On The Lord Gen. Fairfax At The Seige Of Colchester

Fairfax, whose name in armes through Europe rings

Filling each mouth with envy, or with praise,

And all her jealous monarchs with amaze,

And rumors loud, that daunt remotest kings,

Thy firm unshak’n vertue ever brings

Victory home, though new rebellions raise

Their Hydra heads, & the fals North displaies

Her brok’n league, to impe their serpent wings,

O yet a nobler task awaites thy hand;

Yet what can Warr, but endless warr still breed,

Till Truth, & Right from Violence be freed,

And Public Faith cleard from the shamefull brand

Of Public Fraud. In vain doth Valour bleed

While Avarice, & Rapine share the land.