Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life Being several Feigned Stories, Comical, Tragical, Tragi-comical, Poetical, Romancical, Philosophical, Historical, and Moral: Some in Verse, some in Prose; some Mixt, and some by Dialogues. Written by the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, and most Excellent Princess, The Duchess of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Edition |
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 | Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life |  |
The Soveraign was dead, but left to reign
His Widowed-Queen, whose Prudence did maintain
The Government, though Forreign Warrs she had,
Which was a Charge, and oft-times made her sad.
This Noble-man sent to the Queen to crave,
That she upon his Child would pity have,
To take her to the Court, there to be bred,
That none might wrong her after he was dead.
The Queen most willingly his Suit did sign,
And so in Peace his Soul he did resign.
This Lady soon did to the Court repair,
Where she was bred with tender Love and Care;
And Youth, that's bred in Courts, may wisest be,
Because they more do hear, and more do see
Than other Children that are bred obscure,
Because the Senses are best Tutors sure.
But Nature in this Maid had done her part,
And in her frame had shew'd her curious Art;
Compos'd her every way, Body and Mind,
Of best Extracts that were to form Mankind:
All which she gave to Time for to distill,
And of the subtil'st Spirits the Soul to fill;
As Reason, Wit, and Judgment; and to take
The solid'st part the Body for to make.
For though that Nature all her works shapes out,
Yet Time doth give strength, length, and breadth about.
And as her Person grew in stature tall,
And that her Beauty did encrease withall;
So did affection in her Heart grow high,
Which there was planted in her Infancy.
His Widowed-Queen, whose Prudence did maintain
The Government, though Forreign Warrs she had,
Which was a Charge, and oft-times made her sad.
This Noble-man sent to the Queen to crave,
That she upon his Child would pity have,
To take her to the Court, there to be bred,
That none might wrong her after he was dead.
The Queen most willingly his Suit did sign,
And so in Peace his Soul he did resign.
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Where she was bred with tender Love and Care;
And Youth, that's bred in Courts, may wisest be,
Because they more do hear, and more do see
Than other Children that are bred obscure,
Because the Senses are best Tutors sure.
But Nature in this Maid had done her part,
And in her frame had shew'd her curious Art;
Compos'd her every way, Body and Mind,
Of best Extracts that were to form Mankind:
All which she gave to Time for to distill,
And of the subtil'st Spirits the Soul to fill;
As Reason, Wit, and Judgment; and to take
The solid'st part the Body for to make.
For though that Nature all her works shapes out,
Yet Time doth give strength, length, and breadth about.
And as her Person grew in stature tall,
And that her Beauty did encrease withall;
So did affection in her Heart grow high,
Which there was planted in her Infancy.
| Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life | |