The Penitent Rebel. Poem by Daniel Baker

By the fond Counsel of my Friends misled
I banish'd Love out of my Breast;
Now surely I shall be at rest
(Said I) now Love the covetous Tyrant's sled,
Who all my Thoughts and precious Minutes challenged.

But ah! no sooner was his Majesty,
Which kept the inferiour Passions tame,
Withdrawn, but in they rudely came,
Pride, Avarice, Envy, Rage and Cruelty,
With undetermin'd Lust that flies at ev'ry she.

And now these Monsters in my Face do fly,
They tear my very Soul and part
Amongst them my divided Heart:
Thus have I chang'd Love's gentle Monarchy
Into a Common--wealth of lawless Tyranny.

So England in an unauspicious hour
'Gainst her indulgent Prince arose,
His Golden Sceptre to oppose:
She murder'd him, but fell into the Pow'r
Of Cromwell, and an Host of armed Villains more.

What Fools were they to think they'd kil'd the King
Who never dies? His Royal Son
Return'd with Honour to his Throne:
Now free from Wars and Fears we sit and sing
Under the peaceful Shadow of mild Charles's Wing.

Return thou too, dread Sov'raign Love, and save
My poor distracted Heart which lies
A Prey to cruel Enemies;
My Heart, which mut'nous Follies rendred have
To a long Parliament of sordid Lusts a Slave.

Taught by the sad Experience of these wrongs,
Thy Laws for ever I'll obey,
And all thy Tributes duly pay:
I'll give whatever to thy Crown belongs,
Gales of fresh Sighs, Floods of salt Tears, and mournful Songs.