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His mind must be alert on every side.
He's like the suns which an omniscient God
Alone could make, which roll about through space,
And in their train draw worlds, whose lofty peaks
Are lighted by the rays that shine from Heav'n,
And which, forever shining, never rest!—
From all that I have said, the inference
Is this: that by a single arm alone
The progress of the State can fittingly
Be ruled. We need a leader who stands out
Above us all. The world doth need a man;
You are that man.
[The Parliament and the whole assemblage bow.
You are that man. Then be our guide, my lord,
In all our fortunes; deign here to receive
The faith and fealty of your faithful commons.
[Profound silence.
Overton [to Milton, in an undertone.
His commons!
Cromwell [to the Speaker.
His commons! Sir, accept my grateful thanks.
The empire prospers, by the grace of God.
In Ireland, despite the civil broils,
The faith makes wondrous progress in the towns.
Attacking valiantly the popish sore,
Harry, my son and my lieutenant, doth
By fire and sword with one hand extirpate
And with the other cauterize the wound.
Armagh is burning. Rome within its walls
No longer hath a proselyting priest.
In Scotland all the clans have bent the knee.
Without our borders all goes well. Dunkirk
Has lost all hope.—Old England, close allied
With France, holds humbled Spain in her broad hand.