128 MY INSCRIPTION. [1693. 



Cruelly plunder'd my Habitation. 



A little after a Hurricane quite over-wlielm'd it,i 



And Transported me and several of my Couatryni'Mi 



Into the Republick, blest by Heaven, 



Which is Famous all over the World, 



By the Name of 



HOLLAND. 



I was scarce recover'd of the Fright I was in, 



Which seem'd to me to be the effects of a Dream, 



AVheu a Voice call'd me 



From within a Ship then ready to Sail, 



I ran, 



And after a long and dangerous Voyage, 



I was brought to this Island with my Companions, 



Whose Names are not unknown to thee ; 



And one of whom is departed a Moment since 



For his true Country. 



We have seen in this delicious Abode, 



Two whole Revolutions of Years, 



Which I thought was a little Golden Age ; 



I, who in an Age of Reflection, 



Desire nothing more than what is truly Necessary. 



But my Companions who were but just 



Coming into the World, 



And knew not the little worth of it, 



Cry'd, that they wou'd have Wives. 



Wives ! said they, the only Joy 



Of Man, 



And the Masterpiece of the Creator. 



The Latent Fire of their Imaginations Kindled, 



They wou'd have Wives. 



And such was the wretched Bridge^ they made themselves, 



To pass over it in quest of the Soveraign Good, 



I must therefore stay here alone. 



Or suffer my self to be torn away from my Repose, 



By the Violence of the Torrent, 



Which drove me into a thousand Dangers. 



Pity my Destiny I pray thee, 

 Thou Dear Confident^ of my Adventures ; 



1 In orig. : "• Incontinent apres, un Ouragan m'enleva tout d'un coup. 



2 In orig. : " Et voila un chetif Pont- volant qu'ils ont fait." 



3 In orig. : " Confidant." 



