Book IV, 69: To King CHARLES

The Common wealth is like an Instrument;
The divers sorts of people represent
The strings, all differing in degrees, in places;
Some trebles, and some Meanes, and some are Bases:
The potent Rulers the Musitians are;
The musicke, sometimes peace, and sometimes warre;
The Lawes are like the Ruled Bookes that lye
Before their eyes, and which they practice by:
Play on great Charles; Heav'n make thy strings as strong,
And true, as thou art skilfull: Ravish long
The worlds wide eares, with thy diviner Ayres,
That whosoever to thy Land repayres,
May thence returne amazd, and tell the Story
Of Brittains Triumph, in great Charles his Glory.