Classic Poem

Upon the Marriage of the Prince of Orange with the Lady Mary

(1)

As when of old some bright and Heav'nly Dame
A God of equal Majesty did wed;
Strait thro' the Court above the Tydings spread,
Strait at the News th'immortal Offspring came,
And all the Deities did the high Nuptials grace;
With no less Pomp, no less of Grandeur we
Behold this glad Solemnity,
And all confess an equal Joy.
And all expect as God-like and as great a Race:
Hark how united Shouts our Joys proclaim,
Which rise in Gratitude to Heav'n from whence they came;
Gladsome next those, which brought our Royal Exile home,
When he resum'd his long usurped Throne:
Hark how the mighty Vollies rend the Air,
And shake at once the Earth and utmost Sphere;
Hark how the Bell's harmonious Noise
Bear Consort too with human Joys;
Behold those many Fires, which up and down
Threaten almost new Conflagration to the Town;
Well do these Emblems, mighty Orange , speak thy Fame,
Whose Loudness, Musick, Brightness all express the same:
Twas thus great Jove his Semele did wed,
In Thunder and in Lightning so approach'd her Bed.


(2)

Hail happy Pair! kind Heav'ns great Hostages!
Sure Pledges of a firm and lasting Peace!
Call't not a Match; we that low Stile disdain,
Nor will degrade it with a Term so mean;
A League it must be said
Where Countries thus Espouse, and Nations Wed:
Our Thanks, propitious Destinie!
Never did yet thy Pow'r dispence
A more Plenipotentiary Influence,
Nor Heav'n more sure a Treaty ratify:
To You , our great and gracious Monarch, too
An equal Share of Thanks is due,
Nought could this glorious Work produce, but Heav'n and You:
Let others boast
Of Leagues, which Wars and Slaughter cost;
This Union by no Blood cemented is
Nor did its Harmony from Jars and Discords rise:
Not more to your great Ancestor we ow,
By whom two Realms into one Kingdom grow;
He join'd but what Nature had join'd before,
Lands disunited by no parting Shore;
By you to forreign Countries we're Allied,
You make us Continent, whom Seas and Waves divide.

(3)

How well, Brave Prince, do you by prudent Conduct prove
What was denied to mighty Jove
Together to be Wise and Love?
In this you highest Skill of Choice and Judgement shew,
Tis here display'd, and here rewarded too;
Others move only by unbridled guideless Heat,
But you mix Love with Policy, Passion with State:
You scorn'd the Painter's Hands your Hearts should ty,
Which oft (and here they must) th' Original bely,
(For how should Art that Beauty undertake,
Which Heav'n would strive in vain agen to make?)
Taught by Religion you did better Methods try,
And worship'd not the Image, but the Deity:
Go, envied Prince, your glorious Bride receive,
Too great for ought, but mighty York to give;
She, whom if none must Wed, but those who merit Her,
Monarchs might cease Pretence, and slighted Gods despair:
Think You in her far greater Conquests gain,
Then all the Pow'rs of France have from your Country ta'ne,
In her soft Arms let Your Ambition bounded ly,
And fancy there an Universal Monarchy.

(4)

And You; fair Princess, who could thus subdue,
What France with all its Forces could not do;
Enjoy Your glorious Prize,
Enjoy the Triumphs of your conqu'ring Eys;
From Him, and th' Height of your great Mind look down,
And with Neglect despise a Throne,
And think't as great to merit, as to wear a Crown:
Nassaw is all, which your Desires, or Thoughts can frame,
All Titles lodge within that single Name,
A Name, which Mars himself would with Ambition bear,
Prouder in that then to be call'd the God of War:
To You, great Madam, (if your Joys admit Increase,
If Heav'n has not already set your Happiness
Above its Pow'r to raise)
To You the zealous humble Muse
These solemn Wishes consecrates and vows,
And begs you'll not her Offering refuse,
Which not Your Want, but her Devotion shows.

(5)

May Your great Consort still successfull prove
In all his high Attempts, as in your Love;
May he thro' all Attacks of Chance appear
As free from Danger, as he is from Fear;
May neither Sence of Grief or Trouble know,
But what you must to others in Compassion show:
May your bright self be fruitful in as num'rous Store
Of Princely Births, as she who your great Father bore;
May Heav'n, to your just Merits kind,
Repeal the ancient Curse on Womankind;
Easy and gentle as the Labours of the Brain,
May yours all prove, and just so free from Pain;
May no rude Noise of War approach your Bed,
But Peace her downy Wings about you spread,
Calm as the Season, when fair Halcyons breed:
May You, and the just Owner of your Brest,
Both in as full Content and Happiness be blest,
As the first sinless Pair of old enjoy'd,
Ere Guilt their Innocence and that destroy'd:
Till nothing but Continuance to your Bliss can add,
And you by Heav'n alone be happier made;
Till future Poets, who your Lives review,
When they'd their utmost Pitch of Flatt'ry shew,
Shall Pray their Patrons may become like you,
Nor know to frame a skilful Wish more great,
Nor think a higher Blessing in the Gift of Fate.