HONI: SOIT: QVI: MAL: Y: PENSE. G: Faithorne 〈◊〉   

THE PORTRAIT OF HIS MAJESTY Charles the Second.  
Faithfully taken to the LIFE.  
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Creak. 1660.   

The Portrait of His MAjESTY, CHARLES the II.  
KIngs like the Sun, in their full Majesties,  
Are too Resplendent bright for subject's eyes;  
Nor without dazzling can their weaker sight,  
Sustain the force of so much glorious light.  
But when Eclipsed, than every one can see  
(Without that splendour,) what their persons be.  
In which Conjuncture who so e'er has seen  
This Sun of ours, may well affirm of him,  
His Person's such, as he for that alone  
(His Birth away) deserves the Royal Throne;  
Such Majesty appears in it, and such Grace  
(Both awing and delighting) in his Face,  
Without those Kingly Robes Adorn the Throne,  
H'apear more King, than those who have them on.  
His Statur's Tall, and of the comlyest make,  
His Visage oval, his heir thick and Black,  
In ample Curls, on's Shoulders falling down,  
Adorning more his Head, than any Crown.  
His Eyes are Lively, full of Flame and Spirit,  
And of that colour, most delights the sight:  
Royal, and largely featured all the rest,  
Declaring largeness of his Royal Breast;  
And of so healthful Constitution,  
As he had Articled with Sickness, none  
Should e'er molest and grieve him, nor he   
By'excesse provoke them. to which much confer,  
His wont Exercises, who in all  
The Noblest, Gallants, and most Martial,  
Who er's most Excellent, so far Excels,  
He's King in them, as he's in all things else:  
(And who'd be absolute in every thing  
As well as Birth and Power, should be a King)  
Nor shall you ere in any person find  
A greater strength of body and of mind;  
Which with long Travail, h'as improved so,  
He knows what ere befits a Prince to know;  
Not learned from th' dead, but from the World & Men  
Those Living Authors, and h'as studied them,  
So as each Nation's wisdom he does know,  
And each on's Language to express it too.  
Whence he compared to other Princes, sit  
Dully at home, and nothing know but it,  
Seems just like some huge Gallyon does come  
From farthest Indiis, richly laden home,  
Compared to some poor Hoy, or Bylander  
Then their own shores, & coasts, ne'er further wear,  
And never none to Fortune more did owe,  
Then to misfortune he, for being so.  
For moral virtues then, has every one  
In their full splendours and perfection,  
Justice, not Clouded with severity,  
Nor Temperanee, with sour austerity;  
And ne'er in none more Courage was, nor more  
Wisdom and Prudence, with less vanety, nor  
With lesser Artifice. And or's passions he  
Commands so sovereignly and absolutely,  
It shows him King over himself, as well  
As over others. nor does he less excel  
In civil virtues, which adorn no less  
The Royal Throne, as mildness, gentelness,  
Ravishing sweetness, debonarity,  
obligingness, and affability,  
That more does conquer with a gentle word,  
Then ever any Conquered by the Sword,  
Acquiring by 〈◊〉 absolute Dominion  
And Sovereign sway o'er hearts of every one.  
Mean time he is so cheerful and so gay  
None from his presence ere went sad away,  
Nor yet could all his troubles nor his cares  
Render him less Gay and cheerful, which declares  
His mind's above them all, and h'as within  
Him, somewhat higher than the being KING,  
Just like the highest Region of the Air  
'Bove Storms and Tempests, nor could Fortune ere,  
Eclipse his mind. For Courtly virtues then  
In which Kings too, should excel other Men,  
As far as Courts, do other Houses, he  
Appears in every one, to Excellency,  
Dances so admirably as your Eye  
As well as Ear's all charmed with Harmony,  
Understands Music, Poetry and Wit,  
And none knows better how to judge of it:  
In fine, in every thing that curious is  
No'ns' taste was e'er more delicate than his,  
And as he is a King 'mongst Courtiers, so  
'Mongst Ladies, he's both King and Courtier too.  
How happy are his subjects then, t'have one  
For King, Heaven seems t'have chosen King, alone  
To make them happy? one, they need but pray  
That as has born Adversity, he may  
But bear prosperity as well, and then  
As still has been, he'll be the best of Men.  
One, finally in whom ye united find  
(Besides his Birth, his person, and his mind)  
All that, which found in others one by one  
Raise them to height of Admiration,  
The Wise, the valiant, the Majestical,  
The Mild, the Gallant, and the King all.  
More Glorious are his sufferings then, and more  
Injurious Fortune, persecutes him for  
His Royal Birth alone, who had he been  
Born private Man, deserv d to be a King.  
Such is her ignorant blindness, does not know  
His eminent worth whom she disfavours so,  
Would find, wear she unveyld and could but see,  
None e'er deserved her favours more than he.  
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