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 the noble Palæmon, on his incomparable Discourse of Friendship.
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To the noble Palæmon, on his incomparable Discourse of Friendship.
We had been still undone, wrapt in disguise,Secure, not happy; cunning, and not wise;
War had been our design, Interest our trade;
We had not dwelt in safety, but in shade,
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Than wand'ring Sea-men think the Northern-star;
To shew, lest we our happiness should miss,
'Tis plac'd in Friendship, Mens and Angels bliss.
Friendship, which had a scorn or mask been made,
And still had been derided or betray'd;
At which the great Physician still had laugh'd,
The Souldier stormed, and the Gallant scoff'd;
Or worn not as a Passion, but a Plot,
At first pretended, and at last forgot;
Hadst thou not been her great Deliverer,
At first discover'd, and then rescu'd her,
And raising what rude Malice had flung down,
Unveil'd her Face, and then restor'd her Crown:
By so august an action to convince,
'Tis greater to support than be a Prince.
Oh for a Voice which loud as Thunder were,
That all Mankind thy conqu'ring truths might hear!
Sure the Litigious as amaz'd would stand,
As Fairy Knights touch'd with Cambina's Wand,
Drawn by thy softer, and yet stronger Charms,
Nations and Armies would lay down their Arms.
And what more honour can on thee be hurl'd,
Than to protect a Vertue, save a world?
But while great Friendship thou hast copied out,
Thou'st drawn thy self so well, that we may doubt
Which most appears, thy Candour or thy Art,
Whether we owe more to thy Brain or Heart.
But this we know without thine own consent,
Thou'st rais'd thy self a glorious Monument;
Temples and Statues Time will eat away,
And Tombs (like their Inhabitants) decay;
But there Palæmon lives, and so he must
When Marbles crumble to forgotten dust.
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