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Poems On several Choice and Various Subjects

Occasionally Composed By An Eminent Author. Collected and Published by Sergeant-Major P. F. [i.e. James Howell]

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Before that Exquisit large Peece, A Survay Of the City and Signory of Venice.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Before that Exquisit large Peece, A Survay Of the City and Signory of Venice.

Could any State on Earth immortal be,
Venice by her rare Government is she.
Venice, great Neptunes Minion, still a Maid,
Though by the Warlik'st Potentats essay'd,
Yet she retains her Virgin-water pure,
Nor any forraign mixtures can endure,
Though, Syren-like, on Shore and Sea, her face
Enchants all those whom once she doth embrace.

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Nor is there any can her Beauty prize
But he who hath beheld her with his eyes.
These following Leaves display, if well observ'd,
How she so long her Maiden-head preserv'd;
How for sound Prudence she still bore the Bell,
Whence may be drawn this high-fetch'd parallel:
Venus and Venice are, Great Queens in their degree;
Venus is Queen of Love, Venice of Policy.