So when the new-born Phoenix first is seen,
Her feather'd fubjects all adore their queen,
And while she makes her progrefs through the Eaft,
From every grove her numerous train's increaft;
Each Poet of the air her glory fings,

And round him the pleas'd audience clap their wings,

******

ANNUS MIRABILIS:

THE

YEAR OF WONDERS,

1666.

AN HISTORICAL POEM.

1

TO THE

METROPOLIS of GREAT-BRITAIN,

The moft RENOWNED and late FLOURISHING

CITY of LONDON,

In its REPRESENTATIVES

The LORD-MAYOR and Court of ALDERMEN, the SHERIFFS, and COMMON-COUNCIL of it.

A$

S perhaps I am the first who ever presented

a work of this nature to the metropolis of any nation; fo it is likewise confonant to justice, that he who was to give the first example of fuch a dedication should begin it with that city, which has fet a pattern to all others of true loyalty, invincible courage, and unshaken conftancy. Other cities have been praised for the fame virtues, but I am much deceived if any have fo dearly pur chased their reputation; their fame has been won them by cheaper trials than an expensive, though neceffary war, a confuming peftilence, and a more consuming fire. To fubmit yourselves with

that humility to the judgments of heaven, and at the fame time to raise yourselves with that vigor above all human enemies; to be combated at once from above, and from below, to be ftruck down and to triumph: I know not whether fuch trials have been ever paralleled in any nation : the refolution and fucceffes of them never can be. Never had prince or people more mutual reason to love each other, if fuffering for each other can endear affection. You have come together a pair of matchless lovers, through many difficulties; he, through a long exile, various traverses of fortune, and the interpofition of many rivals, who violently ravished and with-held you from him and certainly you have had your fhare in fufferings. But Providence has cast upon you want of trade, that you might appear bountiful to your country's neceffities; and the rest of your afflictions are not more the effects of God's difpleasure (frequent examples of them having been in the reign of the moft excellent princes) than occafions for the manifefting of your chriftian and civil virtues. To you therefore this Year of Wonders is juftly dedicated, because you have made it fo. You, who are to ftand a won