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 Countess of Thanet, upon her marriage.
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To the Countess of Thanet, upon her marriage.
Since you who Credit to all wonders bring,
That Lovers can believe, or Poets sing;
Whose only shape and fashion does express,
Your Vertue is your nature not your dress;
In whom the most admir'd extreams appear,
Humble and Fair, Prudent and yet sincere:
Whose matchless worth transmits such splendid raies,
As those that envy it are forc'd to praise.
Since you have found such an illustrious sphere,
And are resolv'd to fix your glories there;
A heart whose bravery to his Sex secures
As much Renown as you have done to yours;
And whose perfections in obtaining you,
Are both discover'd and rewarded too;
'Twere almost equal boldness to invent
How to increase your Merit, or Content.
Yet sure the Muses somewhat have to say,
But they will send it you a better way:
The Court, which so much to your lustre owes,
Must also pay you its officious vows.
But whilst this shews respect, and those their art,
Let me too speak the language of my heart;
Whose ruder Off'rings dare approach your shrine,
For you, who merit theirs, can pardon mine.
Fortune and Virtue with such heat contend
(As once for Rome) now to make you their friend:
And you so well can this prefer to that,
As you can neither fear, nor mend your Fate:
Yet since the votes of joy from all are due,
A love like mine, must find some wishes too.
That Lovers can believe, or Poets sing;
Whose only shape and fashion does express,
Your Vertue is your nature not your dress;
In whom the most admir'd extreams appear,
Humble and Fair, Prudent and yet sincere:
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As those that envy it are forc'd to praise.
Since you have found such an illustrious sphere,
And are resolv'd to fix your glories there;
A heart whose bravery to his Sex secures
As much Renown as you have done to yours;
And whose perfections in obtaining you,
Are both discover'd and rewarded too;
'Twere almost equal boldness to invent
How to increase your Merit, or Content.
Yet sure the Muses somewhat have to say,
But they will send it you a better way:
The Court, which so much to your lustre owes,
Must also pay you its officious vows.
But whilst this shews respect, and those their art,
Let me too speak the language of my heart;
Whose ruder Off'rings dare approach your shrine,
For you, who merit theirs, can pardon mine.
Fortune and Virtue with such heat contend
(As once for Rome) now to make you their friend:
And you so well can this prefer to that,
As you can neither fear, nor mend your Fate:
Yet since the votes of joy from all are due,
A love like mine, must find some wishes too.
May you in this bright Constellation set,
Still shew how much the Good outshine the Great:
May you be courted with all joies of sense,
Yet place the highest in your innocence;
Whose praise may you enjoy, but not regard,
Finding within both motive and reward.
May Fortune still to your commands be just,
Yet still beneath your kindness or your trust.
May you no trouble either feel or fear,
But from your pity for what others wear;
And may the happy owner of your breast,
Still find his passion with his joys encreas'd;
Whilst every moment your concern makes known,
And gives him too, fresh reason for his own:
And from their Parents may your Off-spring have
All that is wise and lovely, soft and brave:
Or if all wishes we in one would give,
For him, and for the world, Long may you live.
Still shew how much the Good outshine the Great:
May you be courted with all joies of sense,
Yet place the highest in your innocence;
Whose praise may you enjoy, but not regard,
Finding within both motive and reward.
May Fortune still to your commands be just,
Yet still beneath your kindness or your trust.
May you no trouble either feel or fear,
But from your pity for what others wear;
And may the happy owner of your breast,
Still find his passion with his joys encreas'd;
Whilst every moment your concern makes known,
And gives him too, fresh reason for his own:
134
All that is wise and lovely, soft and brave:
Or if all wishes we in one would give,
For him, and for the world, Long may you live.
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