Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 7

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SEv'n yeares are full expired, Royall Sir,

Since last I kneel'd, an offring to preferre

Before your feete; where, now, my selfe I throw

To pay once more, the Tributes which I owe.

As many yeares are past, most beauteous Qveene,

Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beene

Of those Perfections; which the generall Fame

Hath sounded forth, in honour of your Name.

And, both your beaming-splendors (oh yee faire,

Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matched Paire)

Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;

And have so sweetly mingled your affections,

Your Praise, your Pow're, your Vertues, and your Beautie:

That, (if preserving of my Soveraigne dutie,

This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,

Two Persons, in One Maiesty, to be;

To whom, there, appertaines (in veneration

Of your large Worth) the right of some Oblation

And, best, I thought, my Homage would be done,

If, thus, the tender were to Both-in-One.

Which, in this humble Gvift, my Love presents;

And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.

Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shew

These Figures, as well meriting your view;

Nor boast, as if their Moralls couched ought,

By which your sacred Wisdomes may be taught:

Yet, I have humble Hopings, that, they might

Prove, some way, an occasion of delight;

Since, meane and common Objects, now and then,

Beget contentments in the greatest-men.

But, that before this Booke, I should propose

Your praisefull Names, there is (as I suppose)

A faire inducement: For, considering these

Are Emblems, whose intention is to please

And profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,

Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)

And, I well knowing, that your Maiesties

Set foorth before my Booke, in Emblem-wise,

Throughout your Lands, more Vertues might convay,

Than many Volumes, of these Emblems, may;

It seemed Petty-treason, to omit

This good occasion of endeavouring it.

For, (if your Maiesties, well heeded, were)

Yov, double-treble-foure-fold Emblems are;

Which, fully to illustrate, would require

The Wit I want; or, meanes to raise, that, higher

Which I have gain'd; (and, which, as yet, hath flowne

By no incouragements, but by her owne.)

Of all the Vertues Oeconomical,

Of Duties Moral and Politicall,

Your Lives are Patternes, and faire Emblems; whether

Considered apart, or both together.

Your Childhoods were bright Mirrours, which did show

What Duties, Children, to their Parents owe:

And, by the sequele, we now understand,

That, they who best obay'd, can best command.

The glorious Vertues of your Nvptiall-state,

Your Courtiers, find so hard to imitate,

That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,

(Had others told, what, now they see and heare)

That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,

With such a Paire, when Kings and Queenes were Sainted.

The chastest Cupids, and the gamesom'st Graces,

Are alwaies mingled in your Deare-embraces.

The mutuall enterchanges of your Loves,

May teach affection to the Turtle-doves:

And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,

May see in You, all Excellence united.

You, Sir, who beare Ioves Thunders in your Fist,

And, (shake this Ilands Empire, when You list)

Did never in your Orbe, a Tempest move,

But, by the Beautious Mistresse of your Love

It might be calm'd. And, in your lofty Spheare,

Most lovely Qveene, Your Motions ever, were

So smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,

They have withdrawne his Royall-heart away

From Iust Designes; Which, loudly speakes your Praise,

And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies.

Yea, both Your Splendors doe so glorious growe,

And, You, each other have out-vyed so,

In these, and other Vertues; that, on You,

Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,

My Lines, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)

Would Flatt'ry seeme, unto an envious eare.

But, what needs Flatt'ry, where the Truth may teach

To praise, beyond immodest Flatt'ries reach?

Or, what needs he to feare a sland'rous-mouth,

Who seekes no meed, nor utters more than Truth?

Your Princely Vertues, what can better show,

Than Peace, and Plenty, which have thrived so,

Whilst You have raign'd that, yet, no people see,

A Richer, or more Peacefull time, than wee?

Your Civill Actions (to the publike eye)

Are faire examples of Moralitie,

So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,

Who said, The World doth imitate the King;

My Muses dare, with boldnesse to presage,

A Chast, a Pious, and a Prosperous Age:

And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr'd,

Shall all be quite removed, or deferr'd

Till you Ascend; And, future times have seene,

That, your Examples have not followed beene.

Thus, you are living Emblems, to this Nation:

Which being mark'd with heedefull speculation,

May serve, as well, to helpe us how to see

Our Happinesse, As, what our Duties be.

And, if I might unlocke all Mysteries,

Which doe declare, how in a foure-fold-wise,

Your Lives are usefull Emblems; I, perchance,

Should vexe blind Zeale, or anger Ignorance;

And, teach well-temper'd Spirits, how to see,

That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.

For, as you, Both, Prime Children are of those

Two Sister-Churches, betwixt whom, yet, growes

Vnseemely strife; So, You, perhaps, may be

An Emblem, how those Mothers may agree.

And, not by your Example, onely, show,

How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.

Yea, peradventure, God, united You,

That, such a blessed Vnion might ensue:

And, that, Your living-lovingly, together;

Your Christian hopefullnesse, of one another;

Your milde forbearance, harsh attempts to proove;

Your mutuall-waiting, untill God shall move

By some calme-voice, or peacefull inspiration,

That Heart Which needeth better Information;

And, that, your Charities, might give a signe,

How, all the Daughters, of the Spovse Divine

Might reconciled be; And, shew, that, Swords,

Flames, Threats, and Furie, make no true Accords.

God grant a better Vnion may appeare:

Yet, wish I not the tollerating, here,

Of Politicke-Agreements; (further than

Our wholsome Lawes, and, Civill-vowes to man,

With Piety, approve) but, such, as may

Make up a blessed Concord, every way:

Might it be so; your Vertues, would become

A Glorious Blessing, to all Christendome:

Your Emblem should, by future Generations;

Be plac'd among the famous Constellations,

And, after-times (though, Mee, this Age despise)

Would thinke, these Verses, had beene Prophecies.

What ever may succeed, my Pray'rs and Powr's

Are this way bent; with Hope, that You or Yours

Shall Helps (at least) become, that Breach to close,

Which, in the Seamles-Robe, yet, wider growes.

So Be It: And, let bright your Glories bee,

For ever, though You never shine on Mee.

Your Maiesties

most Loyall Subject,

Geo: Wither.