1Those glittering globes of light which grace
2The vast expansion, when they leave their place
3Or hide their radiant heads, we never wonder;
4Their place and splendency’s supplied by number
. 5But should the sun forsake the line ecliptic
, 6Then total nature would be epileptic
; 7Just so’s our case since royal Charles did die
; 8In horrid, trembling trances now we lie.
9Coy Asoph
may her sparkling splendour hide 10Four hundred years, yet we no change abide,
11And sad Electra
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 dissolved
; 15E’en so (aye me) since sacred Caesar
’s death 16Our spirits exhale, in sighs we turn to earth.
17Those oviparous brothers
so adored 18By navigators, would be deplored
19By none but them
, 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’s
fled 24Our light and life, our hopes and joys, are dead.
25Nay, should the poles or axes of the sky
26Their radiant lustre unto us deny,
27Or Cynthia
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 isle
, and devils here will dwell
, 34As anciently, and turn this place to hell,
35Unless our God doth a second Charles illustrate
36(Which, O deny not) all our hopes are frustrate.