To Mr. J. B. the noble Cratander, upon a Composition of his which he was not willing to own publickty.

AS when some injur'd Prince assumes Disguise
And strives to make his Carriage sympathize,
Yet hath a great becoming Meen and Air,
Which speaks him Royal spight of all his care:
So th' Issues' of thy Soul can ne're be hid,
And the Sun's force may be as soon forbid
As thine obscur'd; there is no shade so great
Through which it will not dart forth light and heat.
Thus we discover thee by thy own Day
Against thy will snatching the Cloud away.
Now the Piece shines, and though we will not say,
Parents can Souls, as Tapers lights, convey;
Yet we must grant thy Soul transmitted here
In beams almost as lasting and as clear.
And that's our highest praise, for that thy Mind
Thy Works could never a resemblance find.
That mind whose search can Nature's secret hand
At one great stroke discover and command,
Which cleareth times and things, before whose eyes
Nor Men nor Notions dare put on disguise.
And were all Authors now as much forgot
As prosperous Ignorance her self would plot,
Had we the rich supplies of thy own breast,
The knowing World would never miss the rest.
Men did before from Ignorance take their Fame,
But Learning's self is honour'd by thy Name.
Thou studiest not belief to introduce
Of Novelties, more fit for shew then use;
But think'st it noble Charity t' uphold
The credit and the Beauty of the old:
And with one hand canst easily support
Learning and Law, a Temple and a Court.
And this secures me: for as we below
Valleys from Hills, Houses from Churches know,
But to their fight who stand extremely high,
These forms will have one flat Equality:
So from a lower Soul I might well fear
A critick censure when survey'd too near;
But from Cratander (who above the best
Lives in a height which levells all the rest)
I may that Royalty of Soul expect,
That can at once both pardon and neglect.
Thus I approach, and wanting wit and sense,
Let Trepidation be my Reverence.