University of Virginia Library

Augustis, ac Præpotentibus HEROIBUS, JACOBO & MARIÆ, Albaniæ & Eboraci Ducibus, Poema Streneticum Amœbæum gratulabundus vovet.

Poet
On Janus Kalends, th'Ancients did bestow
Gifts, that the Year mor luckilie might goe;
The Servant early to his Master brings
Of Bread and Wine auspicious offerings;
The Scholar to his Teacher gifts doth chuse;
The Client doth his Patron kindly use.
But, O Illustrious Twaine, my wit denies
T'afford gifts worth your splendid Dignities.
I have no Indian gems, no Peru gold,
Nor yet Arabian sweet perfumes I hold;
No Tyrian dye, or Spanish Genets gay,
No Ermins, nor rich Serian silk-array:
In fine, my Countrey nothing doth descry,
Worth ROYAL IAM'S sublime Heroick eye:
My treasure yeilds nought, nor my mean estate,
Renowned MARIE'S hand worthie to treate.
Is't so? thus vext, lo doth my Muse reflect,
As bold before in IAM'S benign aspect.

Muse
One cup let me draw out of Pegass-font,
Which I to Jov's, and Venus bird may mount.
In liew of wealth which throngs them, I'le present
The Riches from the mind drawn by descent,

Poet
A gift unfit to These, whom Pallas traine
So servs, as if sprung from Jov's mouth, or braine:
Witt something adds to gifts, the value more,
But chiefly a Good-will doth gifts decore.

Muse
Since Will speaks all; the richest New-years gift
From thence shall flow, that mind, or Muse can sift:
As now the Main, so, GREAT SIR, your right hand,
Lyke Alexanders, may the Earth command.
As your rays, MADAM, doth the World make bright,
So may your praise, as Saints, the Heav'ns delight.
Of Jov's consults o may He alwayes savour,
And his attempts may still Apollo favour:
Her prosperous births still may Lucina aid,
May Juno grace Her, and her nuptial bed,
The chearful Muse, the Graces them attend,
And Chloris her delights in plenty send;
May Janus, with the Year, their health renew,
And Sol still make more happy dayes ensue.

Poet
Thou pratts in vaine, Muse unadu{ise}dly stout,
As if a fruitless wish none could pour out.

Muse
Stop not my wish:

Po.
with such, gifts are not bought.

Muse
The least thing adds to great:

Po.
A shadow nought.

Muse
Lo Clio can a theatre him give
The Scene His praise, the Act His deeds revive:
To her a lasting monument she can rear,
Which may her form's, and Genius Laurel bear.

Poet
Leave these to art; such coloures to display
Dar'st thou attempt, that scarce beheld the day.

Muse
I have nought else, maugre my Master's leave,
O other-Sun, my rich-good-will receave.

Poet
Grant Will doe pass, yet dread I, to have pay'd
That debt, the fittest hour thou hast delay'd:
For since the DUK'S first footing here gave date
To our New-year, thy Wishes will be late.

Muse
What way that change doth unto us accrue,

Poet
By SCOTLAND'S sentence, and his Honour's due.

Muse
Nay Master, what effects do you remember,

Poet
Winter's exil'd, Dog-dayes come in November.
Will [illeg.] light the Sun doth [illeg.] on fields,
To the Meridian heat the Northern Climat yeild;
Snow melts, which erewhile buried all the plain,
Ceres straight in the Æolian tow'rs doth reign
Each Lady a new lustre doth assume,
As if to other lamps preventing room,
Yet to the Dutchess serve but as a glass,
Wherein we view her rays their's farr surpass.

Muse
Strange, but just change; though thou before did eite,
Each did his Lord on Januarie greet.

Poet
I did not then a law, but custome trace,
Which to a better following gives place.

Muse
I'le pay my gift-wish now, but with this reason,
To have relation to the bypast season,
The DUK'S advent suppos'd is understood
Our year begun, the Proem of our good,
As also the New-years-day plac'd, our prime,
His coming's præsuppos'd, not bounding time.
Hence wishes are not late, or have their gain,
That always may this Halcyon-year remain:
Of peace, and commerce may we have a pledge,
Which this PRINCE with his NYMPH seems to p[OMITTED]
Soon way we grapes from this graft vine behold,
A Scots-male cast in this Italian mould.
Which solemn mirth, and rare effects might bring,
No prickles with the fragrant rose to spring.
O may their Virtues joynt go on to shine,
To which path may their Court strive to incline.
And may it to a Lesbian-rule aspire,
Whose types the Earth may æmulouslie admire.
Us, with its profits, may this splendour cloy,
Since these in it, we it in these enjoy.

Poet
Since the DUK'S clemencie doth breath {aff}ord,
With thee, fond Muse, my wishes shall accord.
Their fame abroad blaze may successfull prors,
And bring them home all the rich Indian stores:
May both most happie, present, live as long,
As I a Muse, or Muses have a song.