Religion & morality > Oxfordshire nine

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But ſtill I was poring, and ſought to Divine
What Myſtery lay in the Number of Nine:
I thought the Nine Muſes might ſerve for the feat,
Since there they have choſen their antient Seat.
But I found my Miſtake e're I went very far:
For Tacking tends only to Diſcord and Jar.
The famous Nine Worthies ran next in my Mind;
But little Agreement in this I could find :
Since nothing leſs worthy could ever be ſeen,
Than to ſetter a Juſt and a Generous Queen.
Nor truſt Her with Mony to manage the Sword,
But on the Condition of breaking Her Word.
Or what could they offer leſs Worthy and Brave,
Than to hazard a Land they were choſen to ſave?
Or dangerous Tricks, and Experiments try,
Expoſing us all to the Chance of a Die,
And venture at once both the Church and the State,
When they ſaw the French Hannibal ſtand at the Gate?

But ſtill may our QUEEN twice a Conqueror prove;
Of Her Foes by Her Arms, and Her Subjects by Love.
The laſt is the nobleſt we know of the two:
But I fear ſhe will find 'tis the hardeſt to do.
Yet let not Her Majeſty wholly deſpair,
Tho braveſt Attempts the moſt difficult are:
For as in Eighth Henry our Roſes combin'd,
And in our Firſt James the two Kingdoms were join'd:
Who knows but our ANNE may by Heav'n be decreed
To cloſe the wide Wounds of a Nation that bleed ?
An Union that is of Importance ſo high:
Nor that of our Roſes, nor Realms can out-vie.
A Victory equal to Blenheim Succeſs;
And juſtly deſerving a Triumph no leſs.
And what from Her Reign we muſt hope for alone:
For She by her Sweetneſs muſt do it, or None.

Let us hope then and pray our next Senate may be
As zealous for Peace and Agreement as She.
And that our Electors may open their Eyes;
A nd think it no fhame at the laft to grow wife.
Or if fome of that Lift to the Houfe fhould be fent;
Let us pray they may fee their Miftake, and repent.
And the powerful Charms of her Excellent Reign
May fweeten their Tempers, and fetch them again.
Until, with a Blufb, they reflect on that Vote,
As a taking three Kingdoms at once by the Throat:
And the only Unkindnefr that ever was fhown
To the Kindeft of Queens, fince fhe fat on the Throne:
And may fo regret the Indignity paft,
That as 'twas the firft, fo it may be the laft.

                     F I N I S.

London, Printed in the Year MDCCV.