Poems By the most deservedly Admired Mrs Katherine Philips: The matchless Orinda. To which is added Monsieur Corneille's Pompey & Horace Tragedies. With several other Translations out of French |
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To my Lord and Lady Dungannon on their Marriage 11. May 1662.
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To my Lord and Lady Dungannon on their Marriage 11. May 1662.
To you, who, in your selves, do comprehendAll you can wish, and all we can commend;
Whom worth does guide and destiny obey,
What Offerings can the useless Muses pay?
Each must at once suspend her charming Lyre,
Till she hath learnt from you what to inspire:
Well may they wonder to observe a Knot,
So curiously by Love and Fortune wrought,
To which propitious Heaven did decree,
All things on earth should tributary be;
By gentle, sure, but unperceiv'd degrees,
As the Sun's motion, or the growth of Trees,
Does Providence our wills to hers incline,
And makes all accidents serve her design:
Her Pencil (Sir) within your brest did draw
The Picture of a Face you never saw,
With touches, which so sweet were and so true,
By them alone th' original you knew;
And at that sight with satisfaction yield
Your freedom which till then maintain'd the field.
'Twas by the same mysterious power too,
That she has been so long reserv'd for you;
Whose noble passion, with submissive art,
Disarm'd her scruples, and subdu'd her heart.
And now that at the last your Souls are ty'd,
Whom floods nor difficulties could divide,
Ev'n you that beauteous Union may admire,
Which was at once Heaven's care, and your desire.
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And in assur'd protection from above,
That we no wish can add unto your bliss,
But that it should continue as it is.
O! may it so, and may the wheel of Fate
In you no more change than she feels, create;
And may you still your happinesses find,
Not on your Fortune growing, but your mind,
Whereby the shafts of Chance as vain will prove,
As all things else did that oppos'd your Love.
Be kind and happy to that great degree,
As may instruct latest Posterity,
From so rever'd a President to frame
Rules to their duty, to their wishes aim.
May the vast Sea for your sake quit his pride,
And grow so smooth, while on his breast you ride,
As may not only bring you to your Port,
But shew how all things do your vertues court.
May every object give you new delight,
May Time forget his Sythe, and Fate his Spight;
And may you never other sorrow know,
But what your pity feels for others woe;
May your compassion be like that Divine,
Which relieves all on whom it does but shine,
Whilst you produce a Race that may inherit
All your great stock of Beauty, Fame, and Merit.
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