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 Mr. J. B. the noble Cratander, upon a Composition of
his which he was not willing to own publickly.
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To Mr. J. B. the noble Cratander, upon a Composition of his which he was not willing to own publickly.
As when some injur'd Prince assumes Disguise,And strives to make his Carriage sympathize,
Yet hath a great becoming Meen and Air,
Which speaks him Royal spight of all his care:
So th'Issues of thy Soul can ne're be hid,
And the Sun's force may be as soon forbid
As thine obscur'd; there is no shade so great
Through which it will not dart forth light and heat.
Thus we discover thee by thy own Day,
Against thy will snatching the Cloud away.
Now the Piece shines, and though we will not say,
Parents can Souls, as Taper lights, convey;
Yet we must grant thy Soul transmitted here
In beams almost as lasting and as clear.
And that's our highest praise, for but thy Mind,
Thy Works could never a resemblance find.
That mind whose search can Nature's secret hand
At one great stroke discover and command,
Which cleareth times and things, before whose eyes
Nor Men nor Notions dare put on disguise.
And were all Authors now as much forgot
As prosperous Ignorance her self would plot,
Had we the rich supplies of thy own breast,
The knowing World would never miss the rest.
Men did before from Ignorance take their Fame,
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Thou studiest not belief to introduce
Of Novelties, more fit for shew than use;
But think'st it nobler Charity t'uphold
The credit and the Beauty of the old:
And with one hand canst easily support
Learning and Law, a Temple and a Court.
And this secures me: for as we below
Valleys from Hills, Houses from Churches know,
But to their sight who stand extreamly high,
These forms will have one flat Equality:
So from a lower Soul I well might fear
A critick censure when survey'd too near;
But not from him who plac'd above the best
Lives in a height which levels all the rest.
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