Miscellanies in Verse and Prose :: :: University of Virginia Library

Before the sacred Altar bows
The noblest Queen that Europe knows;
And for her safe Deliv'ry pays
{To} Heav'n her ardent Thanks and Praise.
Devoutly as she lifts her Eyes,
[illeg.] how the pleas'd Spectators Joys
With Transports swell their Breasts, to view
Such Piety and Splendor too.
Sure she's deputed from the Skies,
With all their Pomp to strike our Eyes;
While on her either Hand is drawn
The Sun of Austria, and the Dawn;
Behind her, breaking from the Night,
The Star of Morn salutes the Sight;
And all the Constellations spread
Their sparkling Glories round her Head:
Here Saturn trims his sullen Beam,
And smartly shoots a burnish'd Stream;
With spritely Pace begins t'advance,
No longer loitring in the Dance:
The Speaker-God, whose trolling Tongue
With Eloquence and Wit is hung,
And Cupid, arm'd with Darts of Love,
Delightfully around her move:

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There Mars, enraptur'd with her Charms,
Sighs, and forgets his angry Arms:
And next is seen Imperial Jove,
Obnoxious to the Charms of Love,
Reflecting on the Queen his Rays,
T'augment the Keenness of the Blaze.
In either Cheek, the lovely Grace
Of the fair Moon adorns her Face;
And Venus adds her chearful Dye,
And shines resistless from her Eye.
In the trim Girdle on her Side
A thousand Ganimedes reside;
And in her gorgeous Veil, the Rays
Of India's costly Diamonds blaze,
And rich Arabia's Spices play
Around her, and refresh the Day.

While Envy sours disloyal Hearts,
To honest Spaniards it imparts
High Joy and Triumph, to behold
Their Queen, outvying Pearls and Gold.
And as a thousand Blessings rise,
From ev'ry Breast, with mute Surprize,
At last the Fulness of their Joy
Broke into Voice, and shook the Sky;
And thro' the vaulted Temple ran,
From Mouth to Mouth, this ardent Strain.

For ever flourish, fruitful Vine,
And round thy Elm supported twine;

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The branching Shelter of whose Arms
Shall shield thy tender Growth from Harms.
For ever flourish, for thy own,
And for Hispania's fair Renown;
The Faith to cherish, and defeat
Th'Imposter-Sect of Mahomet.

Long may'st thou live, then others cry'd,
Unspotted Dove, Hispania's Pride,
To crown us with a Royal Brood,
Descended from thy gen'rous Blood;
With Eagle Reign to chase away
The Vulture Crew, and Birds of Prey,
And trembling Virtue safely hide
Beneath their Wings, and shelt'ring Side.

With chearful Tongues and speaking Eyes
Thus others utter'd loud their Joys:
How rich a Pearl, with bright Renown,
Hast thou affix'd on Austria's Crown!
What Plans, with future Glory bright,
Are now unfolded to the Sight!
What Hopes in ev'ry Bosom glow!
What Terrors strike the daunted Foe!
Amid those Shouts, with solemn Grace,
The pious Queen advanc'd her Pace
To the great Phœnix-Martyr's Dome,
Who vouch'd the Faith in Fire at Rome,

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And glorious won a living Name,
By the dread Tryal of the Flame:
Then kneeling, from a pious Breast,
Her Vows to Heaven she thus addrest.

This Gift thy gracious Bounty gave,
Still let thy gracious Goodness save;
As on thy Altar I resign
The Gift, which righteously is thine,
And to thee while I thus restore
The welcome First-Fruits which I bore,
Accept them at thy Suppliant's Hand,
And smile indulgent on the Land.
Cherish this Babe, and greatly raise
To Power and Fame in coming Days;
That worthily he may succeed
In his applauded Father's stead;
Who strongly now sustains the Weight
Of ample Empire and the State,
And, Atlas-like, the Burden bears
Of distant Climes and Royal Cares.

She said, and loudly in the Close
A Peal of full Applauses rose.

The King.

The Infante, new born.

St. Lawrence.