GRATITUDE
Sung to the KING on His Birth-Day.
1672.
I.
When from his Throne the Persian God displaies,
Upon the Frozen World his welcom Rays,
And does, with his auspicious Heat, displace
The sad Effects of Winter’s cold Embrace;
The grateful Earth her kind Reliever greets
With all her Wealth, her Beauty, and her Sweets,
And does, each Night, his tedious absence mourn,
Laying her Glories up till his Return.
2.
The Watry Gods do, from their new-thaw’d Streams,
With moist’ning Vapours meet his thirsty Beams:
All things in Nature gladly seem to pay
A grateful Tribute, in their several way.
Then may Great CAESAR, whom just Heav’n by Birth
And Merit has Proclaim’d A God in Earth,
To whom his proudest Foe for Pity bows,
Pardon my Errors, and accept my Vows.
3.
Your Gracious Bounty was the Eastern Star
That led me to the depth of sad Despair.
May Heav’n each flying Hour your Wealth restore!
And may You Reign till Time it self’s no more!
Your Smiles enrich me, and are sweeter far,
Than Lovers think the Smiles of Beauty are;
Beauty, that pow’rful Queen of Gods and Men,
The sweetest Subject of the Thoughts, or Pen.
4.
May your enlarged Empire’s Bounds be known
But by the Center, and all-seeing Sun!
May each succeeding Minute swiftly bring
A thousand Blessings on its nimble Wing!
Beneath Your Feet may all your Foes attend!
May all Your Wishes in Fruition end!
May all Your Subjects in my Wishes joyn,
And serve You with more Pow’r, but Hearts like mine!
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