A CONGRATULATORY EPITHALAMIUM, OR SPEECH ON THE ARRIVAL OF HER Royal Highness, AND HAPPY MARRIAGE TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE JAMES DUKE OF YORK:  
LONDON, Printed Anno Dom. MDCLXXIII.   

On the Arrival of Her Royal Highness, and Happy Marriage to the most Illustrious Prince JAMES, Duke of YORK, etc.  

WHilst now the Sun retiring, Mews his Beams,  
And gilds the Days with none but Sickly Gleams:  
What New-sprung Light breaks from our East, to bring  
In Depth of Winter this unlooked for Spring?  
What Second Venus do our wondering Eyes  
Behold, from Neptune's Azure Bosom Rise?  
Thus I enquired, when the loud Breath of Fame  
Strait Blest my Ears, with Fair MODENA's Name  
A Princess! That adds Lustre to Her Race,  
And's made by Heaven the Storehouse of each Grace;  
Attracted by  Love's Magnetic Charms,  
Thus Northward to her Mighty James' Arms:  
We did to Italy a Conquest owe,  
Since Caesar wrought the Britain's overthrow.  
Love makes Reprisals now, and brings from thence,  
A Trophy of a greater Excellence.  
As Sheba once, led by the Noise of Fame  
To Solomon, from distant Regions came:  
So YORK's Renown, which through the World is spread,  
Invites this Virgin Princess to his Bed:  
Who through a Tedious Journey does Advance,  
Traversing all the Continent of France;  
Whose proudest Beauties, Envying at her Fate,  
Must yet pay Homage to her greater State;  
And with Regret Conduct her to the Sea,  
Each Blushing Princess wishing 'thad been She.  
News of YORK's Bride to Neptune's Court doth run;  
YORK! that so many Wonders There had done;  
And strait the busy Sea-Nymphs call each other,  
To show their Duty to their Sov'raigns' Brother;  
Mounted on swiftest Dolphins Backs, they come  
And Dance about the Ship should bring her Home.  
When first she Launched, the Ambitious Waves no more  
Would Kiss the Lips of the forsaken Shore;  
But Proud of such Rich Fraight, began t' Aspire,  
As if they'd Quench the Elemental Fire;  
So that Philosophers since scarce agee,  
Whether the Earth, or Ocean highest be.  
The trembling Compass had forgot to stir,  
Instead o'th' North-Pole, pointing still at Her;  
At which the Pilot wonders, till he spies  
Two North-Poles Culminant at once, Her Eyes.  
The Jolly Seamen, when she Breathed, thought  
The Precious Amber 'bout their Ship did Float.  
And if at all sweet Zephyrus did stir,  
'Twas not to Blow, But suck fresh Breath from Her:   

But see! Fair Albion's Rocks do yonder stand,  
And Neptune must Resign Her to the Land;  
Who vexed to part so with the Prize he bore,  
With sullen Murmurs, chides the happier Shore;  
Till that with Roaring Cannons loes affright  
Him back, and makes him quit the Glorious Sight:  
Mean time our Nobles Crowd t' Admire her Charms,  
Whilst the Brave Duke Receives Her in His Arms;  
And Heaven's Ambassador prepared stands  
In Sacred Ties, to Link their Amorous hands.  
Henceforth no more, They Night or glaring Noon  
Shall know, not Measure Hours by Sun or Moon.  
But Kisses as they oft repeated flow,  
Shall score Minutes; and their Embraces show  
Our duller Age, how all the Flowers pass,  
Without the Help of Time's Wormeaten Glass.  

Astrologers shall by their Motion-make  
The Year, and from their kind Conjunctions take  
Rules to Compose Love a New-Almanack.   
But to describe their Pleasures, is as far  
Above our Reach, as their Just Praises are.  

To Fathom either Ocean, we Despair,  
And only dare Address to Heaven a Prayer,  
With Zealous Wishes for this Glorious Pair.    

May Blessings Rich and Fragrant Crown their Heads,  
As the mild Heaven on blushing Roses sheds;  
Fresh as the Hours, may all their Pleasures be,  
Healthful and Lasting as Eternity.  
Soft as Themselves, run their whole Lives, and Clear  
As their unflat'ring Glass, or what Shines there;  
Smooth as heavens Face in Spring, and Bright as She  
When dazzling, without Mask or Tiffany.  
With no one Jar, may their Calm thoughts  meet,  
But Peace as Silent as Time's Wooly Feet.  
Like the days Warmth, may all their Comforts be  
Vntoiled for, and ever Serene as He;  
Yet Free and Full, as is that Golden Sheaf  
Of Sunbeams, Gild every drooping Leaf;  
When Tyrant Heat of the Midday Expires,  
And his descending Steeds Breath milder Fires.  
And as those Parcell'd-Glories, Sol doth shed,  
Are the fair Issue of his flaming Head;  
Which ne'er so Scattered, or Remote, are known  
By th' Heat and Native Lustre for his own:  
So may each happy Branch of theirs we see,  
Their Lively Copies, and our Wonders be.  
And when no more on Earth they shall remain,  
But are Invited Home, to Heaven again;  
Then may the Glories of their Virtuous Flames,  
Live in those Heirs of their Illustrious Names;  
And teach th' obliged World's, this Mystery,  
To enjoy Themselves in Their Posterity.   

So They to both World's, shall Rich Presents bring,  
And gathered up to Heaven, leave here a Spring.   
FINIS.