Classic Poem

Great Lady! That thus quite against our use,
We speak your welcome by an English Muse,
And in a vulgar Tongue our zeales contrive
Is to confess your large Prerogative:
Who have the pow'rful freedom to dispense
With our strict Rules, or Custome's difference.
'Tis fit, when such a Star deigns to appeare
And shine within the Academick Spheare,
That ev'ry Colledge grac't by Your Resort
Should onely speak the Language of Your Court;
As if Apollo's learned Quire, but You
No other Queen of the Ascendent knew.
Let those that list invoke the Delphian Name,
To light their verse, and quench their doting flame
In Helicon. It were High Treason now
Did any to a feign'd Minerva bow:
When You are present, whose chast vertues stain
The vaunted glories of her Maiden Brain.
I would not flatter. May that dyet feed
Deform'd and vicious soules: They onely need
Such physick, who grown sick of their decayes
Are onely cur'd with surfets of false praise;
Like those, who fall'n from Youth or Beautie's grace
Lay colours on which more bely the face.
Be You still, what You are, a glorious Theme
For Truth to crown. So when that Diademe
Which circles Your fair brow drops off, and Time
Shall lift You to that pitch our prayers climbe,
Posterity will plat a nobler wreath
To crown Your fame and memory in death.
This is sad truth and plain: which I might fear
Would scarce prove welcome to a Princesse' Ear.
And hardly may you think that Writer wise
Who preaches there, where he should poetize,
Yet where so rich a bank of goodness is
Triumphs and Feasts admit such thoughts as this:
Nor will Your vertue from her Client turn
Although he bring his tribute in an urn.
Enough of this: who knowes not when to end
Needs must by tedious diligence offend.
'Tis not a Poet's office to advance
The precious value of allegiance.
And least of all the rest do I affect
To word my duty in this dialect.
My service lies a better way: whose tone
Is spirited by full devotion.
Thus whilst I mention You, Your Royal Mate,
And Those which Your Blest Line perpetuate,
I shall such votes of happiness reherse
Whose softest accents will out-tongue my Verse.