John Milton — To Sr Henry Vane the Younger

         Vane, young in yeares, but in sage counsell old,          Then whome a better Senatour nere held          The helme of Rome, when gownes not armes repelld          The feirce Epeirot & the African bold,          Whether to settle peace, or to unfold          The drift of hollow states, hard to be spelld,          Then to advise how warr may best, upheld,          Move by her two maine nerves, Iron & Gold          In all her equipage: besides to know          Both spirituall powre & civill, what each meanes          What severs each thou hast learnt, which few have don          The bounds of either sword to thee wee ow.          Therfore on thy firme hand religion leanes          In peace, & reck'ns thee her eldest son.