| A song yt was perform’d to Prince George upon his marriage wth ye Lady Ann
From hardy climes, and dangerous toils of war,
Where you for valour unexampl’d are,
Where you on honour look’d when you were young,
As bold as eagles gaze upon the sun,
Hail! Welcome, Prince, to our benigner Isle,
Where stars denouncing gentler battles smile
On your arrival, which portend you’ll prove
As happy as victorious in your love.
As Fame, great Sir, before you ran,
And told her story ere you came,
But falter’d as she set it forth
(For who can reach immortal worth?),
So doubtless back again she flew
To paint the beauties now you view,
But in the draft as ill express’d
The wonders you have since possess’d.
For since Heav’n pleas’d th’almighty work to take,
And fram’d the Two did the first wedding make,
Qe sing the Pair (by that great pattern taught)
Nature has nearest that perfection wrought.
Wake, then, my Muse! wake, instruments and voice,
To celebrate the joys of such a choice,
Whose loves unsullied meet with such delight
As our grand Parents fir’d at the first sight.
The sparrow and the gentle dove
(Sacrifices fit for love)
Roses sweet and myrtle bring
Beauties of the blooming spring
Into sacred garlands twine
To offer up to Venus’ shrine,
That the pleasures they possess,
May still increase and still be fresh,
And by a more exalted love
Each happy hour improve.
So all the boons indulgent Heav’n design’d
To show’r on those whom holy hands have join’d,
Illustrious Pair, shall on your heads be shed,
And easy make your consecrated bed,
Where mutual passions shall preserve desires
As sacred as the Vestals kept their firse.
Hence without scheme or figure to descry,
Events to come from your nativity
Do we foretell: as ev’ry king that reigns
Through Europe shares the blood that fills your veins,
So shall the race from your great loins to come
Prove future kings and queens of Christendom.
|