Near this my Muse, what most delights her, sees A living Gallery of Aged Trees: Bold sons of Earth, that thrust their Arms to high, As if once more they would invade the Sky. Here Charles contrives the ord'ring of his States; Here he resolves his neighb'ring Princes' Fates; A Prince on whom such different Lights did smile, Born the divided World to reconcile. Whatever Heav'n or high extracted Blood Could promise or foretel, he'll make it good, Reform these Nations, and improve them more Than this fair Park, from what it was before. -ST. JAMES'S PARK: "Poetical Essay," by Waller.
[The quotation is from the poem by Edmund Waller, included in Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham.] [Edmund Waller, FRS (March 3, 1606 � October 21, 1687) was an English poet and Politician.]
ON ST JAMES'S PARK, AS LATELY IMPROVED BY HIS MAJESTY
Near this my Muse, what most delights her, sees
A living gallery of aged trees;
Bold sons of earth, that thrust their arms so high,
As if once more they would invade the sky.
In such green palaces the first kings reign'd,
Slept in their shades, and angels entertain'd;
With such old counsellors they did advise,
And, by frequenting sacred groves, grew wise.
Free from th'impediments of light and noise,
Man, thus retired, his nobler thoughts employs.
Here Charles contrives th'ordering of his states,
Here he resolves his neighb'ring princes' fates;
What nation shall have peace, where war be made,
Determined is in this oraculous shade;
The world, from India to the frozen north,
Concern'd in what this solitude brings forth.
(lines 67-82)
