OF THE MOST Auspicatious Marriage: BETWIXT, The High and Mighty Prince, FREDERICK; COUNT PALATINE of RHINE, chief Sewer to the sacred Roman Empire, Prince Elector, and Duke of BAVARIA, etc. AND The most Illustrious Princess, the Lady ELIZABETH her Grace, sole Daughter to the high and mighty JAMES, King of great BRITAIN, etc.  
IN III. BOOKS:  
Composed in Latin by M. JOANNES MARIA, de Franchis. And Translated into English  
AT LONDON, Printed by G. ELD, for William Blainchard, and are to be sold in Fleet-lane, at the sign of the Printers Press. 1613.   

TO THE MOST EXcellent Princess Elizabeth, the only daughter of JAMES, King of great Briton, and wife to the most Illustrious Prince FREDERICK the fifth, Count Palatine of Rhine, Arch-sewer of the holy Empire, first Elector, and Duke of BAVARIA.  
Fair Heaven of Graces, Haven of content,  
The World's great Hope, and greater Ornament;  
Grace these my labours, with your heavenly eyes,  
In whose mild Haven, my Hope at anchor lies;  
Where (may this ship with your safe-conduct ride)  
She will not fear a world of foes beside:  
Say that some Rover, who my lading spies,  
Shooting to make me his unlawful Prize,  
Call me a Pirate of another's wit,  
That cannot make me stoop: I'll answer it.  
The Goods at first, they were bequeathed to me,  
At my dispose, to change the Property.  
So that I wasted not the Principal,  
For that be you my judge imperial:  
Where, find me guilty, punish not my will,  
But rather pity mine unured skill.  
Besides (dread gracious Princess) this I vow,  
By me they'd ne'er been altered but for you;  
Presuming, native clothes of Britain,  
Would better please then silks of Italy;  
Say they're not good, yet have I done my best,  
To please your Grace, be pleased, and I am blest:  
Your highness most humbly devoted, SAMVEL HUTTON.   

TO THE HIGH AND Mighty Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales.  
THe desired and happy marriage of that Illustrious Princess, with that magnanimous and Heroical Prince, of so great blood (but of greater merits) hath been generally celebrated among all the subjects with such an unaccustomed joy, that some of them, being not able to contain themselves, and yet desirous to show their devoted affections, have strained their Muse to sing a joyful Hymen to their Highness' nuptial rights: Among which company, I being one of the number, although inferior to them all in every thing (my love and affection only excepted) commanded my Muse, though in a hard and unpleasing style, yet as well as she could to express my vowed service and obedience to their Highnesses. At the first I intended to have made only a short and ordinary Epithalamium; but afterwards having considered better of it, I found it much fitter to divide it into three books. The first Book I sent to the right Reverend Father the Lord Archbishop of York, who presented it unto the King. By this means I did think that if my first book might have a charitable censure of the wise and learned sort of men, I might then, with less fear and with more spirit, presume to present this my book, with the other two, unto their Highnesses. Notwithstanding, I had no such good conceit, either of myself, or of my labours, to think them all three worthy to be exposed to the judgement, and censure of all men: and yet to have put forth the one part, without the other, would have made my Poem imperfect, which had been a greater inconvenience. At length, some of my friends having received this Poem printed it, being delighted with the novelty of the matter, and desirous to show their affection and my congratulation to that happy marriage. At the first it grieved me a little, that my book, being not fully perfected, should be printed: but at last having no desire to have it printed again, after that the solemnities were ended, some of my friends began to importune me that I would impart my book unto them. I being easily overcome with their urging yielded unto their requests: This book they have now translated into English, to the end that the Ladies may be partakers of this curious symmetry. This book I offer up unto your Highness of whom I have heard many honourable relations at the right reverend father in God my lord Archbishop of York's house; and now I do partly know your Highness to be of such a Princely disposition, that you will not refuse the protection of the first fruits of a Scholar, but rather cherish and maintain them; especially such a one that prostrateth himself and his labours at your highness feet, humbly beseeching your Highness not to survey the book with a curious eye, but to accept of that good mind which offers it. Last of all, I do wish such a Spouse, as is described in these Hymns, to be matched with your Highness; and I beseech thee, O God, to add so much time to my years, that I may live to see it; to the end, that I may write a nuptial Hymen of your highness marriage, in a more judicious and accurate style.  
Your highness most affectionate servant, Io. MARIA.   

The Argument, or Epitome, of the whole Poem.  
IVpiter, by means of Mercury his messenger, summons a Convocation of the Gods to confer and dispose of things here below; at this Synod, Religion (being a power amongst the heavenly deities of no small repute) made her appearance, being full of affliction, & deprived of that accustomed celestial pomp, and divine ornaments with which all th'other Gods then assembled in the Consistory of the highest heavens did most gloriously shine: which moved all the Gods to marvel, and father jupiter himself to require the cause of her grief, whereof in her actions and habit she gave such woeful remonstrances. To whom she answered with tears, and sobs, that this happened unto her, because she was so torn and persecuted in the world, by wickedness and superstition, and other of Pluto's firebrands, that she had scarce any place there safely to rest herself, farther intimating, what barbarous & horrible torments she and her followers had, for many ages past, suffered, and still did endure. Which complaint of hers, moved the Deities to compassionate her, and caused them (being enkindled with a just wrath against the infernal Furies) to begin to muster up, and bend their celestial forces to succour her: But then the ruler of the Gods (having with his most majestic awful beck calmed their indignation) most lovingly comforted his afflicted Daughter; telling the deities that this was not to be remedied with fury and the destruction of men, but with fatherly and long sufferance to bring home to his flock those strayed sheep, by good counsel and exhortation, as in his eternal decrees he had in this case determined; and that the chief means for the effecting hereof was, the linking together of two royal families in a most profitable marriage, long since preordained by Fate, for the reformation of these corrupted times: And then he repeated the ancient oracle of the goddess Themis, now upon the point to be performed, in the persons of the most illustrious Lady, the Princess of great Britain, and of the most noble Prince PALATINE, the virtues of which excellent couple, even jove himself collanded, and foretold the many blessings that should proceed of these royal Nuptials: whereby Religion, and the whole Quire of Heaven, were with great hopes appeased.  

THE II. BOOK.  
THe Gods, with their recomforted Sister, do congratulate each other, and she returns them thanks for their so great favours, and they alljoine, and move juno, the precedent of marriages, and Venus the mother of love, to assume the Embassy & the effectuating of this design of the gods.  
juno sends down upon the earth Iris her Embassadress, clad with most artificialluestiments, in which the reforming of Religion, and the occurrences of greatest consequence in the world for many years past were inwoo●en; and with Iris, Venus joined as colleague Cupid her son, with a troup of other Immortal personages: who being replete with joy, and prophesying, thorogh the regions of the air, the greatness of this most happy union, arrived at Heidelberg, being the Metropolis of the Palatinate, where they entering secretly by night, Cupid with golden dart, & amorous, fire in a dream, struck & inflamed the young Prince, not yet knowing the object of his desire till afterwards walking in his gallery, entraunced with those amorous thoughts, his eye lighted on the picture of the L. Elizabeth, the only daughter of the most puissant King of great Briton, with whose portraiture, amongst divers others of the greatest Princesses in the world, the said gallery was beautified. At the first sight of that fair picture, of a more fair substance; the Prince was surprised with a new flame, acknowledging that that was the beautiful form which Cupid represented unto him, and with which he stirred him up to love; and hereupon the Prince causeth the picture to be taken down, and placed in his own chamber, and to this shrius of his Goddess, he daily offers many truly inamorated and devoted Orisons: But his love more & more continually increasing▪ his excellency could not be satisfied with this liveless resemblance, but after many consultations resolves to go in person into England to see at the life, the Mistress and owner of that fair form, which had captivated his heart; whither at length with a most auspicious success, and a most noble retinue, he happily arrived.   

THE III. BOOK.  
WHere being honourably received of the King, & his whole Court, the Prince, with the excellency of his endowments of nature and art, & by the invisible assistance of the supernal powers, in kindles no less flames of love, in the virgin breast of the royal Princess towards him, than were in his Excellencies towards her highness: And whilst each of these two, most loving, and most lovely lovers, did day & night severally meditate of this their first love; Consus the lord of council, in the shape of Philon, late his majesties tutor, appeared in night to the sleeping king, telling his highness, that the coming of the Prince Elector into his kingdom, was by the ordinance of heaven; to the end, that by the alliance made between them, by the Princess his daughter, the state of Religion should he established by this most wished for marriage. To this heavenly Counsellor the king consented, with this proviso, that the Prince should first (as it was fitting) request it at his highness hands, which his excellency afterward willingly performing, his Majesty, at the first motion, graciously condescended. The esspousalls are proclaimed, and at the report hereof the whole kingdom revels and keeps royal festivals, and the father of waters Oceanus, having by Triton his Trumpeter assembled the Maritine & flwiall powers, doth out of the clear brow of heaven, and the most temperate season of the spring, prognosticate happy success, highly praising in this match the judgement of the foreseeing sapient King, and therewithal provokes every thing to rejoice.  
Now comes the Bridal day, in honour whereof Vulcan, the God of fire, at the intercession of Venus his wife, doth with his element play his master's prize, in presenting strange and delightful fireworks upon the Thames: And Mars in competition with him, to content the Queen of love, shows valiant and various feats and stratagems of war; and the City, to show her love and legiance to her Sovereign, with many sorts of stately shows disembowelleth the inmost of her heart: and the king himself, because there should be nothing wanting in this high solemn, keeps an open Court full of all royal delights; In the midst whereof the marriage is consummated, and the most loving royal pair obtain the height of their amorous desires.    

A MARRIAGE HYMN IN THREE BOOKS.  

The Argument of the first Book.  
In the God's council, wronged Religion  
Complains of injuries: Infernal DIS  
Had sent forth legions from deep Acheron,  
Who world her truth defeat, prevent her bliss:  
JOVE seeing, and pitying her incessant pains,  
A Marriage for her comfort praeordaines.  

1.  
MY mind replenished with full hopes and joys,  
Cannot contain itself in thoughtful silence  
But it must utter, both with pen and voice,  
The royal marriage of high consequence:  
Betwixt a Germane and the Britain State,  
Where Peace and Honour met, Fortune and Fate.   

2.  
Come juno, Goddess of true marriage love,  
Come (called by charm) sweet Muses from your Mountains,  
Come Nymphs, fair daughters of high thundering jove,  
Who govern Thames and Rhine, woods, waves, or fountains:  
Inspire my aspiring spirit, while it indites,  
This heaven-blessed bed-league and connubiall rites.   

3.  
Let it be lawful for an earthbred essence,  
Passing in thought olympus crystal gates,  
T'approach the Pantheon of your glorious presence,  
And there behold your ever-blessed states:  
Then on your altars, crowned with myrtle-bowes,  
I'll offer He catombs and incense vows.   

4.  
jove resident in his Imperial Towers,  
Built on the pillars of Eternity  
Calls for a Senate of celestial powers,  
By which he governs with stability  
Th'instable world, the ways of Sun and Moon,  
And whatsoe'er in Heaven or Earth is done.   

5.  
From hence the Pleiads, Nyads, fierce Orion,  
Arctophilax, the great and lesser Bears,  
The Dolphin, Goat-fish, and fierce-hearted Lion  
Take the full influence of their flaming spheres:  
From hence all heavenly constellations  
Derive their orders, influence, operations.   

6.  
Hence Nature takes her turns, plants their increase,  
Matter takes form, Form beauty, Beauty fall,  
Number beginning, Motion work and ease,  
Place bodies, Body's measure, Time takes all:  
Hence Cause her causes hath, Fortune her course,  
And Fates which never yield their mighty force.   

7.  
Hence came the generous kinds of every beast,  
And whatsoever swims in Seas quick tide,  
And whatsoever lies on Earth's rough breast,  
And whatsoever flies or far or wide;  
Man more than others hath attained God's feature,  
As being the chiefest, wisest, holiest creature.   

8.  
On him jove placed his dearest love and care,  
His everlasting pleasure and content,  
Made him his creatures, graces, glories heir;  
And made for him Seas, lands, airs large extent,  
Keeping in form and strength he guides all right  
For his defence, use, learning and delight▪   

9  
Therefore when Hermes called the starry peers,  
As he was wont by mighty Ioues decree;  
This holy Conclave in full state appears  
Clothed in new stately robes for their degree,  
Passing the Firmaments bright Galaxy,  
Striving who should exceed in Majesty.   

10.  
First heavens great King takes his Imperial stall,  
His Queen and sister, juno then hath place,  
Grandam Cybele sits next, feared of all;  
Then Sol being past the Zones and Zodiac space  
Lights from his Coach, drawn by fowrfire-breathed steeds  
Puts off his beams, puts on his Council weeds.   

11.  
ivy-crowned Bacchus from sweet Hamus vines,  
Yoking fierce Leopards arrives with glory,  
Castor and Pollux feathered Leda's twins  
Met (who meet seldom) in this consistory:  
Hither Alcides with his lions trame,  
Came borne on frosty Boreas' bright-beamed wain.   

12.  
Cynthia left hunting on Arcadia downs  
And welkept woods, to grace her golden sphere;  
Brain-bred Minerva laid aside her frowns,  
Although then armed with snaky Gorgon's hair:  
Rough Mars, grown mild, came clad in complete steel,  
Ceres forsook her sith, Fortune her wheel.   

13.  
Hither came Venus, Beauties graceful Queen,  
Accompanied with Cupid's dreadful power;  
Near her was Hebe, Juno's daughter, seen  
Adorned with scarlet robes, and Youths fair flower;  
Chloris that crowns the spring, Maia the bright,  
And she that brings well-formed babes to light.   

14.  
Aeole that pens in prison the rude wind,  
Proteus which here doth his firm shape retain,  
Neptune with his aged Parents wellnigh blind,  
Fair Cimothe with all the sea-gods train;  
The Nymphs of trees & hills with neat-kemd hair,  
here merry Pan, swift Fawns, bold Satyrs are.   

15.  
The Mountain Pales and the Sylvan God,  
Vulcan though lame, yet quick in fliut-found fire;  
Silver tongued Hermes with his golden rod,  
The spirit of rest and plenteous peace drew nigher:  
Honour and Reverence with humbled eyes,  
And sun-bright Majesty which never dies.   

16.  
Still cheerful Concord, Faith which never feigned,  
Well-meaning soone-entreated Honesty,  
True justice, which by wrong-doing never gained,  
With Phoebus' Heliconian company  
New-rich-attired: All took their several places,  
And gave right oracles in doubtful cases.   

17.  
At last, (who should be first in Parliament)  
In came Religion, with sad look, soft pace,  
Deep sighs, moist eyes, pale cheeks, hair and clothes rend,  
Submissive gesture and devotest grace:  
Her followers were Sins-grief, Shames-feare, Worlds-pain,  
She leaned on Truth, wan Hope held up her train.   

18.  
Like Cynthia smothered in a dropping cloud,  
Or Sol when Phaeton Earths-face did burn,  
In coal-black night his glorious beams did shroud,  
So did Religion look, so did she mourn:  
All-seeing jove beholding her vexation,  
Scarce held from tears in Fatherly compassion.   

19  
Yet hiding his heart's grief with pleasing cheer,  
Bespeaks her sad care, saying: Daughter what ails thee?  
Whence come the tears I see, the sighs I hear?  
How chance thy comeliness, thy colour fails thee?  
Who durst wrong thee or thine, the Giants it may be  
(Sweet say the cause) have risen from earth to fray thee?   

20.  
She wellnigh sinking in a deadly swoon,  
When sorrowing sobs would let her tell her moan,  
Begins, yet weeps, lifts up her eyes, looks down,  
Then said. And is my cause as yet unknown?  
All wonder-working jove hear, help, relieve us,  
(Only thou canst) and punish them that grieve us.   

21.  
It is not Grandam Earth, nor that huge brood,  
Sprung of thy seed and hers, which wrought mine harms:  
But worse, far worse: Dis, which did never good,  
With craft and force his foul-mouthed legions arms,  
And will not let me reign or barely rest me;  
Orbide on earth, so much doth he detest she.   

22.  
No sooner can I drive him out my soil,  
But Hydra-like he comes with greater forces;  
And grows more spiteful rageful with his foil,  
More dangerous politic in devilish courses:  
So that, although my words renew my pain,  
Yet is my grief so great, I must complain.   

23.  
At thy command you Gods that guide this round,  
Attend with gentleness my doleful tale;  
Mine adversary driven from off the ground,  
Where he had ranged by wrong, and wroughting bale,  
Madded with pride and hate could not endure  
Himself so banished, my throne so secure.   

24.  
But fuming, foaming, gnashing, breathing flame,  
He testifies his rage with open jaws:  
He chafes and snuffs, he roars and howls for shame,  
He beats his poisoned breast with both his paws,  
He bites his lips, and rends his ugly locks,  
His cries at heaven, his ghosts at helgates knocks.   

25.  
His pride-swollen spleen, more fierce than his own fire,  
Could not but bellow thus in vaults of night;  
Was't not enough that I which once was higher,  
Then any creature both by birth and might,  
Should first be cast from heaven, then driven to hell,  
In everlasting darkness there to dwell.   

26.  
But that I should be thrust from out my chair,  
Purchased by war and long in peace possessed:  
What title, reason, right can they declare?  
Although for uprightness they would be blest,  
Their word's their law, their will's their equity.  
Dis will not suffer this indignity.   

27.  
While wit or sword will serve I'll claim earth's throne,  
To move mine anger thus it may repent them:  
Being more they got the field, the right's mine own,  
Where then war could not, wisdom shall prevent them,  
It never shallbe said the Devil assailed,  
Gave over his cause, his heart or weapons failed.   

28.  
Let piteous Piety look unto her part,  
Revenge adds force, I'll make a second venture;  
My smart shall cause more than myself to smart,  
The more she drives me thence the more I'll enter,  
Such is my will: jove keep thy firmament,  
Thou shalt not keep in peace Earth's regiment.   

29.  
This said he staid and called the damned spirits,  
The Goblins, Fairies, Furies, and their Dam,  
Exaggerates his false pretended rights,  
Dilating his dear loss and far-spred shame,  
Go forth, said he, my brave Tartareons' elves,  
My shape, my pride, my guard, advance yourselves.   

30.  
Make iulstre-entrance in your former states,  
Recover your lost honour, wreak your spites:  
Regain your subjects, open our wide gates,  
Restore new altars for your ancient rites,  
By strength or cunning make my power some way,  
Do good or ill so that I win the day.   

31.  
My victory shall judge their cause the worse,  
Let Fate obey my words; Fortune my lust:  
Let me but conquer: Let heaven, earth, jove curse,  
Scarce heard the furies this, but in they thrust,  
And light their Ebon torches in hot limestone,  
Flaming salt peeter, all-consuming brimstone.   

32.  
Adding the foam of Cerbrus triple jaw,  
The most ilsavoring sink of Lernafen,  
The venomus vomit of Chimera's maw:  
Which burning bred annoy to Gods and men.  
Mustering their hellish-ranks, an hundredth plagues,  
A thousand helhounds with ten thousand hags.   

33.  
Tisiphone threw snakes and fire brands,  
With whips of steel to move their fierceness on,  
So that all cried, arm, arm, none doubtful stands,  
But fly from hell to camp in Babylon,  
And there in spite of truth which all controls,  
Will either lose themselves or win men's souls.   

34.  
There meager Covetise is general,  
The standerd-bearer superstition:  
Chief-gunner Pride, casts many a wildfire ball,  
Error their purveyor wanders up and down,  
To get them food while weak Hypocrisy,  
Sits watching all their tents with heedful eye.   

35.  
Yet that success may sort for their desire,  
They cover their sore threats, keen swords, pale death,  
And will use fraud before they show their ire,  
Changing the titles which they took beneath;  
Framing false rights, hell-fire bred soldiers,  
Would now be known for heaven-bred saviours,   

36.  
For sons of jove Earth took the slaves of hell,  
Babel was termed a Reverend Sanctuary:  
Idolatry Devotion, high pride Zeal,  
Rash error a religious credulity.  
Hypocrisy was called laws complement,  
Thus every vice got virtues ornament.   

37.  
The other furies got them other Vestures,  
The Cruel Wolves were clad with sheep's fair clothing,  
Look lowly, seeming plain, with courteous gestures,  
Outwardly prasing God, inwardly loathing.  
Their speech was pleasant without murmuring,  
Their hearts all rageful hate and slaughter breathing.   

38.  
They sought the ruins of Nobles, kingdoms, kings,  
If they deny them tribute, or contradict:  
Or but refuse obedience in bad things,  
Or not submit their crowns, they will afflict,  
And curse them down unto the deepest hell,  
False Menedemus was their Sentinel.   

39  
Ay me, th'infernal Dragon did more harm,  
By close dissemblance, then plain cruelty:  
And therefore did not hiss, breath flames, or black troops arm,  
But as old fishers catch the silly fry,  
Covering their manly shape with goats rough skins,  
So Dis by seeming fair, foul meaning wins.   

40.  
Ay me, so subtle was his craft and sleight,  
Not Pallas learned, not gold-tonged Maia's child:  
Nor sly Vertumnus could unfold it right,  
He meant such wrack, spoke so fair, looked so mild,  
Doing most unjustice yet he seemed most just,  
This got him greatest honour, power and trust.   

41.  
He seems as not refusing heavens firm laws,  
Neither thy new, nor ancient Oracles:  
Thy fathers, nor they children's old-said saws,  
And that which most confounds his practises,  
He takes as making most for his estate,  
By this men's minds are most intoxicate.   

42.  
As cunning painters put their marble staining,  
On rotten cloth: He with contorted senses  
Turns and ore turns all truth, all rights distraining,  
And straightening crooked things with his pretences,  
Sends forth new sects, new honours, golden showers,  
To them that guard his sacrilegious Towers.   

43.  
These use all means to lift the patron higher,  
All supreme titles and subordinate  
Are given him better than he can desire,  
Hence dares he what he list and thunders at  
All earthly powers, as having thy power high jove,  
Takes and gives crowns as't please him hate or love.   

44.  
He pardons and lays guilt on absent men,  
He claims a sovereign rule on flesh-freed souls:  
Feigns a purge-fornace in his filthy den,  
To cover his never-quenched brimstone holes,  
Greater prevent less fears. Now men surmise,  
His death life, hell arie, fire warmth, serpent's flies.   

45.  
How oft have sin and shame-bred ugly fiends  
Spread errors far from thought, crimes from belief,  
And sown profaneness in men's pregnant minds,  
Which they no sooner knew but put in proof  
Their lessons; went beyond their teachers; taught  
Others far worse; at which Megara laughed.   

46.  
How oft his piled Priest offering, rash-vowed gifts,  
Applauds his own conceit, when like a player,  
He crosseth, kisseth, stands, goes, turns and shifts,  
Mocking our powers with timeless senseless prayer,  
As if our honour were tied unto the stage,  
And we were nought, but what pleased this late age.   

47.  
Oh gods! can men so soon forget good rites?  
Is this their faith and love, their holy zeal?  
Are Temples thus unhallowed with lewd sights?  
Think they to please, when in such wise they deal?  
Worshipping blocks for us, they think us blocks,  
And bowing to stones, they make themselves but stocks.   

48.  
They keep, and creep, and weep to guilded lead  
Or wooden sticks, or deadmen's clothes or bones,  
All that us worshipped, must be worshipped  
Themselves, their carcases, their burial stones  
Tendering to death, who neither can hear, nor see,  
Those prayers that should be made only to thee.   

49.  
How oft when any doth resist their will  
Swelling they snarl, and send forth dangerous wars?  
Such was these Monsters boldened love of evil,  
That mingling vitre, pitch, brimstone, steel-bars  
(The matter bred near, the skill brought from hell)  
Would fain have drawn, and driven us thither pell-mell.   

50.  
Digging the bowels of the wondering earth,  
And laying their divel-found engines in her veins,  
They would have opened wider gates to death,  
To pass in shorter time with sorer pains:  
Their chiefest mark was my wished overthrow,  
With all my better worlds by one fierce blow.   

51.  
Oh mischief worse than any spoke in fables,  
Exceeding Danaus' bride-beds, and Busiris,  
Or Euxin Diane's altars, Tantalus tables;  
Pluto now cannot worse, whose fell desire is  
To root out all my stock, unless he killed,  
My choice Defender with heavens favours filled.   

52.  
For his destruction, who from infancy,  
Because a nourishing Father to my seed  
They would have slain his Queen, Lords, Commonalty:  
For one all should have perished (oh fowl deed!)  
To drive all true devotion out my land,  
They would not let Towers, Temples, Cities stand,   

53.  
Then might the world have known the deeps of Styx,  
These mischiefe-broachers might have seen their place.  
Who (could they with one blow, heaven, earth, hell, mix  
With all their force) would all my rites deface:  
justice, with shamefastness and modesty,  
Fled Earth and would not see this cruelty.   

54.  
Poor I, so much and oft amazed with grief,  
So sore pursued with inquisitions,  
'Scaped scarce their hands and took me to relief,  
They raised so many persecutions;  
Only the care of mine me fortified,  
For whose dear sake I would (if't might be) died.   

55.  
Why should I reckon all those grievous crosses  
Thy children undergo: let heavens bear record,  
No light or night can pass without some losses,  
The night for dreams, the light for pains abhorred:  
These prove those true, so no where peace I find,  
Fear pain, pain breeds more fear in my marred mind.   

56.  
Thus I that once brought forth so many people,  
To multiply thine heavenly family,  
Now dry, weak, old, can hardly get a steeple  
But must lament their ruins and misery:  
I that spread once my light as wide as day,  
To th'Prince of darkness am now made a prey.   

57  
I which once raised my trophies in each land,  
Made wholesome laws, ruled Nations with my rod;  
Behold a wretched fugitive here stand  
Despised: and canst thou suffer this great God?  
Is this my power, my kingdme promised?  
Is thy poor daughter's dowry thus demised?   

58.  
Shall I thus wander having no certain cell,  
When other Gods can have their thousand shrines  
Of gold, high-built, and free from dangers fell,  
While thy loved offspring without lodging pines:  
Yet would I not my brethren should have less,  
Proud envy fits not my forlorn distress.   

59  
Only let my poor deity complain,  
(If thus I may be called, not being hence banished)  
That the cold Sauromate and Scythian,  
Who wander up and down, lest they be famished,  
Driving their whole-built coats from place to place  
Are, being more sure of seat, in better case.   

60.  
A wretched mother, gods and men may call me,  
Still must my sons be fight for their own;  
In every place and time strife doth befall me,  
For pains long passed I will not now make moan:  
My present fears expecting yet far more,  
Make me forget what I endured before.   

61.  
This plague's not all extinct: hell's malice boils,  
His mischief-plotting brain deviseth worse,  
Our holy writs he burns, and Saints he broils,  
Destroys whole countries with a blasting curse;  
Appoints new laws, and sets new gods on high,  
All that gainsay by force or fire shall die.   

62.  
He still prepares more and more punishments,  
For such as well profess my truths pure faith,  
I see the massacres and banishments,  
Prisons and poisons which in store Dis hath,  
Unless you quell their pride (blest powers divine)  
We cannot scape: help then myself and mine.   

63.  
If any piety or pity move you,  
(All Gods, in wisdom, should each care for other)  
Forsake not my faint hopes and them that love you,  
You which defend all creatures, do not loath her  
Which is your friend & sister, though much grieved;  
See my true harmless children soon relieved.   

64.  
Father, if I have ever praised thy power,  
And spread thy mighty name through Earth's vast ground;  
Deliver me and mine from this sad hour,  
By thy right hand with which thou rul'st this round,  
Thy Godhead, and my safeguard I'll invoke thee,  
If neither thy care, nor my laments provoke thee,   

65.  
Yet pity thine own glory, thine own brood:  
For if I perish, or my face must hide,  
Thy fame and subjects, which thou boughtest with blood,  
Will fail from thee which thou shouldst not abide:  
If yet thou wilt not help yet grant this boon,  
I may prevent all griefs by dying soon.   

66.  
Thus did Religion speak, and stayed her speech,  
Winding her arms and casting down her eyes,  
As if she death did rather than life beseech,  
But as when haruest-winds rush from the skies,  
The leaves in woods a rustling murmur make,  
Such a soft whispering did the Gods o'ertake.   

67.  
This Goddess being so near a kin, so grieving,  
Moved much compassion in their tender spirits;  
They thought high jove too mild in governing,  
Themselves too calm to This for his demerits:  
They mean to comfort her with heavenly force,  
And stop the Furies in their bloody course.   

68  
So much were all incensed with her true tears,  
When all-ore-swaying jove commands them silence,  
Shakes Heaven and earth with shaking his gold-haires,  
And then speaks thus with dreadful excellence:  
Daughter, my praise and greatest power below,  
Free thy fair cheeks from tears, thy thought from woe.   

69.  
We near did yet, nor ever will forego thee,  
Thy love so deeply settles in our breast:  
Our care and providence near shall be fro thee,  
Heaven is thy friend: Myself with all the rest,  
And if thou wouldst the fate and me conceive,  
What we determine, I'll declare, give leave.   

70.  
Hearing the boisterous threats of This foul jaws,  
And seeing him lose his furies from styx flood:  
T'infect th'erroneous world, they might break laws  
Of Gods and men, confounding what is good,  
Perceiving darkness overspread this age,  
And mankind much degenerate from our image.   

71.  
The primitive pureness all corrupt with lust,  
The truth over weighed with fond inventions:  
Vice boasting over Virtue laid in dust,  
The Dragon conquering by dissensions.  
We saw (which moved us most) our children dying,  
And heard their guiltless blood for vengeance crying.   

72.  
Often my wrath did burn to thunderstrike them,  
But that the beauteous order of all creatures  
Made me repent: for though I did not like them,  
Yet for them would I not dissolve all Natures.  
I knew their hour of horror was not come,  
Wherein they should receive their damning doom.   

73.  
To be still bound in chains of dismal night,  
Eternally to suffer grief and death;  
Mean while how ere they deal by craft of spite,  
He works himself more pain and shame beneath,  
More glory to the Gods: No marvel then,  
If they corrupt the lives and hearts of men.   

74.  
So soon so fin. He formerly possessed them,  
Tempting but once he made them thoroughly evil▪  
Since when iniquity so much oppressed them,  
Their Virtue easily yields unto the Devil,  
The Crime of their first father's concupiscence▪  
Polluted all his children's conscience▪   

75.  
I see and suffer this: for to strike all,  
Would void my treasure-house of thunderbolts,  
Besides the vulgar oft in errors fall;  
Calling evil good, good evil, and so like dolts,  
Thinking to merit, deserve their own damnation,  
Hoping to save themselves, lose their salvation.   

76.  
I grieve indeed, and fain would help with signs  
The faith of men, but that my words are plain:  
Though they remember not my sacred lines;  
Pitying I put them to no further pain.  
For thus hath heaven decreed from this high chair,  
Faith is not forced, free-will admits no fear.   

77.  
It is our grace that enters men's soft minds,  
And there informs, reforms, conforms their will:  
It neither draws or drives, but as it finds;  
It shows here heaven, there hell, here good, there evil.  
What so ere men do, being dead, they shall sustain,  
The more they know sorer shall be their pain.   

78.  
When heaven and earth shall pass with horrid cry,  
And all abused creatures plague their sin:  
Yet I, that made all, would have nothing die,  
Lest mine and their foul adversary grin.  
And therefore counsel rather use then strength,  
That men knowing me might come to heaven at length.   

79.  
And with such order will I guide success,  
Virtue shall near so fail, nor sin so grow,  
That every fury shall their wish possess,  
As when they made all fit for that fowl blow;  
I suffered them to choose, devise, prepare,  
Men, matter, place, yet all defeated were.   

80.  
They could not bring to pass their policies,  
The good were guarded by mine hand and eye:  
For I disclosing their deep villainies,  
Brought them to death, which would have others die.  
Who keeps his heart from guile, his hands from crime,  
May now securely pass his peaceful time.   

81.  
And if sometimes the tempest of mischance,  
Hinder his ease, heaven will thus breed his crown:  
So (daughter whom I study to advance)  
Full oft thou findest my help being oft cast down,  
Nor could thy weakness have endured so long,  
Unless my might had made thy faith more strong.   

82.  
Remember I did oft thine honour nourish,  
When men against thee threatened sword and fire,  
I made thy Children more and better flourish,  
Whom neither force could fear, nor meed could hire,  
Hell strives in vain against thy power divine,  
Thy kingdom shall remain as long as mine.   

83.  
What thou giv'st other Gods, men shall give thee,  
Thou shalt have sincere worship, sacred orders,  
(Doubt not, cheer up thine heart, hope, trust on me)  
With comely temples and enlarged borders,  
Thou shalt be Queen on earth, and Queen in heaven.  
judgement shall right thy wrongs and make all even.   

84.  
Though much is not now given, or seat secured,  
Yet shall my Love augment thy precious name;  
In minds and mouths of men, be still assured,  
Behold thy primitive pureness, free from blame  
Returned restores true joy: See Babel cries,  
Because the ruling Dragon thence fast flies.   

85.  
His Crest is laid, fire quenched and sting rebated,  
Dear love, sweet peace, sound faith, and virtue springs;  
The furies and their terrors are amated:  
Now Time his daughter Truth from darkness brings,  
Remember but the Calydonian maid,  
Thy fear, care, grief, pain, shallbe soon allayed.   

86.  
Her name and manners great Eliza left her,  
Her knowledge came when she became thy daughter,  
Such grace I gave as near shallbe bereft her,  
So much I loved the former, that the later  
Shallbe more blessed, and bless thee with more peace,  
Making thine hopes and honour still increase.   

87.  
The fates agreed with me we should appoint her,  
To be created of two Princely lines,  
Before she came to light I did anoint her  
With such a name and fame as ever shines:  
No sooner had her blessed mother conceived her,  
But into special favour I received her.   

88  
I planted virtues seed with gifts of grace,  
Such as were nearest mine original image;  
Love gave rare beauty shining in her face,  
And comely parts that would augment with age:  
Being borne, Ambrosia fed, while Venus washed her  
With dews, which Diana dried, my beams refreshed her.   

89  
Euphrosyne left Cyprus to give Nectar  
Nurse-like (at my command) this Babe to keep,  
Nais (Calesto frowning) did affect her  
And danced about her cradle to bring sleep;  
While Philomela sung, Nape brought flowers,  
And strewed them on in particoloured showers.   

90.  
Soft Erithrea put garlands on her head,  
Fair Phione brought pearl-full cockleshells,  
Calypso came with many an amber bead,  
The Nymphs played music with sweet silver bells:  
All wundred at, kissed, honoured, blessed, embraced  
This pretty child: she them with smiling graced.   

91.  
Her countenance was cheerly amiable,  
Bearing sure marks of a more graceful spirit;  
Her eyes were comely, lovely, admirable:  
No sooner did her feet the ground inherit,  
But she trod under pride and ignorance,  
And did herself to better things advance.   

92.  
How often did she clip her Parent's neck  
To witness her dear love, which they perceiving,  
A thousand kisses give, a thousand take,  
Of her soft rosy lips fit words conceiving:  
Such was her face both Parents might be known,  
So gently, yet so royally it shone.   

93.  
Her cheer was pleasing yet with majesty,  
Which drew the Grace's nearer to direct  
How she might speak and move her pretty body,  
With grave decorum yet with mild aspect;  
To temper all her thoughts, looks, gestures, motions,  
With honest seemliness, holy devotions.   

94.  
Her smooth-large forehead kept fair shamefastness,  
Her tongue was guided with sweet eloquence,  
Laughter sat smiling in her cheeks with gladness,  
Eyes, lids, ears, hears, each had their excellence:  
To dress herself she took light care, short leisure,  
Grace, like a die, cast any way gave pleasure.   

95.  
Her goings were guided with a modest measure  
Of all her moving parts: yet oft she sat  
And red her duties in my sacred Scripture,  
Or heard while her blessed mother wisdom taught:  
Her wisdom oft abstained from childish toys,  
Virtue to learn and think on heavenly joys.   

96.  
Such was Elizabeth in tender age,  
Going beyond her years in Wisdoms lore,  
Her Parents hope in grace, her sex in courage;  
Thus did I cherish till I gave her over  
To learn sound manners under thy tuition,  
Pure Virgin thoughts with Princely disposition.   

97.  
Thou mayst record how soon she did conceive thee,  
And practice rules of thy perfection,  
Mine hopes are great of her, which near deceive thee  
For late inflamed with deep affection,  
In clouds I passed her friendly father's court,  
To look and wonder at her stately port.   

98.  
I fixed mine eyes, mine eyes, my thoughts not filled  
With seeing: the more I see, the more I gazed  
How sweet her youth, how Pallas like her smile,  
Her speech, looks, carriage: I was much amazed  
Beholding beauties all agree to grace her,  
None going before, nor following can surpass her.   

99  
At her side stood with fair congruity  
Truth, Peace, Faith, Simpleness, mild Honesty,  
justice and Love, with Ingenuity,  
And marriage-making lovely modesty,  
Suitors throng thither, Nobles did aspire,  
And Kings of boundless kingdoms her desire.   

100  
Duke's rich in treasures, titles, ancestry,  
Worth, arms and friends, with force and hope importune  
Her sweetness taught them hope, fear majesty,  
Not knowing to whom we'll grant her good fortune:  
Yet neither mighty Kings, nor famous Princes,  
Whom power or pleasure called, were thought fit matches   

101.  
It is not worldly wit or will composeth  
A due conjunction of so royal states;  
Such marriages our Council here disposeth  
According to the fore-fight of their fates:  
It was not flesh and blood, but heavens high breath  
Ordained a bed-mate for Elizabeth.   

102.  
For I remember it was once my pleasure,  
To search the depth of all antiquity  
Concerning this: when Themis from her treasure  
Of true praesages, spoke this verity;  
For since this fear affrights thy thoughts, I'll tell  
The Fates full ordinance, hear and mark well.   

103.  
When I first moved his child-eater from hence,  
That Gods might better see their blessed offspring  
Flourish for ever in glorious excellence,  
He being exiled could hither no mischief bring;  
Yet what he could he did,, and lurk below,  
In hate of us devising men's deep woe.   

104.  
To work revenge 'gainst us, he joins his waggon,  
With cunning malice, envious pride, and rage;  
Yoking the Fox, Wolf, Lion, Viper, Dragon,  
He whips them round about the world's wide stage:  
They more by this incensed, with poisonous breath,  
Mortals infect with sin, care, sickness, death.   

105.  
Not satiate with corruption of all natures,  
He would have overturned Earth's axle-tree,  
And overwhelmed it headlong in the waters,  
His right hand shoved and moved it horribly:  
Which we soon feeling from our heavenly Tower,  
Our saving arm stayed his destroying power.   

106.  
And forced ourself condemned for to fly,  
And chained him up in deeps of horrid night;  
For though he spoiled not all, he had well-nigh  
So tainted all, that nothing stood upright:  
Shook order out of joint into confusion,  
Driving place and time to dissolution.   

107.  
All Elements & their compounds broke their course  
Both evils of guilt and pain were much augmented,  
The golden turned an iron age or worse,  
men's bodies were (the cause unknown) tormented:  
The spring began to fade from plants and flowers,  
East, West, North, South, did rage on Thetis bowers.   

108.  
And dashed high ships against huge ragged rocks,  
Quashed all earth's beauties with rain, hail, snow-storms  
Drove leaves frem fruits, fruits from their rebrentstocks  
Hence Colchick poisons came from filth-bred worms;  
Lernaean Hydra, with Numidian snakes,  
And venomous toads which bide in loathsome lakes   

109  
At first there needed neither plough nor harrow,  
cattle were free from drawing, men from driving:  
Till Satur's gall sucked up earths fruitful marrow  
Which now scarce find the toiling hind his living,  
Thistles over come the thick sown thin-skin corn  
Instead of grass weeds rise, of roses thorn.   

110.  
Then men most loved of us began to perish,  
Their native health and strength grew less and less:  
No balm of Gilead could their heart so cherish,  
But unaccustomd grief would them possess,  
Their blushing guilty cries though they dissemble,  
Sighs fill their breasts, fear makes their bones to tremble   

111.  
Their cheeks were marred with tear●● their voice with crying,  
Their smell with stench, their taste with noisome food:  
Their hair would stand upright, vain terrors flying,  
Continual toil and age dried up their blood,  
To this were added Rheums, boils, fluxes, fevers,  
Every disease that soul from body severs.   

112.  
Their inward, more than outward, man did sicken,  
So that not Zeuxis art, nor Midas' crown:  
Nor musics harmony their spirits could quicken,  
Nor stately palaces, nor beds of down,  
Nor health, nor wealth, could mitigate their sorrow,  
Which each day thought extreme, was worse next morrow.   

113.  
Man differing from himself no rest can find,  
Flesh fights with spirit, and sense with conscience:  
This hinders them from having a settled mind,  
Or knowing what they resolve: Concupiscence,  
Would thrust out reason from his native rights,  
All thoughts and parts have jarring appetites.   

114.  
Then virtue was oppressed, and vice grew bold.  
To send abroad her filthy plagues, snakes, snares,  
Fell malice and the insatiate thirst of gold,  
Envy with lust which nought in public dares,  
Hence brethren's blood profaned, the cursed ground  
Iniquity did all things else confound.   

115.  
Heaven to restrain this punished them by waters,  
By fiery meteors and hot thundering strokes,  
By plagues that spared no man, or other creatures,  
By mutual swords, which each wrong speech provokes  
Yet left they not their sins, which I grieved at,  
Sought how to mend their miserable state.   

116.  
And did inquire of Themis, if man's fall  
Might be recured without such grievances;  
She sighed, and holy-fury caught withal,  
Said, that albeit there were great hindrances;  
Yet were the means appointed long ago,  
That should recomfort men's increased woe.   

117.  
When Honour from right honesty shall perish,  
The laws of Holiness and Virtue cease:  
When men with worse faults will their former cherish,  
And least hope is to call back truth and peace:  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring  
Earth's golden days again, Time's blessed spring.   

118.  
Then I considering every name and fortune,  
Fit for performance of these high designs,  
To hasten them the stars did much importune,  
That either sex being borne of blessed loins  
At the same tide might meet in marriage,  
Restoring this long-wisht-for golden age.   

119.  
This true presage is now accomplished,  
Black Dis hath done his worst that he can do,  
The world's huge frame had wellnigh perished;  
But now heaven may rejoice and virtues flow,  
Learning may flourish, mortals clap their hands,  
Either in age and honour equal stands.   

120.  
Nobles, Dukes, Kings, give place, the Maid's decreed  
For the Count Palatine (oh blessed youth)  
Before thy birth both Fates and stars agreed  
In heaven to seal, on earth to show this truth,  
Elizabeth should be designed thy Bride,  
In equal worth, profession, love allied.   

121.  
Such is thy royal power and excellence,  
That neither in multitudes or cope of lands  
It yields to Dukes, or King's magnificence,  
Whether in birth, or arms, or style it stands:  
Th' Auarian progeny was near known private,  
But with great honour kept an ancient state.   

122.  
The Palatines did not first raise that flood,  
Though they may boast of highbred ancestry,  
Which 'mongst the Germans hath long noble stood,  
But from the Troyans' famous Pedigree,  
On valiant Hector's true Nobility,  
They ground the root of their blessed Family.   

123.  
Amidst their ancestors was Charles the great,  
The greatest Conqueror which lived of late:  
Adding brave spirits new grace with nobler heat,  
And with him they can reckon many a state,  
As Henries which loved peace, Oath loved praise,  
Philip religion, Conrade walls did raise.   

124.  
Ruperts' were ever studious, Lo●owics strong  
Frederics invincible in bloody fieeld,  
Their offspring held rich Empires wide and long  
Which their strength, wisdom, justice, did well wield:  
The Duke domes of Baviere and Franconie,  
Most fruitful Brabant, Swethland, Saxony   

125.  
Hence warlike De●●myrh, populous Bohemia,  
Hence large Pannonia chose out mighty kings,  
The Roman Empire, every vacancy,  
Relies on their known power t'uphold all things,  
These ruled the tottering world, restores truths right,  
And tamed proud rebels with comptrouling might,   

126.  
Beyond all these is frederick's noble courage,  
His manly mind, and wisdom in young years.  
His virtues far exceed his tender age,  
As in his valiant exercise appears,  
When he bestrides and makes his bounding steed,  
To run career or stop his headlong speed,   

127.  
At long race, rowed ring, or cross tournament,  
He bears his arm, lance, body with such art,  
His wand, spur, bridle, with such complement  
Of strength and state adorning every part:  
He bounds the ball with such dexterity,  
So right he shoots, and that so smooth and swiftly.   

128.  
With force and quickness he can throw steel darts,  
And thereby pierce the Boar, Bear, Stags, wild Bulls,  
Their javelin makes an entrance to their hearts,  
And fixed on back and sides their bowels forth pulls,  
So much he longs for well deserved renown,  
He dares assault and often strikes the● down.   

129.  
Meleager like near Calydons low lake,  
He seeks and drives the wild beasts from their den:  
Making the mountain woods and champion, shake,  
With hunter's music, here like Philopaemen  
He gathers rules of war to camp or fight,  
And dares meet foes as well as those excite.   

130.  
When full growth ripens his firm strength he shall,  
Follow express, excel his ancestors,  
In all his excercise he so doth all,  
As easy sports of earnest acts be mirrors,  
Yet there is onething worthier than the rest,  
Which fills with hope and joy my careful breast.   

131  
He favours wits yields Virtues their due meeds,  
Encourageth good scholars with reward:  
Th'unlearned may learn of him how to proceed,  
For wiser books and sayings he doth regard;  
Searching all causes and their consequence,  
How nature imitates our providence.   

132.  
The Liberal Sciences and histories,  
As much as higher affairs will give him leisure▪  
All civil manners and state policies,  
He reads, remembers and therein takes pleasure:  
His tongue takes temperance, courage guides his heart▪  
Wisdom his hand, justice each other part.   

133.  
As far from rashness as base cowardice,  
From lust as from contempt of womankind:  
From Prodigality as covetise,  
As far from self-conceit as errors blind,  
His pure white soul observes the virtuous mean:  
Free from all pride, hate fraud or thoughts unclean▪   

134.  
His life beseems men elder, wiser, higher,  
Who for the most part have not such a spirit:  
His people fear, Ambassadors admire,  
All think his fortune far less than his merit,  
Though that be rich and good, his worth is better▪  
His crown and honour great, his mind is greater▪   

135.  
Over Stiria, Bipont, Newburg he well reigns,  
With many Cities, mighty, wise, and healthy;  
Which Neccaris with her clear streams sustains,  
And Rhenus with his current makes more wealthy:  
Brurenia, fed with corn and wine, adore him,  
Nortgoia, rich in metals, knelt before him.   

136.  
The nimble Vindelicians, hunting Licates,  
With many more, too many to recite,  
That willingly submit their potent states  
Unto this Prince Elector, styled right,  
As being the first of them in their election,  
And could their counsels guide unto perfection.   

137.  
For I shall still guide and accommodate  
His good endeavours: till with famous fate  
He prove a semi-god in our high State;  
Nor shall the following times obliterate  
The worthy name, which fame shall spread beyond  
The Northern Ice, and Southern fiery strand.   

138.  
Fret Babel, now defeated, rage and kick,  
Thy superstition and idolatry  
Falls much confounded by this Frederick,  
Whom Fates ordained with British Crown to marry,  
That both professions being joined in one,  
Might bring thine errors to confusion.   

139.  
Their Crown and heart united, shall unite  
Their love and faith, as long as heavens endure.  
Daughter be comforted: Gods take delight  
In Fates decree performed: Our hopes are sure,  
The Palatine with Britain joined, shall bring  
Earth's golden days again, Time's blessed spring.    

THE SECOND BOOK.  
ARGUMENT.  
loves Goddess and the Queen of marriage,  
IRIS and CUPID send, with many more,  
The nuptials praeordained wisely to manage,  
They flying from Heaven with joy walk here below;  
And kindly move great frederick's affection,  
Who swiftly sails to perfect his election.  

1.  
ALmighty jove (while other Gods attended  
His words) thus made their heavenly joys exceed,  
No less then if a woman having lamented  
Her sons or husband's death, should with good speed  
Behold him safe-returned from Countries far,  
In sickness, want, or age, to comfort her.   

2.  
The present gladness put away past moan,  
This whole celestial Senate was well pleased;  
So that each riseth from his golden throne  
Embracing their dear sister now full eased:  
Rejoicing at her honours new restored,  
So that all sung this Oracle with concord.  
The Palatine, with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, times blessed spring.   

3.  
But the God's father bids his daughter dear,  
Put on the crown and robes best made and died,  
And change her countenance from heavy cheer  
Than she with smooth-faced majesty replied,  
O blessed Gods which govern earth and skies,  
Whose wisdom, power, and justice never dies:   

4.  
You that make new from old and good from sin,  
From out my sorrows have now brought forth gladness:  
It lies not in my worth your grace to win,  
To think to recompense with words were madness:  
That either I live, or breath, or have my due,  
It was, it is, and must be still from you.   

5.  
But since your promise my sad grief allays,  
Let me desire performance of the deed,  
Let me no longer languish in delays,  
Conjoin the means ordained; the Gods agreed,  
Consulting who might accept this office,  
And speedily work this business for man's bliss.   

6.  
Who should reveal heavens will to them unknown;  
And draw their parents to acquaintance kind,  
Binding this league with adamantine stone,  
And with affections move their tender mind,  
Then juno which hath charge of marriage rights,  
And Venus, Queen of lovers, joined their mights.   

7.  
jove smiles, commends them, and commits this charge,  
That every thing in order might succeed  
He likewise other Gods commands at large,  
That they should lend their helping hands at need:  
Venus determines down to send her son,  
This work might with his quiver be soon done.   

8  
juno would Iris should accompany,  
And therefore sent a messenger to cite her:  
Who being called came from below the sky,  
To see what work her mistress did behight her,  
Lowly and lovely like a pure handmaid,  
She stood attending while Salmona said,   

9  
Deck thy fair head with orient pearls, put on,  
Thy particouloured coat, pass with swift speed,  
My region air, direct thy motion  
Unto the German Empire and proceed,  
Unto the shores of Necaris clear flood,  
There for me thou shalt work exceeding good.   

10.  
There the Bowarian Prince of royal blood,  
A stately palace keeps, himself more stately:  
Worthier to live in heaven then on earth's mud,  
This man the Gods assign considerately,  
To wed Elizabeth and cause thereby,  
Earth's peace, heavens joy, men's true felicity.   

11.  
He shall repair the loss and ruins of time,  
If thou canst but affect his tender spirit:  
Cupid will help thee with his powers divine,  
With worthy love which grace and beauty merit,  
Hence take thy course to Seas-encompast Britain,  
Lying under the bright sunbeams of Charle his wain.   

12.  
Unto the Chambers of great Arthur's court,  
Where pious james reigns and maintains our laws  
Of holy truth and right, make thy resort,  
His daughter move to love, her youth now draws,  
To marriage, being of most, esteemed most worthy  
For beauty, virtue, birth, and chastity,   

13.  
Let either of these conceive just estimation,  
Of others work, let this good liking breed:  
Let liking bring forth wedlock's combination,  
Make all their parents to this match agreed.  
Then juno leaving Iris flies amain,  
To do the business of her Sovereign.   

14.  
Venus' mean while gathered her heavenly bands,  
As peaceful concord Hymen ever merry:  
Swift fame, flow counsel, who devising stands,  
chaste faith, good fortune, which will never vary,  
The Gods of dancing, feasting, kissing, bedding,  
Graces, and Muses came to make this wedding,   

15.  
Cupid, great Captain of this amorous host  
With golden Darts which bred equal desire:  
Was leading them from Ioues courts utmost coast,  
To whom fair Iris with her troops drew nigher:  
With beauty borrowed from the sun's reflection,  
And all fit colours for to move affection.   

16.  
Her clothing was not precious pearls nor gold,  
Nor wol, nor silk, nor any mixed of all:  
But both exceeding wondrous to behold,  
There was inwoven religions rise and fall,  
How first hells devilish fiends wrought her vexation  
And then how heavenly Saints brought reformation,   

17.  
Her skill and art had curiously distinguished,  
Th'events of many years in many colours:  
How when the Roman Empire was extinguished,  
From that foul monsters head with extreme dolours,  
Arose ten greater horns, and then a less,  
Having face and eyes like man with much fierceness.   

18.  
Three of the former horns did soon disgrace,  
And therefore spoke presumptuous blasphemies,  
Not far from thence it showed a woman's face,  
Mother of whoredoms, Nurse of tirranies,  
Sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast  
Bearing seven heads, ten horns on his foul crest.   

19  
Her monstrous body was in purple clad,  
And ruddy garments intermixed with gold:  
Her ears rich pearls and precious pendants had,  
Her forehead Stygian mysteries enrolled,  
A cupful of Saints blood was in her hand,  
Which drinking she was drunk and could not stand.   

20.  
Yet she calls neighbour Kings to deeper draughts,  
Who madded with her fornication wine:  
Follow her errors till they come to naughts,  
She o'er their Shoulders, doth seven mountains climb,  
Where sitting in God's temple she decrees,  
Laws to procure her power and golden fees,   

21.  
With policies attracting many a nation,  
To worship her: Not far thence men may see,  
Great Kings debased in adoration;  
To kiss her whorish feet bending their knee,  
Nor yet with earth's vast Empery content,  
She would fame thrust jove from his regiment.   

22.  
Usurping power in heaven and hell's deep flood  
Perverting all with superstition:  
She will have Images compact of wood;  
Of smooth clay, shining metal, wel-squard stone,  
Made Gods, with hallowd incense burnt before them,  
Oh Gods what fury makes her thus adore them!   

23.  
Can true religion be so bold and blind:  
To think that in vain Idols Gods do lurk?  
Or that the Carpenter hath jove assigned;  
To dwell in trees, the potter in his work?  
Or carver wiser than Pygmalion,  
Can call an heavenly power to dwell in stone?   

24.  
Oh shame! can men in such deep darkness walk,  
As that their spirits should worse than spirits obey?  
Can their fence, deities in pictures Chalk?  
Will highbred souls their bodies bow to clay?  
No. God is greater than we can believe him,  
No stock or▪ stone or body can receive him.   

25.  
nought can contain his power containing all,  
Behold the spheres encompassing each creature:  
The Sun and stars lightning this world's huge ball,  
Are all but shadows of his all-bright feature.  
What can we see but footsteps of his mind,  
Far greater, better, fairer are behind.   

26.  
Farther than heaven doth earth, jove heaven exceed▪  
To whom the sacrifice of prayers and praise:  
With truth and uprightness in words and deeds,  
Offered on hearts as altars doth best please;  
To worship senseless trees is times old error,  
Received of this huge monster for men's terror.   

27.  
Yet multitudes bewitched with her would feign  
With superstition and sedition  
Their blindfold hearts and wicked hands profane,  
The Lords and commons join in inquisition,  
The devils deep forge, the slaughter house of saints  
Which best and worst, yet rather best attaints.   

28.  
As many twinkling stars appear by night,  
When Boreas blowing rough storms makes winter cold,  
As hony-sucking Bees in thick swans light  
When Flora Tellus beauty doth unfold,  
So many men, wives, children, poor and rich,  
All run to serve the will of this proud witch.   

29.  
Some were deceived with her hypocrisy,  
Some came for fear of danger, some for gain,  
None durst oppose himself (Oh misery)  
To her that had so many martyrs slain:  
So that more furious every day than other,  
She grows, and truth with cruelty doth smother.   

30.  
Makes merchandise of souls, sells sin for meed,  
Tecelius was her her factor for these wares:  
Giving indulgence for each heinous deed,  
More than God would or Satan durst, he dares;  
All men were mute, but Luther could not quiet  
His pen and tongue seeing him so proudly riot.   

31.  
Hath God (quoth he) given life to spend in sloth  
And sullen fear? shall they so tyrannize  
In shameless error? I remain so loath,  
Truth to defend with my poor faculties.  
Both wit and speech from God's free grace are given,  
And therefore should maintain the laws of heaven   

32.  
They were not worldly wise which taught me first,  
Stoics or accademics they might err:  
But from truths ho●y fountain with deep thirst,  
I drew the doctrine which I'll now deliver.  
For truth and all that love her I'll adventure,  
To see whether Gods or men this grief will cure.   

33.  
And sure but from some heavenly institution,  
This holy zeal comes not: away vain fears,  
I'll pass the pikes of persecution:  
He seemed to say thus much, while trickling tears  
Bedewed his reverend face: his eyes bright flame,  
Showed, Others sin moved him to grief and shame   

34.  
Religion made this hungry monster's prey,  
Made him to pity men so much oppressed,  
So that he seems to think what he would say,  
To curb her madness and reform the rest:  
Yet human weakness overtakes his mind,  
Conceiving those great perils he should find.   

35.  
It may be thus he thought; how rash am I,  
When all dissembling sleep, to rise alone?  
Yet right religious love with sacred fury,  
Knowledge with zeal drew faith and boldness on,  
When he beheld such was their impious guise,  
The Temple made a shop for merchandise.   

36  
Thus being incensed with divinest heat,  
Which could not see and suffer such profaneness:  
He shakes the Tyrant's falsly-grounded seat,  
Opens her cunning plots, reproves her vainess,  
His flock but hears and yields to what he said,  
His adversary stands astonished,   

37.  
Next him did Zui●glius, full of holy courage,  
Rise, casting seeds of truth in men's pure hearts:  
Using God's sword which bears a double edge  
He batting brings to nougther arms and arts,  
He taught and fought, he fair and hard means tried  
Till for his faith and country's cause he died.   

38.  
Next him stood Calvin clad in sacred arms,  
Thundering out vengeance 'gainst Rome's usurpation:  
His heart and pen a zealous anger warms,  
His words were followed with much approbation,  
You might behold the beast fearfully shaking,  
And her selfe-guilty troops the field forsaking.   

39  
As Turtle-doves on some high trees and Towers,  
With wanton murmur seem to kiss and speak,  
In their kind language testifying loves powers,  
When they shall hear Ioues thunder-beare break  
The clear air with strong wings, forget their sport,  
And with swift speed unto their nest resort.   

40.  
So fled the fiends: On the other side with art  
Iris had woven the surgefull Ocean streams,  
In which the British Island stood apart  
From all the world: In midst whereof, high JAMES  
Sat on his ancient Adamantine throne,  
Trampling the neck of crowned Babylon.   

41.  
She mad, with grief and shame, writhes her fowl train  
Hither and thither to get liberty,  
And with fell poison doth her place distain,  
And sliding thence at length, not furiously;  
As heretofore in threats or arms doth rise,  
But mischief plots and treasons doth devise.   

42.  
As when the Blow a big-swollen Snake sore squeeseth,  
She writhes and slowly draws her loins along,  
Her body faints and pants, her lifeblood freezeth;  
Yet her heart rageth, and her three-forked tongue  
Hisseth out spite, her eyes and mouth flame fires,  
Babel when she can least, most evil desires.   

43.  
Wit in this web had other works invented,  
As racks, swords, flames, prisons, strange instruments  
Of death, wherewith good-livers were tormented,  
With sundry kinds of dreadful punishments:  
Princes at length find out this Tyrant's pride,  
Pluck all her plumes, her nakedness deride.   

44.  
The light of holy Truth, seemed then to shine  
About the borders of this wondrous clothing,  
Where likewise embroidered with gems fine,  
A Canticle that all heavens choir should sing:  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring  
Earth's golden days again, Time's blessed spring.   

45.  
Which when th'immortal squadron had well seen,  
All rancktin order leaves th'imperial Towers,  
Moving their nimble spirits the spheres between,  
Iris then leads them to the Planets bowers,  
Invoking their asistant influence,  
To bless their projects, with due consequence,   

46.  
Her feet, whom wings and purple buskins grace,  
Slide through the milky paths which Gods oft walk,  
Then rainbow like she winds her circled race,  
That this fair company no stars might balk,  
Then all the fixed and wandering stars consented,  
To make men by this marriage full contented.   

47.  
On their left hand they left the upright scale,  
Which measures equal time twixt even and morn:  
The Scorpion threatening both with tongue and tail,  
Chiron with his full quiver and Capricorn,  
The flood Eridanus, with fierce Orion,  
Perseus and Hydrae's constellation.   

48.  
On the right hand, Calisto with her son,  
Europa's bearer, Cassiopeia's throne,  
The Ram which Helle too much trusted on,  
Castor and Pollux, the Crab, kingly Lion,  
Arion's Dolphin, Ariadne's Crown,  
And Hercules with his all-daring frown.   

49.  
As when the King of stars, the God of day,  
Apollo with his ever-burning globe,  
Puts off his cloudy winter's cold array,  
And in the lively spring takes Flora's rob,  
His flaming horses pass with jollity:  
So went fair Iris and her company.   

50.  
She first began, they followed in their order,  
Making their longest way seem short and sweet,  
In passing heaven, fire, airs upper border,  
To chant their Oracle with music meet,  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring  
Earth's golden days again, Time's bllessed spring.   

51.  
As when on clear Meanders crooked banks,  
Or on Caysters' flood, or through the sky,  
The milk white Swans, pass on in lovely ranks,  
Such beauteous order had this company,  
But sweeter music while they waved the wing,  
Each other moved with heavenly voice to sing.   

52.  
Then part they quires, and with redoubling voice,  
Make Spheres resound Fredereck, Elizabeth,  
Let him have her, let her in him rejoice,  
Let both unite their hearts in love▪ till death,  
The Palatine, with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, times blessed spring.   

53.  
As violets excel the bramble briar,  
Lily the violets that the rose disgraceth:  
Eliza so doth Virgins: As Stars fire,  
Moon stars, sun moon; so Frederick all surpasseth,  
Both pass all others of like age or birth,  
Yet each of both doth equal others worth.   

54.  
Now jove determines to unite all nations,  
Unto himself in spiritual amity:  
Stopping the loathsome inundations,  
Of Dis and his outrageous rascalry,  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, times blessed spring.   

55.  
Let mortal men acknowledge this free gift,  
Remembering jove the cause, these two the means,  
Which them from hell's mouth to heavens throne uplifts,  
And they with us, and we with them sing Paeans,  
Apollo comes attired in mortal flesh,  
To calm the troubled world and men refresh.   

56.  
The miracle of ancient years revives,  
The boy that lying in cradle crush the Snakes:  
And tamed the monster in our Frederick lives,  
Th'infernal Dragon and his lernian shakes,  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, times blessed spring.   

57  
This Germane state, old Room in state out strides,  
The peaceful days of Numa time recites,  
Who having a Nymph his wife, Muses his guide's  
Religion taught, increase her favourites.  
So shall this Prince devise, endeavour, act,  
What ere can peace and piety compact:   

58.  
Aegeria turns Eliza, who by any  
Consulted shall give oracles of peace,  
As we instructed her, she shall teach many,  
How shrewd contention and stern war should cease●  
The Palntine with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, times blessed spring.   

59,  
Harpies with maiden face and lions claws,  
Changed into Locusts rising from hell smoke:  
Would have devoured all with open jaws,  
But that this marriage did their malice choke,  
Princes may feed on delicates in quiet,  
And rest at home in peace, these cannot riot.   

60.  
These two like Boreas' children shall hence drive them  
Back whence they came to the pit bottomless:  
That catch men's house and land, & say they shrive them,  
Earth shall be comforted, they comfortless,  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, Time's blessed spring.   

61.  
Now Leda's twins descend from their high throne,  
To visit land and Seas with doubled rays,  
Cheering the plough-swains and the mariners moan,  
While their bright lustre threatened storms alleys,  
Their earthly honours are already greater,  
Their state with us hereafter shall be better.   

62.  
Such is their faith and love, such are their beauties,  
Such is their virtue to drive evil away:  
Mortals with praise and vows perform your duties  
To heaven: hells instruments pack while you may,  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring,  
Earth's golden days again, Time's blessed spring.   

63.  
Thus had these glorious Nuncios past the spheres,  
Fit mansions for the free or fixed lights,  
Whence this world (whom we count so vast) appears  
As here a barly-corne in their clear sights:  
Yet coming nearer they discern the Mountains,  
The Champain, vales, woods, rocks, seas, floods and fountains.   

64.  
They seeing men show like Ants, kingdoms like fields,  
Cities like Cells: more nearly shape their course  
Towards the land which Tuisco's godhead shields,  
At first with manly, now with heavenly force:  
There they saw Rhine receive Neccars clear flood,  
On whose high banks the Palsegraves palace stood.   

65.  
Which once was but an homely shepherds coat,  
Till Conrade built it in so gorgeous frame,  
It may compare with Cities of great note,  
For people, buildings, orders, traffic, fame:  
Hither they take their flight, and silently  
They pass the confines of this territory.   

66.  
Then entering this brave Court, not better grounded,  
Then kept with jovial hospitality,  
With one consenting voice, which never sounded  
In mortal ears, that place they sanctify,  
Saying: oh dear gods that keep & guide these rooms,  
Blessed be your powers, bless your Prince, nobles, grooms.   

67.  
Oh mansion which with Babel mayst compare,  
In that thy walls contained an honoured Youth;  
That in his power and courage can and dare  
Relieve the oppressed world, restore the truth:  
The Palatine with Britain joined shall bring  
Earth's golden days again, Time's blessed spring.   

68  
Now Phoebus' red with heat and burning haste  
Had left our world, and drenched his fiery throne  
In Hesperus warm waves, now had he passed  
With his bright beams to th' Antipods unknown:  
And there unbridling his flame-breathing steeds,  
From toil, with Nectar and Ambrosia feeds.   

69.  
Now night with dusky chariot past the skies,  
Filled heaven with twinkling stars, earth with dark silence,  
Fanned sleep on mortal creatures wearied eyes,  
That stayed all business, buried each offence:  
The Palatine forgets his Princely cares,  
With grateful ease which crept on him unwares.   

70.  
His Nobles had given over themselves to rest,  
Nought could be seen and heard in all the City▪  
Then Cupid, seeing his time, (as he knew best)  
Began his ancient art and charming ditty;  
With poppy-seed he doth all senses dim,  
That mazed with sleep they might not hinder him.   

71.  
He setting then his fellows each in place,  
Where they might soonest further his design,  
With lantern wisely closed, and stealing pace,  
Visits the chamber of the Palatine:  
Carna the Goddess which of doors takes charge  
Vnloosing hinge, and lock, makes entrance large.   

72.  
And that so softly, that no mortal hears;  
The God of love seeing this, goes till he came  
Where Frederick took his rest, void of all fears,  
And then discloseth his before-hid flame:  
He might behold his Princely limbs and face,  
Which even in sleeping could not lose their grace.   

73.  
Beholding, he much wonders at his fairness,  
In every part so well proportioned,  
With such majestic form, such pleasing rareness,  
As few by nature are like fashioned:  
Then envy taints his heart, as if high jove  
Had in his frame show'd greater art and love.   

74.  
For if in sleep he such affections move,  
His forehead, ey-browes, cheeks, lips are so pleasing  
How will he waking, speaking, looking prove?  
How comely shall his body prove with dressing?  
Oh worthy, blessed Youth, do not grow proud  
Of that which liberal nature hath allowed.   

75.  
Fortune hath given thy person good success,  
Fate order all things for thy further good,  
All heaven consults how it thy State may bless,  
And match thee fitly both for worth and blood;  
This said: with a love-causing golden dart,  
He softly bears and aims at his dear heart.   

76.  
Yet aiming he beheld so sweet a breast,  
He smooths and strokes, but could not wound, or strike;  
My darts (he said) are dangerous, let them rest  
They Phoebus pierce, or those I do not like:  
Thy feature so near mine moves my remorse,  
Thy tender soul needs no such violent force.   

77.  
I will not use my wont arts to thee,  
So laying aside his arrow-breeding-smart,  
He 'noints his breast with juice of myrtle tree;  
And laying his mouth to mouth, and heart to heart,  
Embracing his firm body with both his arms,  
And with divine heat his pure entrails warms.   

78.  
Then with sweet kissing takes and gives him breath,  
And in that breathing doth infuse desire;  
Applies his torch the Prince's lips beneath,  
Who panting for cool air, drew loves quick fire:  
Which being breath-carried, swifter than an arrow,  
Had quickly pierced his heart, head, spirits and marrow.   

79.  
Which the Prince feeling sighed, and sighing waked,  
Sleep vanished from his eyes, and with him Cupid:  
Yet so that his infection nothing flaked,  
And made him with admiring wellnigh stupid:  
That he should sweat and burn (the cause unknown)  
His mind was mazed, himself was not his own.   

80.  
Not otherwise then if one thunderstruck,  
lives yet uncertain whether he live or no,  
Tries whether he sleep or wake: So did he look,  
Whether they were dreams or truth, which vexed him so:  
Yet while he looks, his heart shut up the passion,  
Which being enclosed works deeper inflammation.   

81.  
He, though but little understanding love,  
Yet understands his thoughts are deeply changed,  
Not knowing it end, he knows it so far move  
As that himself is from himself estranged:  
First he loves not, yet would love instantly,  
Then loves, yet sees not either whom, or why.   

82.  
He thinks how sweet a thing it were to marry  
An equal bed-mate: dreams would not so fear him,  
Nor cares arise by lying so solitary;  
Or if they did a Comforter were near him:  
On th'other side his unexperienced age,  
And much-loved liberty such thoughts assuage.   

83.  
The tender simpleness of honesty,  
The bitter cross of an unequal yoke,  
An inbred shamefastness and chastity,  
With awful reverence of his Parents, choke  
His former youthful thoughts, yet love commands,  
And who the force of conquering love with-stands.   

As Rhine increased with brooks, more tosseth  
A laden ship, the more men shall resist;  
So loves fire fiercer grows, when reason crosseth:  
Now Phoebus' beams had banished nights dark mist,  
Aurora cheered and cleared all mortal eyes:  
The Count leaves bed, yet could but weakly rise,   

85.  
For knowing no cause of this uncertain fit,  
The less he knows, the more he stands astounded;  
As a fierce horse refusing the first bit,  
Snores, foams, and stamps, as if he scorned the ground:  
His hoof strikes up, his nostril's breath out fire,  
So Frederick would, but could not leave desire.   

86.  
His passion every day doth more increase,  
The more it wanteth satisfaction;  
No study, sport, or time can it appease,  
So small his comfort, such was his distraction:  
His cheeks grew pale, his limbs did thoroughly languish,  
His life was loathsome, with continual anguish.   

87.  
Thus while afflicted with love-doubts and fears,  
He finds no fit mark for his heart's affection:  
At length accompanied alone with cares,  
Walking he spies by chance, or by election,  
The lively picture of Elizabeth,  
'mongst other Ladies whom she far surpasseth.   

88  
No sooner did he look but like: for cold  
His body shook, his knees began to tremble,  
His heart and sense to fail. Then love him told,  
Being loath his purpose longer to dissemble:  
She was the Paragon whom Gods assigned,  
For his content he should no better find.   

89.  
His eyes assured him her proportion  
Was such as jove beholding might affect:  
His tongue (late mazed) had now got use of reason,  
And could not choose but thanks and praise direct  
Towards heavenly powers, that seeing him lover prove  
They would allot him such a worthy love.   

90.  
Who would not seek thee (saith he) so fair a prize,  
When you dread gods) call me though much unfit:  
Only let not mine hopes in vain arise,  
As you began my purpose, prosper it,  
This non pareil for beauty, virtue, state,  
Shall be my first, my last, mine only mate.   

91.  
So favour you my love. While thus he said,  
He could not waive his looks from the fair table,  
Nor thence remove his wits astonished,  
Until this object wondrous amiable,  
Removed into his chamber, night and day,  
Being near his lover, did his grief allay.   

92.  
For this, which he reputes his only treasure,  
He thinks his lodging dearer than all places,  
In this he takes his most delightful pleasure,  
Here he spends all his time, no sport embraces,  
Neither the theatre, nor bounding horse,  
Nor following hart nor hare with darts or course.   

93.  
Hunting the foaming Boar with spears or Snares,  
Or catching birds with nets or slimy birch,  
For these, or home-usd games he little cares:  
His mother and kind equals wonder much,  
And offer comfort: like Pygmalion,  
He woes his Image with devotion:   

94.  
This upper face of colours him deceives,  
Changing his wondering thoughts a thousand ways  
Sometimes her person present he conceives,  
Offers to touch, draws back, fears to displease  
Then pardon begs as if he were too bold,  
His eyes from shedding tears themselves scarce hold.   

95  
As if it spoke or heard, he speaks, replies,  
And sometimes kisses, adds, as if it felt,  
And to those looks his looks do sympathize,  
Drinking deep love he doth in fancies melt,  
This gladded Iris in a whirlwind lurking,  
When she saw Cupid's first attempt so working,   

96.  
Therefore she 'noints his temples, with spike-●ar:  
To cool his love with due consideration  
Truth might be known and reason might be heard,  
Her absence fully found now stirs more passion:  
How far (quoth he) was my poor sense bereau:  
When for a substance it a shade conceive?   

97.  
Why burn I thus in vain, unknown, 〈◊〉  
Why send I not the Virgin's father word?  
And marriage crave? It may be theil'e be●●●●●●  
With my nobility got first by sword,  
Neither in length, nor strength of provinces,  
Nor honours, I need yield to mighty Princes.   

98.  
Suppose my country less, my people fewer  
Than his: my portion should not be disdained:  
Mine ancestors have been great kings; I am sure  
Kings have their daughters, they kings daughters gained  
Why should I not then write, writing ●s 〈◊〉,  
Why go I not and speak my mind at full▪   

99  
Then shall I see what I so much admire,  
Yet wherefore should I go? Cupid may flatter,  
She seems too fair, I may too much aspire,  
Kings would with Kings unite, perchance her father  
Already hath espoused his gracious maid,  
To some great Prince, & then mine hopes are laid.   

100  
Why should I follow such uncertainties,  
O venture where I cannot well prevail,  
Oppressed peers maintain their ancestry,  
And titles, much more such: why should I fail?  
The Gods I think) affected me to love her,  
And therefore they will help I hope to move her,   

101.  
They first provoked me by fair Imagery,  
What shall do? shall I be known so light?  
Or die not known? unless I love I die,  
Yet rather die then be despised quite.  
Shall I not follow love, who tells my mind,  
The fates her for me, me for her designed?   

102.  
Surely the picture calls and proffers grace,  
If I should err, it is but love and youth  
Which errs, this is esteemed a venial case  
My books declare how Cupid hath no ruth,  
But makes men follow by fire and swords, and floods,  
Forsaking their own parents, lands and goods.   

103,  
You powers divine if any love true love,  
Or have inspired me with affection:  
Let me protest the same, and humbly move,  
Your help to bring this business to perfection:  
As ere my parents in heart honoured you:  
As I them imitate with service due.   

104.  
As I hate sin and would live pure till death,  
〈◊〉 your good speed I'll pass the narrow Seas,  
Further joy journey towards Elizabeth,  
Who beautifies great Britain, there I'll please,  
Myself at least, with seeing, hearing, kissing,  
Though like a stranger) all contentment wishing.   

105.  
she'll know perchance & answer mine eyes language  
Thus being resolved he calls his counsel sage,  
Bids them prepare a navy for his passage,  
With all things fitting such a stately voyage:  
And showing the cause doth ask his mother's leave,  
Lest his unknown departure might her grieve   

106.  
The heavenly consort seeing so good success,  
And well foreseeing this blessed marriage near:  
Rejoice, and for this journey soon address,  
The Seas of winds, the air of clouds to clear▪  
Fame ran before this happy news t'impart,  
Moving the Kings, and his fair daughter's heart.   

107.  
No sooner shone the day prefixed for going,  
But his brave ship with golden garlands crowned,  
Well rigged, and dressed, her owner's honour showing,  
Was drawn into the river from the ground,  
Earth smiled, though loath to leave them, when 'twas launched  
The Water glad of such a burden danced   

108.  
The rainbow Goddess did allay the wind▪  
East, North, and South were quiet in their caves:  
Only the Western gently came behind,  
No storm exciting star troubled the waves:  
When the Prince Palatine with German Gentry,  
Into their bark prepared first made fair entry.   

109.  
Then Hymen loosed the cable from the shore,  
Fortune with good luck spread the silken sails:  
The graces each in order take an oar,  
While pretty fancy the ship forward hales,  
Cupid as chiefest Pilot at her helm sat,  
Giving smooth way that waves & winds orewhelm not   

110.  
A multitude of well mand' Barks attending,  
This expedition slice the smooth faced flood.  
But the brave Admiral more swiftly wending,  
Proceeds like Argo made of AEmon wood.  
Leaves Heidelberg of old men called Budor●●,  
With Neccars' silver streams and fruitful shores.   

111.  
Emers with hopeful speed, the flood-swolne Rhine  
Salutes the City Worms once Baugious ground,  
Ancient Mogunce where printing did begin,  
Drusus tomb, Bachreck, many a neighbour town:  
Gore with hundreds more which are his right,  
Mosellas current than appears in sight.   

112.  
Col●n first built by Nero's Agrippine,  
With cloud-high Towers; and Temples threatening stars;  
The famous Inlish, Champion Gelder's, Grigne,  
Holland ennobled with sea-search and wars,  
Containing within three score miles short bounds,  
Twenty nine Cities with four hundred towns.   

113.  
The right hand of the now-enlarged River  
Leads them unto the lower Belgic banks,  
Which waters driven by winds oft cover;  
And when they took the seas with ordered ranks,  
The gods allayed all storms, winds, waves, and rain,  
So that they smoothly ran along the main.   

114.  
Then by fair Iris instantly besought  
A troop of Sea-gods led these gallants on,  
Palaemon on a Dolphin's back was brought,  
Neptune by chariot, Phorcus and Aegeon  
On tamed Whales, Neptune with his old Queen,  
Swimming on seaborn horses might be seen.   

115.  
Shrill Triton, Glaucus, each Nymph thither trips,  
Speio thought fair for eyes, for hairs Thicaea,  
Nerine for brows, Thalia for her lips,  
For white neck Leu●othe, for paps Nicaea,  
Thetis for feet, and Panope for hands,  
For shoulders Melite most admired stands.   

116.  
Slender armed Galathe with hundreds more,  
Begot by Ne●eus and made complete fair,  
The Sirens which Vlises tempted sore,  
show'd their fair beauties, used their voices rare:  
Each had a several fashion of disport;  
Yet all in mirth and music well consort.   

117.  
One seems to stand at gaze, another swims,  
Some show their face, some lift their bodies higher:  
Some turn their sides to view, some all their limbs;  
Some seem to come, yet fly when you come nigher,  
Some leap, some dive, some walk whereas men could not,  
All would be seen, yet seem as if they would not.   

118.  
First one, than other shows their hides, their head,  
Then altogether turn, a circle making:  
Another follows when before she fled,  
Now their fine hands, now limber arms are shaking,  
Now rise they right and then fall on their backs,  
Then on their breast, each way no beauty lacks,   

119.  
Their bodies turning in so many shapes,  
Cut furrows in the main, make bubbles rise,  
Seeming to fly like hares, they play like ape  
Casting salt water each in others eyes,  
They sprinkle silver drops on every ship,  
Like lambs in April they bound, wind and skip.   

120.  
Part sits on fish to trim their moistened hair,  
Drawing it forth and drying it by Sun:  
Combs it with ivory teeth and lays it fair,  
Binds it with Coral, flowers and Indian stone,  
Part with a watchword calls for Glaucus' flocks,  
And taught them how to dance amidst the rocks.   

121.  
The Dauphin swift, the Sea-calf hugely throated  
The Lobsters bold, the mullets nimbly running:  
The Turbots soft and Scaves for fatness noted,  
With all the scaled fish in waters woning,  
The greater now left eating up the less,  
The less came forth to grace this business.   

122.  
Part of the Nymphs, divided with much joy,  
To several quires applied their voice and heart:  
In praise of Seaborn Venus and her boy,  
While Triton's cornet sweetly bore a part,  
All showing his company so gracious,  
Made frederick's journey not seem tedious.   

123.  
Albion appears ere they were aware,  
And then the Mariners amain cried land;  
The Prince with hope increased, with lessened care  
Said: heartily welcome to mine eyes dear sand  
Thou Region loved of God, mother of love  
Speed me with swift success, and happy prove.   

124.  
While thus he spoke the Navy sailed along,  
Entering the streams from Thame and Isis flowing;  
Then he commands those that were young and strong,  
To leave their other works, and fall to rowing:  
Until they came to London, where the band  
Of german Youth, with many welcomes land.    

THE THIRD BOOK.  
ARGUMENT.  
Britan's receive with joy triumphantly,  
The Princely Suitor, Rhein's great PALATINE,  
CONSUS by night moves JAMES his Majesty;  
ELIZA love by CUPIDS' power divine:  
A match is made: the heavens and earth rejoice,  
And FREDERICK enjoys his royal choice.  

1.  
NO sooner tidings to great Britain came,  
Of Princely frederick's arrival there,  
Whose Virtue mounted on the wings of fame,  
Flies through the world admired every where.  
But strait our gracious King to grace him more,  
Thus welcomes honoured Honour to the shore.   

2.  
Wales royal Prince attended with a train,  
Of worthiest Nobles, and of chiefest blood,  
With many a gallant ship cuts through the main;  
Making the Sea seem like a stately wood.  
The while her shore was hid with people standing,  
So closely trouped to see these Princes landing.   

3.  
Where our great Prince with kingly courtesy,  
Gives this great Germane royal entertain:  
Inviting to the Court of majesty,  
His princely self with all his honoured train,  
Extending to those Lordings whom he brings,  
Such jovial welcomes as proceed from Kings.   

4.  
Forth with a stately steed with sparkling eye,  
Whose all proportion nature beautified:  
Adorned with richest arts Ephippirie,  
Is brought this brave Bavarian on to ride,  
Whence with their Lords in honour through the throng  
This royal pair of Princes trots along.   

5.  
Where the promiscuous people, all contending,  
Whose eye should first and most be fed with sight  
Of these two Princes, to their Palace wending,  
Stopped their fair passage: There observe you might,  
The beggar placed before the rich behoulder,  
And young boys climbing on the grave man's shoulder.   

6.  
Here careless runs the scholar from his book,  
There hurls the Smith his hammer from his hand:  
Here leaves the Merchant shop, and all to look,  
And there the Suitor lets his mistress stand,  
Here the suspicious Maeck leaves wife at Venture,  
With millions more to see this Germane enter.   

7.  
Mo were not seen when proud Rome's Consuls went,  
In pompous triumph to their Capitol:  
Nor when to grace their Captains, who had spent  
Their bloods their country's honour to extol,  
The potent Romans in triumphant sort,  
Received their victors at their Latian Port.   

8.  
Then when our greatest King, our gracious Queen,  
Our mighty Prince, with troops of royal states:  
Whose outward graces made their inward seen,  
Received Prince Frederick at their Courtly gates,  
Whose curious eyes employed with observation,  
Of what he sees, strike him with admiration.   

9  
The places yield him more than most content,  
〈◊〉 ●●●●ers, habits, gestures of our men,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as uncouths, all the way he went  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meaning, and then praises them,  
But with so sweet a tongue, so comely grace,  
As seemed an offspring of imperial race.   

10.  
Perhaps (but scarce believe I) such an one,  
Was the fair lovely Phrygian Ganumede:  
Whom rapt from jila to the God's being shown,  
By mighty jove, the Gods all wondered.  
His speech, grace, beauty, then perhaps excelld,  
But now by frederick's more than paralleled.   

11.  
Thus the beholders this great Prince commending,  
The Prince beholding and commending all:  
From their fair steeds in royal sort descending,  
Approach great Britain's court imperial.  
A Court replete with greater majesty,  
Then in great Caesar's ever mortal see,   

12.  
Walls decked with rich Meonick Imagery  
Wrought with Arachne's best Pallaclian hand.  
A cloth of state of Theban tapestry,  
Where our chief Caesar's throne of state doth stand,  
Ceilings compact of Tellus purest mould,  
Garnished with bosses of Opherian gold.   

13.  
Here sits our Monarch on his lofty throne,  
And hither he admits this prince of wonder,  
Who to his highness was no sooner shown,  
But strait descends to this Bauarian under.  
Where after Kingly gracious embraces,  
Thus 'gins a speech to give him further graces.   

14.  
We joy (great Prince) with thanks to you and fate,  
For honouring our Court and Country thus,  
Wishing we could your Grace remunerate,  
Yet towards requital this receive from us,  
What ere our countries yield, command as free,  
As our apparent heir to Brittany.   

15,  
here Frederick Count Palatine of Rhine  
Thus makes reply. Greatest of greatest Kings,  
To render thanks for your high grace is mine,  
Who is't that loveth heaven or heavenly things,  
To whom Fame shall report your Godly zeal,  
Your gracious rule of Britain's Commonweal.   

16.  
But strait is moved like Sheba's royal Queen,  
To seek the place where Salomen doth live:  
That he may see the like was never seen,  
And hear those lessons only you can give,  
That he may learn aright to serve his God,  
And rule his countries with a Princely rod,   

17.  
It's this (high Monarch) hath Rheins Palsgrave moved  
To hear and see your Princely Majesty:  
With your fair offspring whom my heart hath loud,  
(With that his cheeks receive a ruby die,  
There stays: where strait as to their royal brother,  
The Prince of Wales and Rhine salute each other.   

18.  
With that our regal and resplendent Queen,  
The happy Mother of a hopeful spring,  
In gorgeous robes most glorious to behold,  
Presents herself before the potent King.  
Where with respect replete with Majesty,  
She bids the Prince welcome to Brittany.   

19  
Next with her golden tresses dangling,  
Which sweetly sport them with her sweeter breath,  
Clad with rich Tissues all with gold bespangling,  
Comes beauty's mirror fair Elizabeth,  
This jove deserving Princess, nows addressed,  
To welcome this imperial Germane guest:   

20.  
With such a speech as Pallas might give place  
Such Majesty as juno might amaze:  
Such beauty as fair Venus hide her face,  
All to Eliza yielding all their praise.  
Ercinia never saw so fair a feature,  
'mongst all her Nymphs as this celestial creature.   

21.  
Struck with amazement of this heavenly sight,  
Was lovely Frederick, trembling cold as ice  
The mighty Prince now wants his manly might,  
And like he is to fall down in a trice,  
(Strange metamorphosis) nor had he stood,  
Had not her rosy lips reviv'd his blood.   

22.  
A modest maiden kiss Nectarian sweet,  
Deigns faite Eliza to the daunted rain,  
In whose pure cheeks when both their lips did meet,  
The roses with the Lilies did combine,  
No marvel for the kiss no sooner done,  
But strait loves fire to kindle was begun.   

23.  
She feels a spark but knows not whence it came,  
Her virgin breast near knew what Cupid meant,  
The spark increaseth till it proves a flame,  
Yet ignorant withal of loves intent,  
The person, birth, and gesture being seen,  
Of Princely Rhein do please this beauty's Queen.   

24.  
Nor rests it there, but what she likes she loves,  
And what she loves, desireth to obtain,  
No less than he, she lovers laws approves,  
And feels no less than he a lovers pain,  
To look at what she loves she lifts her eye,  
But dare not look for fear some other spy.   

25.  
Again she opes her two celestial stars,  
A little twinkling on this princely mirror,  
Strait shuts them up; within herself at wars,  
Love hearts her eye, maids modesty strikes terror,  
Thus in loves conflict with chaste modesty,  
She loves, and fears, she sees, and dares not see.   

26.  
But yet so closely could not this young lover  
Move the fair Orb of her Siderian eyes,  
But strait the lovesick Palsgrave could discover,  
And meet the turn with due observances.  
Hundred eyed Argus Io near so tended,  
As he Eliza till these greetings ended.   

27.  
This thus and more performed in princely sort,  
Dark sable-coulored Nox, comes trotting on,  
Mounted upon Allaster, from the port,  
Of black Cymmerian pitchy Acheron,  
Phoebus with fiery chariot flies away,  
Post haste to give Antipodes the day.   

28.  
Mean while a guard of gallant Gentlemen,  
Addressed in scarlet liveries every one,  
With Cognizants' first drawn with Pallas pen;  
Then woven with silver, gold, and pretious-stone:  
In which, Palladian art did vive appear,  
King JAMES his arms, great Britan's Monarch there.   

29.  
These worthy Waiters, worthy of their places,  
Present their burning tapers 'fore the King,  
Who with the Queen, and all those Princely graces  
Addressed himself to jovial banqueting:  
Which being done (as fitteth Princes best)  
They all retire them to nocturnal rest.   

30.  
King JAMES no sooner priest his lofty bed,  
And Somnus comes to close his Princely eyes;  
But Morpheus his fancy wakened,  
And Consus counsels god, he strait espies:  
Who softly comes with grave and ancient pace,  
Comely, though old, with reverence in his face.   

31.  
With his fur'd nightgown, shoes, & cap for night,  
In his right hand he brings a golden book;  
Thus he presents himself to JAMES his sight,  
Much like old Philon both in speech and look:  
Who, for in younger age he taught his Grace,  
His Highness therefore knew him by his face.   

32.  
Who mildly standing at our Sovereign's feet,  
He thus begins to speak with gravity:  
Great Britan's Monarch, give me leave to greet  
Thy mighty self, and then to question thee:  
Why'mongst so many dost thou toss thy mind,  
A match for fair Elizabeth to find.   

33.  
Behold great jove by heavens own direction,  
Hath sent thee one, the mirror of his time,  
Whose ancestry next, under your protection,  
May with the best compare of Kingly line:  
Whose regiment increaseth with his years,  
In aequi-pollence to the mightiest peers.   

34.  
More wise he is then young age can afford,  
Whom mighty jove both loves and offers thee;  
He doth profess the same religious Word,  
And linked in Christian league of amity:  
Make this thy Son, this Prince will only prove,  
He worthy hers, she worthy of his love.   

35.  
Th'imperial heavens command me tell thee this,  
Which promise thee and them a royal strain;  
Who shall (for heavens intentions cannot miss)  
Restore the golden ages back again:  
This said, Mirh-breathing Consus goes his ways,  
Leaving the King half sleeping in a maze.   

36.  
He with mature deliberation,  
Who 'twas was sent, and who it was that sent him,  
Together with his pleasing grave relation  
What good jove offered, and what good he meant him:  
These reason's force (quoth he) our full consent▪  
Being such, as one had been sufficient.   

37.  
But most of all, Religion she doth move me,  
Which all Kings ought to strive for to the death;  
It's that great Germane makes us most to love thee,  
And hold thee worthy our Elizabeth.  
Thus Britan's Caesar in his thoughts revolved,  
And thus he spoke, and thus he them resolved.   

38.  
But do you think Eliza's rest was peace?  
Think you the Princely Virgin was not troubled?  
Hersleep was lessened by her thoughts increase  
On Frederick, thinking strait her thoughts were doubled,  
To him no sooner thinks he to be kind,  
But strait her Princely self comes to her mind.   

39  
Aye me (quoth she) what sudden motion's this?  
How is my breast clogged with a bitter sweet?  
Cupid hath surely ta'en his shaft amiss,  
Else how could Fear and Hope together meet:  
I know not how but yet, methinks, I see,  
Such uncouth passions both at once in me.   

40.  
Love shall not trouble us, were love so bold  
To enterprise our royal Virgin breast  
In vain it strove to win our maiden hold,  
That near shall yield let Cupid do his best,  
Not though loves fire within me were as great,  
As that Octaean or Trinacrian heat.   

41.  
Unless my father give his full consent,  
Unless my King appoint me whom to love:  
Loves arrows are in vain but idly spent,  
And of no force should all loves forces prove.  
he's worthy Love, but aye what boots to like,  
Unless my father do the bargain strike.   

42.  
Love? love would sure but wither in the blade,  
Prove barren, fruitless, langvish and so die;  
Ah Frederick (but that's it makes mee'fraid)  
I wish my father held th' as great as I,  
Great God of Love as thou hast played thy part,  
To make me Love, so move my father's heart.   

43.  
Procure him get a marriage worthy me,  
It is not far his highness need to seek,  
Fortune presents fit opportunity,  
Do Cupid and I'll kiss thy lovely cheek,  
But yet in all be sure thou draw a dart,  
That shall not miss Prince Frederick to the heart.   

44.  
Mine eyes are only pleased with his fair brow,  
Me thinks and he should Love to, by his face;  
Yet and perhaps the Germane loves me now,  
If outward gesture show the inward grace,  
Why should not I then answer frederick's Love,  
Whose were enough an Empresses to move.   

45.  
Answer (quoth I?) what answer shall I give?  
A virgin, Princess, daughter to a King:  
Except my Father, under whom I live,  
Say to me This is he whose nuptial ring  
Thy Princely self must wear, this is the man,  
Love him: then could I answer soon, I can.   

46.  
Thus with a sigh her speech she smothereth,  
But love so would not close her waking eyes,  
Which way so ere the Virgin turns, vimeth,  
She could but think she Frederic espies.  
And more she thinks (such thoughts can fancy move.)  
The lovely Prince is suing for her love.   

47.  
Nor yet when radiant Phosphorus appearing,  
Ushers Aurora banishing the night:  
The tawny livery of bright Phoebus wearing,  
Can all-harts-conquering love be put to flight,  
The less her love she seeketh to bewray,  
The more it's seen by seeing every day.   

48.  
How oft would she unto her mother Queen,  
Sweetly commend this Prince's pedigree:  
How oft would she have blushing ready been,  
To tell the titles of his Empery,  
His manners now, then's godly youth relating,  
And then his hopes of age prognosticating.   

49.  
Her mother Queen observes her speeches well,  
And smiling says; Our Daughter is in love,  
She likes it tho, and to the King can tell,  
Her passions, which his Highness doth approve:  
Yet lest she should perceive they did rejoice,  
They jested with the Virgin for her choice.   

50.  
But afterwards the sapient King perpending,  
Great Ioues commandment, Rheins great family;  
His Virtues, Kingdoms, and Religion tending,  
All to advancement of true piety:  
What fear 'twould strike to foes, to hell what terror,  
What love both Court & country bears this mirror.   

51.  
Admiring and rejoicing in his mind,  
We see in this (quoth he) jove hath his hand,  
Our vision was none idle dream we find,  
Wherein we did receive the heavens command:  
Since heaven and Earth and all do promise us,  
This Princely marriage shall prove prosperous.   

52.  
When therefore royal Rhine sollicets me,  
(For that befits his errand and our state)  
I will obey Ioues heavenly deity,  
And knit that knot which heavens make fortunate:  
Be bold to sue, and fearless to receive,  
Rhines lovely Frederick shall but ask and have.   

53.  
Now as the Cedar or Semelian vine,  
Hourly increaseth in the vernal spring,  
Spreading their branches with a tender twine,  
So love increaseth in this lovesick King;  
His eye inflames his heart, his heart endures  
Love flames, still fiercer, which his eye procures.   

54.  
No marvel for the eye procures the flame,  
Feeds it procured, his eye's both fire and fuel;  
No sooner looks he on this beauteous dame,  
But by reflection feels a heat more cruel.  
Hers do the like, whose cheeks, with ruby die,  
Bewray her heart, his spies she by his eye.   

55.  
Sometimes (but who can write the art of Love?)  
Their lovely kickshaws speak one to the other;  
Sometimes a beck, which secretly they move,  
Makes known the thought which silence seeks to smother,  
And oft withal when they asunder be,  
They sigh for sorrow that they cannot see.   

56.  
But Frederick more impatient of delay,  
Casts with his Princely Self what best to do,  
How he his thoughts may to the King bewray;  
And won the Lady, love incites him to.  
The former favours which the King had shown,  
Making him hope Eliza was his own.   

57  
Whose speech presented to the King and Queen,  
They grant fair passage to his Princely shoot;  
Love hid before now's in the Lovers seen,  
And now hath got a tongue which erst was mute,  
Now revels court, now royal festivals,  
London prepares against their nuptials.   

58.  
And now my muse since many winged Fame,  
Doth with as many tongues as Argus' eyes  
The wished-for Hymenaean rites proclaim,  
Of these two great Imperial Majesties:  
Help me to nurse that more than Pean mirth,  
In heaven conceived aned brought forth on the Earth.   

59  
Now moist Aquarius with his gelid urn,  
On Pisces pours his cold AEdonian waves:  
Now watered drops to icicles do turn,  
And AEol brings his armies from the Caves,  
But all to show sure signs of good to come,  
The times are altered by supernal doom.   

60.  
Aquarius to Aries gives place,  
Pisces to Taurus, winter to the spring,  
AEol within the Caverns hides his face,  
Nor can fierce Vrsa (wonder at the thing)  
Squize the hoar snow from twixt her horrid nails  
Nor vex our Climate with tempestuous hails.   

61.  
Warm Delius packs hence the frosty cold,  
Whose fair approach calm Zephyrus ensues:  
With violets be decking Tellus mould,  
And fostering her Infants with his dews,  
Fau●●ius likewise in green liveries,  
Adorns each field with flowers of sundry dies.   

62.  
Which, of the mountain Nymphs no sooner seen,  
But admiration enters at their eyes:  
To view earhs frosty mantle turned to green,  
And Summer thus with Winter sympathize.  
Contending who should first trip to the flowers,  
And fill their skirts to deck their pretty bowers.   

63.  
here get they Roses, there Pinckst Daffodils,  
Sweet- Marierum, Carnations, Camomel,  
Primroses, Crowfoot, Marigolds, and Lilies,  
Venus-hayre, Sothern wood, Daisies, Pimpernel  
Rosemary, and Time, Cowslips, with thousands more.  
Of divers sorts whose names I do not know.   

64.  
They cannot tell for their variety,  
Which first to crop, where first to lay their hand:  
So thick the flowers in every meadow be,  
They know not how, where, or whereon to stand  
Variety gives Earth so great a grace,  
With Nature's store enriched in every place.   

65.  
They cannot tread but on the herbs they rush,  
Nor on the herbs but press their leaves so sweet:  
Nor on the leaves but their sweet flowers crush,  
Nor crush the flowers but gilled their harmful feet,  
Nor gild their feet with their depressed dews,  
But savour odoriferous ensues.   

66.  
Now Phillis with new tresses wantoneth,  
And Princely Poplar shades the hollow brook:  
Now Philomela sweetly warbleth,  
Among the branches glorious on to look:  
The heavens aspiring Lark begins to sing,  
In welcome of this unexpected spring.   

67.  
The Naiads all laying mantles by,  
To bathe and sport them to the rivers bound them:  
Where weaving Garlands on the Gowlans nigh,  
Before they leave the lovely fountains crown them  
Th'unfrosty streams run by the warm bank side,  
Checkquerd with ornaments of Flora's pride.   

68  
The Rhenist husbandman with axe in hand  
To lop dead branches and to dress his vines:  
Seing their Spring, struck with amaze doth stand,  
To view in winter such right summer signs:  
But seeing new sown corn shot to the blade,  
He blest himself, supported with his spade.   

69.  
True birth-exploring Rhenus hearing news:  
Forth from his Limphane waves the match was done:  
For which both heaven and earth made joyful shows,  
With Heaven and Earth to make a third begun,  
His Reinish waters turned to Reinish wine,  
And all his sands like golden Tagus' shine.   

70.  
Fair Heidelbergian Neccaris runs tripping  
Warlike Germania hops and leaps for joy,  
With all her nymphs Ercinia falls a skipping  
All, all their best to show their mirth employ,  
Men thought to see the frisks of Sea and Land,  
Orpheus again had ta'en his harp in hand.   

71.  
To orient pearls his pretty pebbles turning:  
Oceanus puts forth his Sea-green head:  
All rapt with joy (no place was left for mourning)  
He curls his locks his beard begins to spread,  
When strait for silence becking with his rod,  
The winds are wished and thus begins the God.   

72.  
Great Neptune's nephew Monarches of the flood,  
Your silence and attention is required:  
That which the Fates foretold us for our good,  
What Heaven, and Earth, and Seas so long desired  
Now comes to pass, the Palatine of Rhein,  
Is linked with Britain's blest, most royal line.   

73.  
From whose fair loins the heavens have promised us,  
An issue hopeful, happy, fortunate,  
Who to the world shall shine most glorious,  
Restoring age her former golden state,  
Now warts shall cease, Envy shall be bound,  
And cast in darkness, never to be found.   

74.  
Now shall the Smith of swords a mattock make,  
And darts to coulters turn, the Earth to carve:  
The martial halberd shall be made a rake,  
Bucklers for scuttles, falchions for sickles serve.  
The Soldiers Arms shall be the husbands now,  
And fierce wars yield unto the peaceful plow.   

75.  
The Ox shall hold the Demi-lance in scorn,  
The drum and fife shall henceforth cease to sound:  
Our trumpets now shall be the Hunter's horn,  
Whilst silly Wat runs panting fore the hound,  
No poisonous Wolfbane now springs in our field,  
No stinking Hemlocks shall our meadows yield.   

76.  
The Serpent Elaps shall no poison keep;  
The Dragon Amphisbana dwine away:  
The Wolf no more shall vex the silly sheep,  
The Lion on the Ox no more shall pray,  
The fatal Raven, and the ugly Owl shall fly,  
To Athos, Babes and those deserts by.   

77.  
The Olive branch now crowns the head of Peace,  
The Bramble yields the savour of the Rose;  
The Thorns drop myrrh, wild Vines with grapes increase,  
The Cork tree honey, the Willow pepper grows,  
The Alder sugar, the Beach-tree Cinnamon,  
Where Acorns grew, sweet Balsam springs thereon.   

78.  
Ginger, Cloves, Saffron, spikenard all do grow,  
And spring with plenty in the untilled field,  
And from the Rocks doth sweet Ambrosa flow:  
The Winds do Aromatic odours yield;  
The watery places spring Malobathrum,  
The Fountain's milk, the floods pure Nectar run.   

79.  
Seas native pebbles gild the glorious shore,  
And the salt foam to Amber doth convert;  
Rich Plenty now presents her golden store,  
And unto Mortals doth her gifts impart:  
Old yields to New, Quarrels to Peace's might,  
Impiety to Faith, and Wrong to Right.   

80.  
Vain Superstition veils to Piety,  
Deceit to Truth, Doubt unto Demonstration,  
Darkness to Light, Pluto to Ioues deity,  
Hell to bright Heaven, Damnation to Salvation:  
All shall be brought to pristin equipage,  
While to the world reverts the golden age.   

81.  
Rejoice Germania, joy to see this day,  
And thou possessor of the light most clear;  
The worlds admired great Britania,  
In honour of this change let joys appear:  
Such happiness attends this royal choice,  
As equal cause near had you to rejoice.   

82.  
Nay all be blithe, let blows keep holiday,  
The Ox refuse his yoke, let harrows rust,  
The lopper leave his vines half lopped to play;  
The Clown cry hoy, with points of leather trust:  
For vines unlopt shall yield a fruitful store,  
And earth untiled shall spring as't did before.   

83.  
Let hearts want hatred, wrath be banished quite,  
And hasty words of modesty bereaven,  
Let suits so cease that Clarks have nought to write;  
In stead of these sing Carols to the heaven:  
Let Courts be scaffolds for Clients to gaze,  
While Common Pleas be turned to common plays.   

84.  
Let Caesar's self descend to see this sport,  
Great Lords be merry with the lowly Lowne,  
Cry helter, skelter, let the laws come short;  
Craftsmen leave work, May-games in every town:  
Let Courtiers act some amorous Comedy,  
With jigs at end on't, to the Plow-iaggs by.   

85.  
Let Soldiers lay by Arms, yet sleep secure,  
Let only Love be held a Warrior;  
Let beds be fields where they the fight endure,  
The conquered being pleased with loss by war:  
Let never cloud dare to approach the day,  
But let the times with pleasure pass away.   

86.  
Let all the world be filled with Hymen's voice,  
The world in wished Vacuna's government,  
At good to come let Britan's all rejoice,  
And every year in Happiness be spent:  
Let every month, each day, hour, minute be,  
Crowned, blest, successful and from perils free.   

87.  
But Thee, the best of Kings, heroic JAMES,  
The true defender of the sacred Word;  
As now this world thy royal worth proclaims;  
So ever let all worlds the like afford:  
Ever extolling thee with golden phrases,  
Who gilds the world with thine immortal praises.   

88  
Thou mighty Offspring of Imperial Race,  
From whom great Kings do claim their greatest blood;  
Yet thy known virtues give thee higher grace,  
Thine Offspring great, thy virtues make thee good:  
Thy speech, thy prudence, wisdom to foresee,  
In all assays to all apparent be.   

89.  
Thy royal breast scorns worth by mere opinion,  
Nor holds chief honour to possess a Crown,  
Thy honoured thoughts are how to raise Religion,  
And in thy kingdoms pull Abuses down:  
In thee gods fear, with innate Piety,  
And mild aspect, is mixed with Majesty.   

90.  
Godlike thouart slow to wrath, swift to reward,  
judicious to rule and help the right;  
Thy Subjects to thy laws have due regard,  
Won by thy favour, unconstrained by might:  
By thee, the Gospel, from thy Temples rend,  
That true-light-giving word hath government.   

91.  
By thee the Sheep escape the jaws of Hell,  
Without thee Faith would scarcely find her name,  
Thou manst her cause, and dost perform it well,  
For which the world eternizeth thy fame:  
Thou thou thine own art set in honours top,  
'Mongst faithful Aliens held their chiefest prop.   

92.  
Thou art what heavenly gifts can make thee be,  
What Subjects prayers, what Art can fabricate,  
What Fame can yield thy sacred Majesty;  
What can be added to thy glorious state:  
If aught, than this thou dost prefer 'tis known,  
Religion's cause in all before thine own.   

93.  
Kings were denied thy royal sons to be,  
Because they did not hold their faiths aright,  
Thine end was how to establish piety,  
And on that end most blessedly hast light:  
To happiness now nothing doth remain,  
Unless the same be acted o'er again.   

94.  
Be jovial then (great King) cast care away,  
Rheins blood is not inferior to the best,  
With whom thou hast confirmed a league for ay;  
And given the Gospel an eternal rest:  
In which there is more cause of wonder shown,  
Then when was made the Scots and English one.   

95.  
Wherefore again be jovial great King,  
And thou blessed Queen, of Denmark's royal line;  
Thou fairest fair, thou beauteous, Beauty's spring,  
Thou human pattern of the powers divine:  
Be jovial (sweet Queen) cast care away,  
In honour of this happy Nuptial day.   

95.  
And you (choice pair of Princes) join your hands,  
And with your hands your hearts, with hearts your loves,  
And with your loves, speech such as love commands;  
With speech join kisses like to Paphian Doves:  
From whose fair loins, heavens grant a royal line  
To reign for ever Rheins great PALATINE.   

96.  
You speckled Glaucian Nymphs, you flesh-fish Elves,  
Come from your creeks, skip from your pumice pores,  
With rishy hair-laces trick up yourselves,  
And with fair flowers bestrew your floodgate doors,  
To get the Topaz stir your little bones,  
And make your shores to glitter with the stones.   

98.  
And you pure floods, skud with your crystal streams,  
And crown your Founts with flowers of various sorts,  
Sing, but let Io be your merry Themes;  
And let your hearts be cognized by your sports:  
All help to grace the Nuptials with us,  
And so left speaking great Oceanus.   

99  
From every chink skips out a Nereiad,  
Old Nereus, their father, being first,  
With all the rest: All of these tidings glad,  
It was the thing for which they long did thirst;  
With joyful acclamations one by one,  
They kneeling, make this hearty Orison.   

100  
For ever live great Britain's King and Queen,  
For ever live Rheins Prince and royal bride:  
For ever may their Offsprings both be seen,  
Long wished for, hoped for, Heavens ever be their guide,  
Nor let us ever cease to pray for them,  
To which they all devoutly said Amen.   

101.  
Amen quoth Thames, Grant, Dariom, Owse & Rhine,  
Skern, Scurf, Small, Severne, Humber, Iske, and Clun,  
Wisk, Weer, and Wharfe, Nid, Tease, Tweed, Trent & Tyne,  
air, Sheld, Tay, Calder, Vre, Danow and Dun,  
Wa●me, Caldee, Peterel, Frith, Lune, Ments and Chain.  
With hundred others whom I cannot name.   

102.  
While Neptune's brood thus triumph on the Seas,  
Venus must needs have Vulcan play his part:  
This royal match doth so the Lady please,  
In show of honour, he must show his art,  
Which to obtain she kindly comes unto him,  
And like a suitor thus begins to woe him.   

103.  
Love, to myself, then is myself more dear,  
The heavens Protector, and the God's defender:  
To whom jove owes those bolts make Mortals fear,  
Who to myself thy Love didst ever tender.  
To whom I owe for kindness done at Troy,  
And for the Arms thou made my warlike Boy.   

104.  
Yet ere I pay my loving Vulcan know,  
I am constrained to sue to thee for more,  
Thou'lt not deny thy wife and Goddess now,  
Thou never didst deny me aught before,  
It's not for martial Arms (sweet heart) I sue,  
W'have done with those, we'll hence bid wars adieu.   

105.  
Indeed I once was forced for that to woe;  
But not so now, And it's for myself beside:  
Nay and a thing befits thy Venus too,  
I must not, nay I will no be denied,  
For if you do indeed i'll hang the lip,  
And never with thee more to meadows trip.   

106.  
Sweet thus it is, I hear by heavens design,  
A royal Nuptial shortly like to be:  
Twixt Frederick the Palatine of Rhine,  
And fair Eliza of great Brittany.  
And how King james bestirs him every way,  
To make great Triumphs 'gainst the wedding day.   

107.  
London's great Thames they all in haste prepare,  
Where over they build Briggs, Chains, and Fabricates  
Of Art, which well with Pallas may compare,  
To entertain these high imperial States.  
Where they in honour of this day desire,  
To show on waters, powers of subtle fire.   

108.  
Wherhfore (Sweet Chuck) for my sake, ready be  
To help these fireworks, do a masters part,  
Thou art the God of fire, then oversee,  
And teach the English thine Ignean Art.  
I would not for the world that Art should miss  
For want of Thee, and then she gave a kiss.   

109.  
Now as the waxen Torch no sooner feels  
The scorching heat of Lemnius fire approaching:  
But straight's on low, even so this Suitor steels,  
Her Leman Vulcan with alures' encroaching,  
He bristles up, and turning white o'th' eye,  
He thus to Venus 'gins to make reply.   

110  
(Sweet Duck) what need you to entreat me so,  
You may command, and I must needs obey,  
You know I am yours whether I will or no,  
Fair Venus' will is Vulcan's lock and key,  
Besides for this, trouble yourself no more  
I heard what hand jove had in this before.   

111.  
Kind mouse and (than he knept) lo here's my hand,  
For thy sake I will do them what I can:  
I and my forge shall be at their command,  
Or never hold me for an honestman.  
As I'm a God, (and then again he knept)  
Turned white o'th' eye, and so the Clubfoot slept.   

112.  
No sooner did this Nuptial day adproach,  
And Trumpets warn them of this glorious sight:  
But some on foot, some horsed, some in their coach,  
Repair to Thames with all their main and might.  
Where Barges, Oars, and Scullers did appear,  
Aweight for Atlas' big enough to bear.   

113.  
Trooped with his peers great Britain's King ascends  
A lofty stately Turret made for view:  
Vith whom Queen Anne, Prince Charles', Prince Frederick wends,  
With fair Eliza (oh that heavenly show)  
So rich, so grave, Majestic, are they gone,  
As if great jove ascended to his throne.   

114.  
With that lame Vulcan from the lofty Tower,  
Strait falls to work and gins to stir his stump:  
Where with a peal of ordnance for an hour,  
Gives them fair welcome all with many a thump:  
Who yet before his thundering fires were shown,  
Makes one good leg (God knows) he had but one   

115.  
Next after this the squibs skip up the air,  
Makes clouds by thousands, spread them like a net:  
Such like as when the Titans durst to dare  
The Gods above, and they on Phlegra met,  
Such were the flashes, cracks, and heavens face,  
As when the Gods had Giants in the chase,   

116.  
But no such fear, withal the nimble fire,  
Gives ears contentments, pleasures to the eye:  
The cunning squibs while they the Heavens aspire,  
Make twenty shapes on house and casements nigh:  
They skip, they run, they fall, and keep a coil,  
While all the Thames was ready for to boil,   

117.  
Scarce this was done, when by Vulcanian arts,  
A sell, fierce, fiery Dragon 'gins to mount:  
Who with his tail the air so swiftly parts,  
As makes a thunder, Teeth withouten Count  
Whetstone, gnash, and crash, his Irish Dart tonguethere,  
Threatens to kill and poison who comes near.   

118.  
Saint George on horseback with his spear and shield,  
Confronts the Serpent, and with martial looks  
Makes towards the Dragon in the airy field,  
And with undaunted spirit his spear he shook,  
The Dragon, in whose scales laid heart and might.  
Provokes this worthy warrior to the fight.   

119.  
Both with like courage and with equal force,  
They first aloof charge each the other there:  
Saint George being mounted on his warlike horse,  
Assails the Dragon with his conquering spear:  
The furious Dragon fiercely doth assail,  
To meet th'encounter with his scale armed tail.   

120.  
Where he attempts with twining circling rounds.  
To grasp the Warrior and to tear his skin:  
George with his spear prevents those murdering wounds  
And gives the hurt the Dragon meant to him:  
When mad with ire he makes a horrid yell,  
Spouts thundering fire, earth trembling at the knell.   

121.  
Now careless of himself not dreading ill,  
The Dragon flies to fight near hand to hand:  
He fears not death so he his foe may kill,  
The battle doubtful for the while doth stand,  
They slice the air with blows on either side,  
Till light and thunders through the Regions ride.   

122.  
At last these doubts Saint George the valiant  
Puts out of doubt, and hath the Serpent killed:  
The puissant victor up the air doth vaunt,  
While Earth's below with acclamations filled.  
Thus bravely ending this Vulcanian fight,  
Another show presents itself to fight,   

123.  
On Thames a steepy mountain Vulcan found'st,  
Where bushes, thickets, herbs, and flowers appear:  
Whereout a kennel of wel-mouthed hounds,  
Do rouse a stately stag, who flies for fear,  
He wheels, imbosts, and runs for fear to die,  
They follow chanting with a heavenly cry.   

124.  
At last, so hotly they the sttagge pursue,  
They pinch the haunches of the fearful Dear;  
air reboating thunders out a new,  
He strives to scape, but still was near the near:  
Forceless at last, seeing no way but death,  
He brays, he weeps, he dies and vanisheth.   

125.  
Next after this a work of admiration;  
For Art, devise, Novelty, and Wit  
Whose true description passeth my relation,  
Is shown these royal Princes as they sit:  
A seeming martial Navy, bravely man'd,  
Fraught with rich spoils, comes sailing towards the land   

126.  
Thames groans to bear the burden of the weight,  
Their Oars do make the water seem to roar,  
Their glittering streamers daze the looker's sight,  
Their drums and trumpets deaf all near the shore:  
Thus the brave warlike Britan's do assail,  
A Turkish Tower which they attempt to scale.   

127.  
The Trumpets sound defiance to the Turk,  
The Turk defies the Britain to his face,  
On either side the soldiers fall to work;  
Turks to sink ships, Britan's the Tower to race:  
The Tower the Britan's batter from the Main,  
To sink the ships, the Turks shoot back again.   

128.  
But yet at last maugre the Scythians might,  
The valiant Britan's have attained the land,  
Provoking of the miscreants to fight;  
And while the Turks on wall and Turrets stand,  
With Scythian purfles, steel Tartarian bows,  
And forked arrows to resist their foes.   

129.  
Yet in despite of these the Britain enters,  
Trumpets, and drums still heart them to the battle,  
Darts like to snow-flags fly in thousand splenters;  
Cannons make waters, air, and earth to rattle,  
Cast from Phalarrick instruments of wars,  
The wildfires fly in number like the stars.   

130.  
Look how when Aquilo in caves ypent,  
Aeol unwitting, breaks his prison doors,  
And boisterous Auster hath the Caverns rend  
To front his Adverse, whilst the welkin roars:  
So fares it with the Mountains and the Valleys,  
The while the Britain, 'gainst the Scythian sallies.   

131.  
Thus long they combat still with fresh supplies,  
Both pell-mell meeting make their armours clatter,  
Turks from the Tower fall thick as hail from skies,  
While warlike Britan's do their Turrets batter:  
So fast they fall, as scarce was one remaining,  
Of all the Turks their lofty Towers maintaining.   

132.  
With that, the warlike Britans Mars-like bold,  
With ladders strive the Turret's top to wend;  
First at the scout-holes taking nimble hold,  
Thence battlemets, and thence to top ascend:  
Where the Turks vanquished Britan's do display.  
St. George his Cross in honour of the day.   

133.  
Thus was the first day spent, where Britan's make  
Their hearts appear, by their apparent shows;  
Where Lipareius for his Venus' sake,  
Presents these uncouth arts to Princely views:  
Now Mars withal to please his Cyprian Dame,  
Next day prepares a chief Olympian game.   

134.  
A stately place within the Court is built,  
Smooth as a die, round, empty, spacious,  
Prepared for Martial Knights to run at tilt,  
And try in arms who was most valorous:  
In glittering armour every Gallant's bend,  
To try his warlike force at Tournament.   

135.  
Where on great horse with rich Caparison,  
Th'heroic Britan's long the Tiltyard ride,  
Who bravely, ere the tilting was begun,  
Themselves into two equal troops divide:  
Where to his lance, his Horse and armour trusting,  
Each Knight prepares in order for the justing.   

136.  
No sooner silver trumpets gi'en to found,  
But strait two Champions one at other fly,  
Their furious steeds make furrows in the ground,  
Their shivered spears pir, whistling up the sky;  
Thunders and lightnings from their Arms and spears  
Fly, while their plumes be fired about their ears.   

137.  
Thus each in Order with his horse and lance,  
His martial foe seems stoutly to defy,  
Where with such fury they themselves advance,  
As fear and wonder strike the standers by,  
Such warlike feats of arms and Chivalry,  
As mighty Mars himself, admired to see.   

138.  
Next after this they do erect a Race,  
To which the swiftest coursers should repair,  
With proclamations made in every place,  
A golden Cup should be the winners share,  
The prize, day, hour, and place known every where,  
Unto the course repair they far and near.   

139.  
Where, when they came each leads his nimble steed  
o'er the fair course, scarce can the keepers lead:  
They champ their golden snaffles, while they bleed,  
They foam, they neigh, the earth they proudly tread,  
They prank, they fret impatient of delay,  
Each hoping 't is he shhall bear the cup away.   

140.  
Being at the start and all in order set,  
Saith George pronounced, the dust begins to rise:  
Now happy's he can from his fellow get,  
Their nimble feet outstrip the lookers eyes,  
While soon the swiftest gains the golden prize,  
With thousand praises and ten thousand cries.   

141.  
Next this Palestrian wrestlers in the field,  
Their bodies suppled by Ceromatists:  
To try by force, to force each other yield,  
With naked arms and breasts approach the lists,  
Where the beholders all admire to see,  
How ably agile these Luctators be.   

142.  
At first encounter, cunningly they set  
Their stable nimble feet, next with their hands  
This seeks, that strives, how surest hold to get,  
That he may spoil his Adverse as he stands:  
Where arm with arm, and foot with foot combining,  
They trip, prevent, chip, fall with inturns twining.   

143.  
Others (for joy) with great dexterity,  
In Tuthill fields at Goaff play up and down;  
Where the balls mount with such celerity,  
As air makes Echo. Others at Balloon,  
With wooden bracers make the bladders fly,  
With much contentment to the gazers by.   

144.  
Soon after Phillis with her Nymphs attended,  
Calls forth the Forest, her Windsorian fawns,  
To dance, who dance, that dance cannot be mended,  
So gallantly they frisk it o'er the lawns:  
The groves and valleys echo with the playing,  
Of Harps, and Bagpipes while these Nymphs be maying.   

145.  
In honour of these Nuptials all rejoice,  
No Town, or City, but congratulates,  
No Temple but it filled with Hymen's voice;  
No bells but ring, no one but bless the Fates:  
No street, no entry, no man's windows seen,  
But's strewed, decked, trimmed, with flowers and richeses green.   

146.  
But that Palladian Palace built for Kings,  
That spaceous beauteous, White-halls joys surmount,  
That glorious Court with heavenly music sings;  
Sweet as the Muses 'bout their amber fount:  
The Citizens (like swarms) conglomerate,  
To see these Princes and their Nuptial state.   

147.  
Comic Thalia here ascends the stage,  
Here Corybantes with their Cymbals dance,  
With Lydian Pageants like the former age,  
Where upon cords their bodies they advance;  
With such, so great, so rare dexterity,  
As King and Queen, and Princes come to see.   

148.  
With Saelings, Hangings, Pavements all excelling,  
The place prepared is decked in curious sort:  
The fire with Aromatic savours smelling,  
While these imperial Princes view the sport,  
Nought was unshown, unsaid, worth sight or hearing  
In honour of this nuptial day appearing.   

149.  
Now if Apollo and Mnemosine,  
Should change their daughter, Muses help my verse;  
Till I but told you what mine eyes did see:  
Yet what I saw we could not all rehearse,  
I saw a banquet that myself can say,  
Describe the sight can neither I nor they.   

150.  
Served up in golden dishes bring they thither,  
What Britain, Denmark, Spain, France can afford:  
Arabs or Persia, put the world together  
The world near saw so sumptuous a Board.  
Think what was wanting to their genial cheer,  
What Sea or Land can yield that all was there.   

151.  
Nor that alone, the gods by joint consent,  
Present them Nectar and Ambrosia:  
Nor want they ought can give their heart's content:  
With princely mirth to pass the time away,  
All this I see, and only say I kno'e it,  
But how it was set forth some better Poet.   

152.  
Ne yet with these can th'amorous Palatine,  
Content his ears, or eyes, or appetite,  
'mongst all these plenties Frederick would pine,  
Wert not for one dish 'bove the rest condite:  
On which to feed impatient of delay,  
He wisheth day were night, or night the day.   

153.  
And see, at last that day so long desired,  
A day, no day was ever seen so bright:  
The day of days now's happily expired,  
Fair Phaebs hasting to produce the night,  
A Night, no night was ever equal seen,  
Wherein the Prince enjoys his virgin Queen.   

154.  
Sweet Venus to thy golden Chariot hast thee,  
Drawn through the regions by thy silver doves:  
Hymen, the wonders of the world have graced thee,  
Why hasts not thou to grace their bedright loves?  
Light Tapers Hymen, beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Pean sing the bride to bed.   

155.  
Hast honoured God of unpoluted lovers,  
Thou royal Lord of lawful propagation:  
Thy royal wedlock to the world discovers,  
Thy sacred power and care for procreation.  
Bring (only thou canst bring) the Virgin Bride,  
And lay the Princess by the Prince his side.   

chaste Vesta yields to thy connubiall powers:  
And Cypris self accknowledgeth thy might,  
Withal confessing all her dallying hours,  
Only by thee legitimate and right.  
Light Tapers Hymen, beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Pean sing the bride to bed.   

157.  
Thou honourer of that Thessalian mountain,  
The heavens-aspiring Pindus hast thee hither:  
Forsake thy Phocis, and Castalian fountain,  
Britain out-peeres them, put them altogether,  
Greece yields thee nought but Britain yields thee more,  
And what Greece wants great Britain hath in store.   

158.  
here have the Muse's fountains of their own,  
here mountains woods and patrons to defend them:  
here is the Temple of true wedlock known,  
here therefore rest thee, Hymen here attend them,  
Light Tapers Hymen, beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Pean sing the bride to bed.   

159.  
Each aged Sire no sooner knits the knot,  
Betwixt his daughter and some good man's son:  
But thou'rt a guest, thou must not be forgot,  
It's thee they most desire, when all is done  
The Virgin yields trusting no one but thee,  
Her maiden girdle to thy custody.   

160.  
Haste thou great Offspring of Urania,  
The Muse's glory, and Parnassus' pride,  
The knot is knit, confirm the same for ay,  
FREDERICK entreats thee with his Princely Bride:  
Light Tapers, Hymen, Beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Paean sing the Bride to bed.   

161.  
Now, now's the time when thou must play thy part,  
Rhein for a wife, ELIZA hath procured,  
More sweet by Nature, than Venus could by art,  
When she Adonis to her love allured:  
Her sweetest perfumes never could compare,  
With sweet ELIZA'S breath, which sweets the air.   

162.  
Now Swanlike jove when he to Ledae wended,  
Or to his Danae in a shower of gold,  
With FREDERIC for pomp could have contended,  
When he espoused this Queen of heavenly mould:  
Light Tapers, Hymen, beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Pean sing the bride to bed.   

163.  
Fair Virgin, flower of all Diana's train,  
Offspring of jove, and of Mnenie sine,  
The Goddess-graces all in thee remain,  
To make thy Earth, the heavens Epitome:  
To thee doth golden Ceres give her hair,  
Diana cheeks, and juno forehead fair.   

164.  
To thee Minerva gives her chastest eyes,  
Pomona paps, Latona's lily hands,  
Astraea arms, Venus' lips, rosy dies,  
Tethis thy pretty feet whereon thou stands;  
Gratia thy gesture, what creature's like thee living,  
Whose every part is of a Goddess giving.   

165.  
Hermione was never half so fair,  
No though Orestes were the judge of beauty;  
Ne yet might Helen with this Queen compare,  
Make Paris judge, to Helen bound by duty:  
Light Tapers, Hymen, beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Paean sing the Bride to bed.   

166.  
Thou flower of youth, Son to the Gods above,  
The heavens delight and earth's felicity:  
To thee the Gods each one to show their Love,  
Present their gifts worthy eternity.  
To thee great jove gives an heroyck heart,  
And mighty Mars his courage doth impart.   

167.  
On thee Apollo doth his wit bestow,  
Uranus' form, Cyllenius eloquence,  
To thee God Cupid hath bequeathed his Bow,  
Neptune his treasures of magnificence,  
Saturn thy manners; what mortal can compare,  
With him whom all the gods have framed so rare.   

168.  
Theseus was never half so brave a creature,  
Though Ariadne judged betwixt them two:  
Hippolytus near had so comely feature;  
Make Phedra judge who did the youngling woe,  
Light Tapers, Hymen, this heavenly couple's wed,  
With Io Paean sing the Bride to bed.   

269.  
If ever for heroic nuptial rites,  
In the delight or honour did appear,  
This Nuptial both for honour and delights:  
Out strips the best and all that ever were;  
As far as floods outstrip the little springs,  
Or seas the floods, or mighty meanest things.   

170.  
So sweet a pair no age did ever see:  
No age shall ever see them paralleled,  
No love, night Court was or will ever be,  
That linked, attended, such sweet Princes held,  
Light Tapers Hymen this heavenly couple's wed,  
With Io Paean sing the Bride to bed.   

171.  
The Bridegroom now hath cast his nuts about,  
As Casting thoughts away in nonage weaker,  
The bride-cake's broke and hurled the press throughout,  
In sign of future Plenty to the breaker:  
Gold in abundance give they to the poor,  
Betookning bounty, Majesty and store.   

172.  
Grave Senators, chaste Matrons, do invite thee,  
Young lovely Lords, fair Virgins do entreat,  
These may and wish for marriage that incite thee;  
Deny their suit? 't were sin and pity great.  
Light tapers Hymen this heavenly couple's wed,  
With Io Pean sing the Bride to bed.   

173.  
See, see they come, Hymen hath tapers light,  
Britan's and Rhein●sts let your hearts rejoice:  
And you that now profess your faiths aright,  
With hallowed Hymus to heavens lift up your voice,  
Here towards her chamber comes the Virgin Bride,  
Drawn from her royal fair queen-mother's side.   

174.  
See with what state Hymen his Tapers brings,  
You Virgin Ladies that attend along:  
List likewise how melodiously she sings,  
Help Hymeneus sing his under song,  
Hymen O Hymen, beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Paean sing we Bride to bed.   

175.  
See where fair Concord comes sweet garlands weaving  
And love her lovely flowers before her stro'ing:  
Neither, their places or their office leaving,  
Till they have crowned the Virgin as she's going;  
Venus and juno on either side instruct her,  
The Virgin blushing while the Queens conduct her.   

176.  
Half nilling-willing with her eyes demisse,  
She forward steps, but with a backward pace:  
With a blush her beauty wrapped is,  
Like Roses shut which promise greater Grace,  
Hymen O Hymen this beauty's Queen is wed,  
With Io Pean sing the Bride to bed.   

177.  
Like as bright Cynthia in her golden shine,  
Attended on with many aglittering Star:  
Whose radiant Beauties though they be divine,  
Yet Cynthya's precedes the fairest far,  
Even so Eliza 'mongst her Nymphs most fair,  
Exceeds their most with more, past all compare.   

178.  
Her tresses eurled by Lydian art she wears,  
With Emeralds, Rubies, Amathists bedecked,  
With Diamonds dangling at her Princely ears,  
Her neck adorned with pearls of best respect:  
Topar and Berill; who is't can number them?  
No jewels wanted to adorn this Gem.   

179.  
Thus rich attired, but richer far in beauty,  
Eliza meets her worthy PALATINE;  
Whilst all the Court in show of love and duty,  
Cry, Heavens preserve the Princess and the Rhine:  
Hymen, O Hymen this heavenly couples wed,  
With Io Paean, sing the Bride to bed.   

180.  
Against this mirror to her chamber came  
Aglaia had prepared her Princely bed:  
Where, laid no sooner this imperial Dame,  
And purple curtains 'bout the Princess spread  
But all retire, leaving to wait no other,  
Save lovely Cupid, and his lovelier Mother.   

181.  
Propitious may the Heavens for ever be,  
Propitious Earth with all they both contain,  
Propitious prove for ever Ioues decree,  
The golden-age reducing back again:  
Now Hymen cease thine hymenaean voice  
For Frederick enjoys his royal choice.    
FINIS.   

THere is great strife twixt death and love,  
Which of them is the stronger,  
And which of them can strike the stroke,  
Whose wound endures the longer.  
HENRY FREDERICK, said they both,  
Shall be our mark to try;  
Which of us twain can do the deed,  
To get the victory:  
Death HENRY strikes, God Cupid strikes,  
Fair frederick's strength to prove.  
So HENRY dies a sudden death,  
So FREDERICK is in love:  
We know Love is as strong as Death,  
But Death to Love must yield:  
For Death is past, love still remains,  
God Cupid wins the Field.