 | Poems |  |
54
A New-yeares Sacrifice.
To Lucinda.
Those that can give, open their hands this day,
Those that cannot, yet hold them up to pray;
That health may crowne the seasons of this yeare.
And mirth daunce round the circle, that no teare
(Vnlesse of joy) may with its brinie dew,
Discolour on your cheeke the rosie hue;
That no accesse of yeares presume to abate,
Your beauties ever-flourishing estate:
Such cheape, and vulgar wishes, I could lay
As triviall offrings at your feet this day;
But that it were Apostasie in me,
To send a prayer to any Deitie
But your divine selfe, who have power to give
Those blessings unto others, such as live
Like me, by the sole influence of your eyes,
Whose faire aspects governe our destinies.
Those that cannot, yet hold them up to pray;
That health may crowne the seasons of this yeare.
And mirth daunce round the circle, that no teare
(Vnlesse of joy) may with its brinie dew,
Discolour on your cheeke the rosie hue;
That no accesse of yeares presume to abate,
Your beauties ever-flourishing estate:
Such cheape, and vulgar wishes, I could lay
As triviall offrings at your feet this day;
But that it were Apostasie in me,
To send a prayer to any Deitie
But your divine selfe, who have power to give
Those blessings unto others, such as live
Like me, by the sole influence of your eyes,
Whose faire aspects governe our destinies.
Such Incense, vowes, and holy rites, as were
To the involved Serpent of the yeare,
Payd by Egyptian Priests, lay I before
Lucinda's sacred shrine, whilst I adore
Her beauteous eyes, and her pure Altars dresse
With gums and spice of humble Thankfulnesse;
To the involved Serpent of the yeare,
55
Lucinda's sacred shrine, whilst I adore
Her beauteous eyes, and her pure Altars dresse
With gums and spice of humble Thankfulnesse;
So may my Goddesse from her heaven, inspire
My frozen bosome with a Delphique fire,
And then the world shall by that glorious flame,
Behold the blaze of thy immortall name.
My frozen bosome with a Delphique fire,
And then the world shall by that glorious flame,
Behold the blaze of thy immortall name.
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