The Man of Honour, Occasioned by the Postscript of Pen's Letter.  

NOT all the Threats or Favours of a Crown,  
A Prince's whisper, or a Tyrant's frown  
Can awe the Spirit, or allure the Mind  
Of him who to strict Honour is inclined;  
Tho' all the pomp and pleasure that does wait  
On public places and affairs of State,  
Should fond court him to be base and great.  
With even passions and with settled face  
He would remove the Harlot's false embrace,  
Tho' all the Storms and Tempests should arise  
That Church-Magicians in their Cells devise,  
And from their settled Basis Nations tear,  
He would unmoved the mighty ruin bear;  
Secure in innocence contemn 'em all,  
And decently arrayed in Honour's fall.   

For this brave Shrewsbury and ●umly's Name  
Shall stand the foremost in the List of Fame,  
Who first with steady minds the Current broke,  
And to the suppliant Monarch boldly spoke.   

Great SIR, renowned for Constancy, how just  
Have we obeyed the Crown, and served our Trust;  
Espoused your Cause and Interest in distress,  
Yourself must witness, and our Foes confess!  
Permit us then ill Fortune to accuse  
That you at last unhappy Counsels use,  
And ask the only thing we must refuse.  
Our Lives and Fortunes freely we'll expose,  
Honour alone we cannot, must not lose:  
Honour that spark of the Celestial fire,  
That above Nature makes Mankind aspire;  
Ennobles the rude passions of our frame  
With thirst of Glory, and desire of Fame.  
The richest Treasure of a generous breast  
That gives the Stamp and Standard to the rest.  
Wit, Strength, and Courage, are wild dangerous force,  
Unless this softens and directs their Course,  
And would you rob us of the Noblest part,  
Accept a Sacrifice without a Heart?  
'tis much beneath the Greatness of a Throne,  
To take the Casket when the Jewel's gone:  
Debauch our Principles, corrupt our Race,  
And teach the Nobles to be false and base!  
What confidence can you in them repose,  
Who e'er they serve you, all their value lose;  
Who once enslave their Conscience to their Lust,  
Have lost the Reins, and can no more be just.  
Of Honour Men at first like Women nice,  
Raise Maiden-scruples at unpractised Vice;  
Their modest nature curbs the struggling flame,  
And stifles what they wish to act, with shame  
But once this Fence thrown down, when they perceive  
That they may taste forbidden fruit and live;  
They stop not here their course, but safely in,  
Grow strong, luxuriant, and bold in sin;  
True to no principles press forward still,  
And only bound by Appetite their Will:  
Now fawn and flatter while this Tide prevails,  
But shift with every veering bl●st their Sails:  
Mark those that meanly truckle to your power,  
They once deserted and changed sides before,  
And would to morrow Mahomet adore!  
On higher Springs true Men of Honour move,  
Free is their Service, and unbought their Love:  
When Danger calls, and Honour leads the way,  
With Joy they follow, and with Pride obey:  
When the Rebellious Foe came rolling on,  
And shook with gathering multitudes the Throne;  
Where were the Minions then? What arms, what force,  
Could they oppose to stop the Torrents course.  
Then Pembroke, than the Nobles firmly stood,  
Free of their Lives, and lavish of their Blood;  
But when your Orders to mean ends decline,  
With the same Constancy they all resign.   

Thus spoke the Youth, who opened first the way,  
And was the Phosphorus to th'dawning day;  
Followed by a more glorious splendid host,  
Then any Age, or any Realm can boast:  
So great their fame, so numerous the train,  
To name were endless, and to praise in vain;  
But Herbert, and great OXFORD merit more,  
Bold is their flight, and more sublime they soar:  
So high, their Virtue as yet wants a name  
Exceeding wonder, and surpassing fame:  
Rise, glorious Church, erect thy radiant head,  
The Storm is past, th' Impending Tempest fled:  
Had fate decreed thy Ruin or Disgrace,  
It had not given such Sons, so brave a Race.  
When for Destruction Heaven a Realm designs,  
The symptoms first appear in Slavish Minds:  
These Men would prop a sinking Nations weight,  
Stop falling Vengeance, and reverse even Fate.  
Let other Nations boast their fruitful soil,  
Their fragrant Spices, their rich Wine and Oil;  
In breathing Colours, and in living paint  
Let them excel; their Mastery we grant.  
But to instruct the Mind, to arm the Soul  
With Virtue which no dangers can control;  
Exalt the thought, a speedy Courage lend,  
That Horror cannot shake, or Pleasure bend:  
These are the English Arts, these we profess,  
To be the same in Misery and Success;  
To teach Oppressor's Law, assist the good,  
Relieve the wretched, and subdue the proud:  
Such are our Souls: But what doth Worth avail  
When Kings commit to hungry Priests the Scale?  
All Merit's light when they dispose the weight,  
Who either would imbroil, or rule the State.  
Defame those Hero's who their Yoke refuse,  
And blast that Honesty they cannot use;  
The strength and safety of the Crown destroy,  
And the King's power against himself employ:  
Affront his Friends, deprive him of the brave,  
Bereft of these he must become their slave.  
Men like our Money, come the most in play  
For being base, and of a corpse allay.  
The richest Medals, and the purest Gold  
Of Native value and exactest mould,  
By worth concealed, in private Closets shine,  
For vulgar use too precious and too fine,  
Whilst Tin and Copper with new stamping bright,  
Coins of base Metal, counterfeit and light  
Do all the business of the Nations turn  
Raised in Contempt, used and employed in Scorn;  
So shining Virtues are for Courts too bright,  
Whose guilty Actions fly their searching light;  
Rich in themselves, disdaining to aspire,  
Great without pomp they willingly retire:  
Give place to Fools, whose rash misjudging sense  
Increases the weak Measures of their Prince;  
Prone to admire, and flatter him in ease,  
They study not his good, but how to please;  
They blindly and implicitly run on,  
Nor see those dangers which the others eat:  
Who slow to act, each business duly weigh,  
Advise with Freedom, and with Care obey;  
With Wisdom fatal to their Interest strive  
To make their Monarch loved, and Nation thrive;  
Such have no place where Priests and Women reign,  
Who love fierce Drivers, and a loser Rein.   
FINIS.