ON THE MARRIAGE Of His SERENE HIGHNESS the PRINCE of ORANGE.
[]ILLuſtrious Prince, forgive the feeble Lay,
That now aſpires to hail your Nuptial-day;
Nor [...] a Muſe, the meaneſt of the Nine,
Who brings her humble Off'ring to your Shrine.
And You Imperial Nymph, whoſe lovely Face
Invites the Hero to your chaſte Embrace,
Vouchſafe a Spark of your Coeleſtial Fire,
Harmonious Words, and pleaſing Thoughts inſpire,
Soft as your Love, and tuneful as your Lyre;
[2] So ſhall my Numbers charm the liſt'ning Ear,
And ev'n the glad NASSAU delighted hear.
NASSAU has long enrich'd the Book of Fame.
And ANNA now adorns the Noble Name.
Nations who ſaw the Light of ORANGE riſe,
With awful Splendor, in the Belgian Skies;
Shall ſoon behold it with new Luſtre ſhine,
Join'd to a glorious Star of BRUNSWICK's Line.
So where the flowing Sambre gently glides,
The Swain delights to view the beauteous Tides;
But when his more-extended Eye ſurveys
The ſhining Torrent join the ſpacious Maeſe,
Both Rivers thus, with friendly Union flow,
And to the Sight ſuperior Beauty ſhow.
Whene'er the Gods a noble Race intend,
They ſuit the Cauſes to their deſtin'd End:
Nor yoke unequal Hearts in Nuptial Love,
Jove's valiant Bird diſdains the fearful Dove.
Great Minds by native Sympathy combine,
As golden Particles the cloſeſt join;
Paternal Virtues in their Boſom roll,
Ally'd in Love by Nobleneſs of Soul;
[3] Hence, Thrones and Scepters ſhine neglected Things,
Hence Royal ANN prefers NASSAU to Kings;
While Britons with united Hearts rejoice,
And willing Senators applaud the Choice,
To ſee their King (to Honour ever true)
Diſcharge the Debt to ſacred WILLIAM due.
Immortal WILLIAM! by whoſe prudent Cares,
We yet enjoy the Fruits of all our Wars;
Our Laws, Religion, Liberty, and Peace,
And ev'n the Bleſſings of the BRUNSWICK Race.
Nor Thou, Illuſtrious ORANGE, bluſh to own
Thy Honour, thus ally'd to Albion's Crown;
Bleſt with a Princeſs, in whoſe Form we trace
Her Fathers Majeſty, and Mother's Grace:
Bright Orbs of Pow'r, that with propitious Ray,
Diſpel our Clouds, and beautify our Day.
Not as the Comet, raging thro' the Air,
Infects the World with Peſtilence and War:
But like the Sun, their Beams of Goodneſs glow,
Inſpiring Life, and chearing All below.
Such are the glorious SIRE, and gracious DAME,
From whence the beauteous Bride of ORANGE came.
[4] And ſhall unerring Nature change her Kind?
What Lion e'er produc'd a tim'rous Hind?
The Royal Eagles, Royal Eagles breed,
And Heroes from Heroic Sires proceed;
Rome's Founder thus, confeſt his Race Divine;
Thus NASSAU copies the NASSOVIAN Line;
Thus, ANNA's noble Stream of Virtue flows,
High as the Regal Spring from whence it roſe.
Thrice happy Nymph, with ev'ry grace ſupply'd,
Thrice happy Prince, with ſuch a heav'nly Bride;
In whom ſuperior Senſe, with Judgment joins,
Her Beauty much, but more her Merit ſhines.
How glorious! when ſuch Worth adorns the Great,
We hear, we ſee, admire and imitate,
Virtue in Them, attracts remoteſt Eyes,
But in the Vulgar Soul unheeded lies.
As radiant Phoebus darts ſuperior Light,
While ſmaller Planets ſhun the watchful Sight.
Accompliſh'd thus, let her Example fire
The drooping Muſe, and wake the ſounding Lyre;
To aid Religion be her chiefeſt Care,
(Heav'n juſtly claims the Soul it made ſo fair)
[5] To ſtem the Torrent of licentious Rage,
And prop the Virtues of a ſinking Age;
Exalting Science to her ancient Height,
To raiſe declining Arts, and make the rude Polite.
While Great NASSAU, whom native Glory warms,
Whene'er his Country calls him forth to Arms,
May fire the Belgians in the Field of Mars,
Conſult their Peace, or animate their Wars;
Paint his Forefathers to their wond'ring Eye,
And teach 'em how to conquer, or to die;
Like him, who bravely dar'd to break their Chain,
Tho' held by all the Force and Fraud' of Spain;
For injur'd Liberty the Sword he draws,
Reſolv'd to gain, or periſh in the Cauſe;
And having long the doubtful Combat try'd,
Like
Caeſar vanquiſh'd, and like
Caeſar * dy'd.
Tho' diff'rent far the Motives of their Mind,
That, fought to Conquer, This to Save Mankind;
Till prais'd, lamented, envied, and admir'd,
The Hero, Patriot, and the Prince expir'd.
[6]Oh! where did then the guardian Angels hide?
Nor watch'd to turn the guilty Ball aſide;
When he, whom armed Hoſts cou'd not withſtand,
Now falls a Victim to one Villain's hand!
But riſe ye Muſes, quit the penſive Lay,
Nor damp the Joys of this auſpicious Day,
Since yet the glorious Name of ORANGE ſtands,
Since Royal ANNA ſeals the Nuptial-bands,
Soon may Imperial ADOLPHS riſe again,
Again new FREDERICKS thunder on the Main,
Rouſing the Martial Youth to War's alarms,
(If proud Ierians ſhine again in Arms)
To guard their Country from tyrannic Pow'r,
And be what glorious WILLIAM was before.
Nor ſhall the [...]ſtates invading Forces fear,
'Ere pregnant Time the promis'd Heroes bear;
Nor want Allies their Freedom to defend,
Since BRUNSWICK reigns, and ALBION is their Friend.
As branching Oaks protect the rural Swain,
Secure from Summer-heat, and Winter-rain;
So ſhall our Monarch, with Paternal Aid,
His Regal Shelter o'er Batavia ſpread,
[7] Long as the Sceptre fills his Royal Hand,
A true Palladium ſhall Inſure the Land.
And if the praeſcient Muſes guide my Lay,
Or, future Secrets, Phoebus can diſplay,
The Day ſhall ſhine diſtinguiſh'd from the reſt,
That ANNA dignify'd, and Hymen bleſt;
In which AUGUSTUS fortifies his Throne,
And plans a Scheme of Union for his Son;
Beſpeaks Allies for Princes yet to come,
New Friends to Britain, and new Foes to Rome.
Proceed Great MONARCH, new Allies to gain,
And with new Nuptial-leagues our Peace maintain;
So ſhall thy beauteous Nymphs ſecure with Charms
That ſafety, other Kings defend with Arms;
They, Venus like, cou'd Mars himſelf ſurprize,
And awe ſtern Tyrants with their conqu'ring Eyes.
VERSES to the Author, In Imitation of HORACE's ODE on PINDAR.
Applyed to the Marriage of his Highneſs the Prince of Orange with ANN Princeſs Royal of Great Britain.
[]By a DIVINE.
WHO hopes to rival MILTON's Flame,
With waxen Pinions fondly flies;
His Fall will give the Sea a Name,
While he attempts to reach the Skies.
[2]MILTON is like a Flood, whoſe Tide,
Swell'd with tempeſtous Deluge, roars,
Which from ſome lofty Mountain's Side
Reſiſtleſs foams, and knows no Shores.
With ſacred Lawrels juſtly crown'd,
Whether in bold unfetter'd Strains
His tow'ring Muſe the common Bound,
Superior to all Rhime, diſdains.
Whether the Realms of endleſs Day
He fill with Wars and rude Alarms,
Or ſet in terrible Array
Seraphic Legions clad in Arms.
Aloft with all their Foreſts thrown
See Hills, from their Foundations raz'd!
See Angels hurl'd with Vengeance down,
When the MESSIAH's Standard blaz'd!
[3]Or leads he to conubial Bow'rs
The new-form'd Pair? The teeming Ground
Smiles with a Wilderneſs of Flow'rs
Diffuſing Gales of Fragrance round.
Lo! ADAM with Majeſtic Mein
For Empire and Command deſign'd!
Conſumate Beauty crowns his Queen,
With Dignity and Sweetneſs join'd.
While he the charming Scene diſplays,
Where Innocence and Pleaſure reign'd,
Delighted with his ſacred Lays,
We hear it loſt, and feel it gain'd.
His Lays, inimitably fine,
With Extaſy each Paſſion move,
When loud they trumpet War divine,
Or ſoftly warble human Love.
[4]O STEPHEN, this Britannic Swan
Surmounts the Clouds with noble Flight,
While I at diſtance only can
Admire him leſſ'ning to the Sight.
As the poor Bee, with endleſs Toil,
To ſuck the Thyme and blooming Roſe,
Skims over RICHMOND's fragrant Soil,
Thus I with pleaſing Pain compoſe.
You with a happy Genius bleſt,
In bolder Strains ſhall NASSAU ſing,
When ANNA by the Graces dreſt,
He to the Nuptial Dome ſhall bring.
ANNA enrich'd with various Charms
By the indulgent Care of Heav'n,
Than whom into his longing Arms
No greater Treaſure can be giv'n.
[5]Not, tho' with Riches of the Eaſt
At his Command the Ganges flow,
Tho' with full Empire he poſſeſt
Whate'er Ambition wiſh'd below.
Ye Nereids, with propitious Gales,
The gilded Veſſel kindly aid,
Let CUPIDS fan the ſwelling Sails,
And waft him to the Royal Maid.
* When
Thames, with floating Foreſts crown'd,
LEANDER ſafe arriv'd proclaims,
And of tumultuous Joy the Sound
Shall bid AUGUSTA riſe in Flames.
Loud Thunder burſting from her Tow'rs,
Shall ſignalize the ſacred Day;
And tranſport to the Belgic Shores,
For Bleſſings which they lent, convey.
[6]Around while Hymenaeals ring,
My Voice to higheſt Pitch I'll raiſe,
Thrice happy, if I can but ſing
An humble Ode to NASSAU's Praiſe.
You, ſoaring in Heroic Verſe,
By native Strength of Wing upborn,
His Godlike Virtues ſhall rehearſe,
And Beauties, which the Bride adorn.
He in your Lays ſhall finiſh'd riſe,
For Council, or th' embattled Field:
Immortals the conteſted Prize
To her ſuperior Charms ſhall yield.
Then raviſh'd with prophetick Views
Succeeding Glories ſhall preſage;
And from the Genial Bed the Muſe,
Raiſe Princes to improve the Age:
[7]Who, bravely prodigal of Blood,
Shall prove, that to ſet free Mankind,
And conquer for the Publick Good,
The Race of NASSAU was deſign'd.
Thus Great ALCIDES (Poets feign)
By Labours gain'd the Seats above;
Countries preſerv'd, and Monſters ſlain,
Aſſert the Genuine Son of Jove.
The Anſwer.
[8]WHEN I, in feeble Verſe, eſſay'd
NASSAU and ANNA's Praiſe,
A Lyrick Muſe flew o'er my Head,
And dropp'd a Branch of Bays.
I wou'd have fix'd it on my Brow,
But PHOEBUS ſaid, forbear;
'Tis Vanity to touch the Bough,
And Sacrilege to wear.
Give it the Bard, who boldly dares
Attempt the Roman Lyre,
Who wiſely checks, but not impairs
The tow'ring PINDAR's Fire.
Thus, Sir, to you, in PHOEBUS' Name,
The Lawrel Wreath I ſend;
And ſince the God denies me Fame,
Am glad it crowns my Friend.
FINIS.