POEM S.

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EARL OF PETERBOROUGH, On bis happy Accomplishment of the Marriage between bis Royal Highness and the Princess Mary d'Efte, of Modena. Written feveral years after, in imitation of the Style of Mr. Waller.

IS Juno barren, in unfruitful joys,

H'

Our British Jove his nuptial hours employs: So Fate ordains, that all our hopes may be, And all our profpect, gallant York, in thee.

By the fame with afpiring Queens are led,
Each languishing to mount his royal bed;
His youth, his wifdom, and his early fame
Create in every breast a rival flame :
Remoteft Kings fit trembling on their thrones,
As if no distance could fecure their crowns;
Fearing his valour, wifely they contend
To bribe with beauty fo renown'd a friend;
Beauty the price, there need no other arts,
Love is the fureft bait for heroes hearts :
Nor can the Fair conceal as high concern,
To fee the Prince, for whom, unfeen, they burn.
Brave York, attending to the general voice,
At length refolves to make the wish'd-for choice,
To noble Mordaunt, generous ar juft,
Of his great heart, he gives the facred trust :
"Thy choice, faid he, fhall well direct that heart,
"Where thou, my best belov'd, hast such a part,
"In council oft, and oft in battle try'd,
"Betwixt thy mafter, and the world decide."

The chofen Mercury prepares t' obey
This high command. Gently ye winds convey
And with aufpicious gales his fafety wait,
On whom depend Great Britain's hopes and fate.
So Jafon with his Argonauts, from Greece
To Cholcos fail'd, to feek the Golden Fleece.
As when the Goddeffes came down of old
On Ida's hill, fo many ages told,

With gifts their young Dardanian Judge they try'd,
And each bade high to win him to her fide;
So tempt they him, and emulously vie
To bribe a voice that empires would not buy;
With balls and banquets, his pleas'd fenfe they bait,
And Queens and Kings upon his pleasures wait.

Th' impartial Judge furveys with vaft delight
All that the fun furrounds of fair and bright,
Then, ftrictly juft, he with adoring eyes,
To radiant Efte gives the royal prize.

VOL. V.

Of antique stock her high defcent fhe brings,
Born to renew the race of Britain's Kings;
Who could deferve, like her, in whom we fee
United, all that Paris found in three.
O equal Pair! when both were fet above
All other merit, but each other's love.

Welcome, bright Princess, to Great Britain's fhore,
As Berecynthia to high Heaven, who bore
That fhining race of Goddeffes and Gods
That fill'd the fkies, and rul'd the bleft abodes:
From thee, my mufe expects as noble Themes,
Another Mars and Jove, another James;
Our future hopes, all from thy womb arife;
Our prefent joy and safety, from your eyes,
Thofe charming eyes, which fhine to reconcile
To harmony and peace, our stubborn Isle.
On brazen Memnon, Pharbus cafts a ray,
And the tough metal, fo falutes the day.

The British Dame, fam'd for refiftlefs grace,
Contends not now, but for the fecond place,
Our love fufpended, we neglect the fair
For whom we burn'd, to gaze adoring here.
So fang the fyrens with enchanting found,
Enticing all to liften and be drown'd;
Till Orpheus ravish'd in a nobler ftrain,
They ceas'd to fing, or, finging, charm'd in vain.
This bleft alliance, Peterborough, may
Th' indebted Nation bounteously repay;
Thy ftatues, for the Genius of our land,
With palm adorn'd, on every threshold stand.
-Utinam modo dicere poffem

Carmina digna Dea: Certe eft Dea carmine digna.