may her beauties turn

12Away from us, yet none but Ilium burn.

13But if the sun in darkness be involved,

14Old nature’s fabric would be soon

dissolved9

;

15E’en so (aye me) since sacred

Caesar10

’s death

16Our spirits exhale, in sighs we turn to earth.

17Those

oviparous brothers11

so adored

18By navigators, would be

deplored12

19By none but

them13

, nor do we care or fear

20The one or both of them at once appear.

21But if the sun should lose his heat and light

22We should invaded be with death and night;

23So since our martyred sovereign’s

spirit’s14

fled

24Our light and life, our hopes and joys, are dead.

25Nay, should the

poles or axes of the sky15

26Their radiant lustre unto us deny,

27Or

Cynthia16

cease to wane or to increase,

28We should subsist, ’twould not disturb our peace.

29But should we lose the influence of the sun,

30All into chaos instantly would run;

31So since our king’s above in glories crowned,

32Anarchical confusion doth surround

33This

fatal isle17

, and

devils here will dwell18

,

34As anciently, and turn this place to hell,

35Unless our God doth a second Charles

illustrate19

36(Which, O deny not) all our hopes are frustrate.