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 Queen's Majesty on her Arrival at Portsmouth, May 14. 1662.
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To the Queen's Majesty on her Arrival at Portsmouth, May 14. 1662.
Now that the Seas & Winds so kind are grown,
For our advantage to resign their own;
Now you have quitted the triumphant Fleet,
And suffered English ground to kiss your Feet,
Whilst your glad Subjects with impatience throng
To see a Blessing they have begg'd so long;
Whilst Nature (who in complement to you
Kept back till now her wealth and beauty too)
Hath, to attend the lustre your eyes bring,
Sent forth her lov'd Embassadour the Spring;
Whilst in your praise Fame's echo doth conspire
With the soft touches of the sacred Lyre;
Let an obscurer Muse upon her knees
Present you with such Offerings as these,
And you as a Divinity adore,
That so your mercy may appear the more;
Who, though of those you should the best receive,
Can such imperfect ones as these forgive.
For our advantage to resign their own;
Now you have quitted the triumphant Fleet,
And suffered English ground to kiss your Feet,
Whilst your glad Subjects with impatience throng
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Whilst Nature (who in complement to you
Kept back till now her wealth and beauty too)
Hath, to attend the lustre your eyes bring,
Sent forth her lov'd Embassadour the Spring;
Whilst in your praise Fame's echo doth conspire
With the soft touches of the sacred Lyre;
Let an obscurer Muse upon her knees
Present you with such Offerings as these,
And you as a Divinity adore,
That so your mercy may appear the more;
Who, though of those you should the best receive,
Can such imperfect ones as these forgive.
Hail Royal Beauty, Virgin bright and great,
Who do our hopes secure, our joys compleat.
We cannot reckon what to you we owe,
Who make Him happy who makes us be so.
But Heav'n for us the desp'rate debt hath paid,
Who such a Monarch hath your Trophee made.
A Prince whose Vertue did alone subdue
Armies of Men, and of Offences too.
So good, that from him all our blessings flow,
Yet is a greater than he can bestow.
So great, that he dispenses life and death,
And Europe's fate depends upon his breath.
(For Fortune in amends now courts him more
Than ever she affronted him before:
As Lovers that of Jealousie repent
Grow troublesome in kind acknowledgment.)
Who greater courage shew'd in wooing you,
Than other Princes in their battels do.
Never was Spain so generously defi'd;
Where they design'd a Prey, he courts a Bride.
Hence they may guess what will his Anger prove,
When he appear'd so brave in making Love;
And be more wise than to provoke his Arms,
Who can submit to nothing but your Charms.
And till they give him leisure to subdue,
His Enemies must owe their peace to you.
Whilst he and you mixing illustrious Rays,
As much above our wishes as our praise,
Such Hero's shall produce, as even they
Without regret or blushes shall obey.
Who do our hopes secure, our joys compleat.
We cannot reckon what to you we owe,
Who make Him happy who makes us be so.
But Heav'n for us the desp'rate debt hath paid,
Who such a Monarch hath your Trophee made.
A Prince whose Vertue did alone subdue
Armies of Men, and of Offences too.
So good, that from him all our blessings flow,
Yet is a greater than he can bestow.
So great, that he dispenses life and death,
And Europe's fate depends upon his breath.
(For Fortune in amends now courts him more
Than ever she affronted him before:
As Lovers that of Jealousie repent
Grow troublesome in kind acknowledgment.)
Who greater courage shew'd in wooing you,
Than other Princes in their battels do.
Never was Spain so generously defi'd;
Where they design'd a Prey, he courts a Bride.
Hence they may guess what will his Anger prove,
When he appear'd so brave in making Love;
And be more wise than to provoke his Arms,
Who can submit to nothing but your Charms.
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His Enemies must owe their peace to you.
Whilst he and you mixing illustrious Rays,
As much above our wishes as our praise,
Such Hero's shall produce, as even they
Without regret or blushes shall obey.
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