Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works in Prose and Verse. The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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Many Daughters have done well,
But Thou Excellest them all.
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 | Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works |  |
278
Many Daughters have done well, But Thou Excellest them all.
Prov: 31. 29.
As spoken in a Vision to the Lady Margaret Foundress of St John's.
T'was night, the Drousy Diety began
To chain with sleep the buisy thoughts of Man,
When free from Noise and troubles of the Day
Our --- Poet in those flow'ry Meadows lay
Where reverent Cham cuts out its famous way
When loe! O strange, an unexpected light
Dispers'd the Native darkness of the Night
And rais'd at once his wonder and delight
But how, how welcome did that light appear
Which usher'd in a form all Heav'nly fair
A Form which lately left its Mansh'on there.
A Woman proper, beautiful and fine
Her garb was Noble and her Mein divine
Majestick greatness Triumph'd in her face
And every Limb had its peculiar grace
With sober Pace the lovely Ghost drew near
Her smiling seem'd to Chide his useless fear
At length he knows the venerable Shade
Runs to meet that of which he was afraid
And thus with reverence Thrice bowing said
Hail mighty Patroness! Hail great and Good!
Hail doubly fam'd for Virtue and for blood!
Hail Thou, whose Acts shou'd I presume to show
I shou'd blasphem by Epithets too low.
Hail St or Princess royal or Divine
Hail wonder of our Sex and Fame of Thine
Be Thou my Muse vouchsafe to look on me
The meanest of thy learned Progeny
Inspire my Soul that I may sing Thy fame
And raise a work eternal as my Theam
Inspire my Soul that I may loudly tell
How far Thou dost all Woman kind Excell
How Thou bless'd Shade—
When York had Lancaster so long withstood
And Englands face was stain'd with English blood
Did'st bless the Nation with a Godlike Son
Who recompenc'd the Ills their Arms had done
Who made all Faction all Rebellion cease
And gave Us Plenty, Liberty, and Peace.
You heard each Tongue with joy your glory sing
Each bless the Parents of so good a King
With all the Praises Gratitude cou'd bring.
But thought the Gift not worthy yet of You
Unless with Peace You gave Us Learning too
Then, then indulgently both paps you drew
And rais'd Two fabricks which shal ever be
Great Monuments of Piety and Thee—
To chain with sleep the buisy thoughts of Man,
When free from Noise and troubles of the Day
Our --- Poet in those flow'ry Meadows lay
Where reverent Cham cuts out its famous way
When loe! O strange, an unexpected light
Dispers'd the Native darkness of the Night
And rais'd at once his wonder and delight
But how, how welcome did that light appear
Which usher'd in a form all Heav'nly fair
A Form which lately left its Mansh'on there.
A Woman proper, beautiful and fine
Her garb was Noble and her Mein divine
Majestick greatness Triumph'd in her face
And every Limb had its peculiar grace
With sober Pace the lovely Ghost drew near
Her smiling seem'd to Chide his useless fear
At length he knows the venerable Shade
Runs to meet that of which he was afraid
And thus with reverence Thrice bowing said
Hail mighty Patroness! Hail great and Good!
Hail doubly fam'd for Virtue and for blood!
Hail Thou, whose Acts shou'd I presume to show
I shou'd blasphem by Epithets too low.
Hail St or Princess royal or Divine
Hail wonder of our Sex and Fame of Thine
Be Thou my Muse vouchsafe to look on me
The meanest of thy learned Progeny
Inspire my Soul that I may sing Thy fame
And raise a work eternal as my Theam
279
How far Thou dost all Woman kind Excell
How Thou bless'd Shade—
When York had Lancaster so long withstood
And Englands face was stain'd with English blood
Did'st bless the Nation with a Godlike Son
Who recompenc'd the Ills their Arms had done
Who made all Faction all Rebellion cease
And gave Us Plenty, Liberty, and Peace.
You heard each Tongue with joy your glory sing
Each bless the Parents of so good a King
With all the Praises Gratitude cou'd bring.
But thought the Gift not worthy yet of You
Unless with Peace You gave Us Learning too
Then, then indulgently both paps you drew
And rais'd Two fabricks which shal ever be
Great Monuments of Piety and Thee—
Fain wou'd the cheerful Poet have gon on
To Sing the Works her Charity had done
But She who did like Heav'n her Gifts dispence
Without the Hopes of any recompence
Seem'd by a frown to chide his saucy Eloquence
And moving from him with a graceful Pace
Ascended to that bright that happy Place
Where Saints like Her enjoy an everlasting Peace.
To Sing the Works her Charity had done
But She who did like Heav'n her Gifts dispence
Without the Hopes of any recompence
Seem'd by a frown to chide his saucy Eloquence
And moving from him with a graceful Pace
Ascended to that bright that happy Place
Where Saints like Her enjoy an everlasting Peace.
| Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works | |