 | Carolina |  |
The NEW-YEAR'S GIFT.
1674.
To the honourable Mrs. Chaworth.
Come, great Apollo now, and shew thy might;
Thou glorious Patron both of Wit and Light.
From those two gifts, the greatest comfort's hurl'd,
Both on the greater, and the lesser World.
Advance some Present worthy of her Eyes;
But that will quite impoverish thy Skies.
And yet thou may'st those Treasures safely spare,
Since she'l once bring more Beauties than are there.
Yet keep 'em to thy self, so thou'lt bestow
Some of those treasures, that thou mak'st below.
Thou glorious Patron both of Wit and Light.
From those two gifts, the greatest comfort's hurl'd,
Both on the greater, and the lesser World.
Advance some Present worthy of her Eyes;
But that will quite impoverish thy Skies.
And yet thou may'st those Treasures safely spare,
Since she'l once bring more Beauties than are there.
Yet keep 'em to thy self, so thou'lt bestow
Some of those treasures, that thou mak'st below.
Gold is thy work, tho, not as Dryden said,
When under Turfs to hatch by Indians laid.
The ghess this way more probably is told;
For when thou pour'st on earth thy molten Gold,
(Which ev'ry night ascends to thee again)
Gold is the Dross, that does below remain,
When under Turfs to hatch by Indians laid.
The ghess this way more probably is told;
For when thou pour'st on earth thy molten Gold,
(Which ev'ry night ascends to thee again)
Gold is the Dross, that does below remain,
The Rocks of Ormus, and of Bengelay,
In whose dark Caves Jewels create a day;
Thou mak'st those Gems (whose light thy lustre mocks)
Fine exudations of those pregnant Rocks?
Thy Rayes contracted into drops, are found
The cause o'th' lustre of the Diamond.
When thou, for thy refreshures every night,
Dives to imbrace thy beauties Amphitrite;
Those pleasant Coral Groves i'th' Deeps below,
Blest by thy smiles obtain their tincture so.
And glitt'ring Pearls, fixt on the roots of Rocks,
Are dew-drops shaken from thy shining Locks.
In whose dark Caves Jewels create a day;
Thou mak'st those Gems (whose light thy lustre mocks)
Fine exudations of those pregnant Rocks?
Thy Rayes contracted into drops, are found
The cause o'th' lustre of the Diamond.
When thou, for thy refreshures every night,
Dives to imbrace thy beauties Amphitrite;
146
Blest by thy smiles obtain their tincture so.
And glitt'ring Pearls, fixt on the roots of Rocks,
Are dew-drops shaken from thy shining Locks.
From those bright Pearls either a Neck-lace spare,
Which by her Skin improv'd, may turn more fair:
Or from those Diamonds vouchsafe supplies;
Which will gain brighter lustre from her Eyes:
At which some of the brightest sham'd will grow,
And by their blushes turn to Rubies so:
Or with some Coral branches be but kind,
And in her Lips they'l richer Scarlet find:
Or grant me Saphires, and their fainter stayns
Shall take a purer Azure from her Veins.
Or if to give them all thou'lt be so kind;
They'l yield to th' treasures of her richer Mind.
Which by her Skin improv'd, may turn more fair:
Or from those Diamonds vouchsafe supplies;
Which will gain brighter lustre from her Eyes:
At which some of the brightest sham'd will grow,
And by their blushes turn to Rubies so:
Or with some Coral branches be but kind,
And in her Lips they'l richer Scarlet find:
Or grant me Saphires, and their fainter stayns
Shall take a purer Azure from her Veins.
Or if to give them all thou'lt be so kind;
They'l yield to th' treasures of her richer Mind.
At these great truths Apollo, 'sham'd, withdrew;
Sham'd to be baffled and out-shin'd by you:
His treasures, and his favours now denies.
But, Madam, I hope greater from your Eyes.
The heavenly pow'rs thus their acceptance show
Of Duties, by the Blessings they bestow.
And tho your merits to such heights are rais'd,
That my weak Eyes to see them are amaz'd,
You've too much light not to be seen and prais'd.
Altho I am unfit your praise to write,
Some dusky gleams flash from the darkest night.
Virtue's adorn'd enough with Native rayes,
Needing no garnish from a Poet's praise;
Yet just repute may add to Virtues height:
As curious Pictures are advanc'd by light.
Your smiles I crave not, only beg a glance,
Since honour'd by your Father's countenance;
That noble Lord! to whom such fame is due
From all the World, because he gave it you.
In whom he paid more than himself did cost;
Tho from his Blood great Monarchs make their boast
Judge of this truth since the Lancastrian Line
Vouchsaf'd its glorious beams with his to joyn.
Its Rose, tho crimson'd with its native flood,
Yet took rich tinctures from Cadurcis blood.
For tis a doubt, whether more fame is due,
To come from Kings, or Kings to come from you.
Sham'd to be baffled and out-shin'd by you:
His treasures, and his favours now denies.
But, Madam, I hope greater from your Eyes.
The heavenly pow'rs thus their acceptance show
Of Duties, by the Blessings they bestow.
And tho your merits to such heights are rais'd,
That my weak Eyes to see them are amaz'd,
You've too much light not to be seen and prais'd.
Altho I am unfit your praise to write,
Some dusky gleams flash from the darkest night.
Virtue's adorn'd enough with Native rayes,
Needing no garnish from a Poet's praise;
Yet just repute may add to Virtues height:
As curious Pictures are advanc'd by light.
147
Since honour'd by your Father's countenance;
That noble Lord! to whom such fame is due
From all the World, because he gave it you.
In whom he paid more than himself did cost;
Tho from his Blood great Monarchs make their boast
Judge of this truth since the Lancastrian Line
Vouchsaf'd its glorious beams with his to joyn.
Its Rose, tho crimson'd with its native flood,
Yet took rich tinctures from Cadurcis blood.
For tis a doubt, whether more fame is due,
To come from Kings, or Kings to come from you.
Since Blessings by that Match did so abound;
That many Princes sprung from thence were crown'd;
I must beg pardon to presume it due
For some of them to give a Crown to you.
That many Princes sprung from thence were crown'd;
I must beg pardon to presume it due
For some of them to give a Crown to you.
| Carolina | |