Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VERSES TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK, by JOHN DRYDEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VERSES TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Madam, when for our sakes your hero you resigned
Last Line: And round him the pleas'd audience clap their wings.
Subject(s): Great Britain - Dutch War (1664-1667); Hyde, Anne. Duchess Of York (1637-1671); James Ii, King Of Scotland (1430-1460)


MADAM,
WHEN for our sakes your Heroe you resign'd
To swelling Seas and every faithless wind;
When you releas'd his Courage and set free
A Valour fatal to the Enemy,
You lodg'd your Countries cares within your breast,
(The mansion where soft love should only rest:)
And e're our Foes abroad were overcome,
The noblest conquest you had gain'd at home.
Ah, what concerns did both your Souls divide!
Your Honour gave uswhat your Love deni'd:
And 'twas for him much easier to subdue 11
Those Foes he fought with, than to part from you.
That glorious day, which two such Navies saw
As each, unmatch'd, might to the world give Law,
Neptune, yet doubtful whom he should obey,
Held to them both the Trident of the Sea:
The Winds were hush'd, the Waves in ranks were cast,
As awfully as when God's People past:
Those, yet uncertain on whose Sails to blow,
These, where the wealth of Nations ought to flow.
Then with the Duke your Highness rul'd the day:
While all the Brave did his Command obey,
The Fair and Pious under you did pray.
How pow'rful are chast Vows! the Wind and Tyde
You brib'd to combat on the English side.
Thus to your much loved Lord you did convey
An unknown succour, sent the nearest way.
New vigour to his wearied arms you brought
(So Moses was upheld while Israel fought.)
While, from afar, we heard the Cannon play,
Like distant Thunder on a shiny day.
For absent Friends we were asham'd to fear,
When we consider'd what you ventur'd there.
Ships, Men and Arms our Country might restore,
But such a Leader could supply no more.
With generous thoughts of Conquest he did burn,
Yet fought not more to vanquish than return.
Fortune and Victory he did persue
To bring them as his Slaves, to wait on you:
Thus Beauty ravish'd the rewards of Fame
And the Fair triumph'd when the Brave o'recame.
Then, as you meant to spread another way
By Land your Conquests far as his by Sea,
Leaving our Southern Clime, you march'd along
The stubborn North, ten thousand Cupid's strong.
Like Commons the Nobility resort,
In crowding heaps, to fill your moving Court:
To welcome your approach the Vulgar run,
Like some new Envoy from the distant Sun,
And Country Beauties by their Lovers go, 50
Blessing themselves, and wondring at the show.
So, when the New-born Phoenix first is seen,
Her feather'd Subjects all adore their Queen,
And, while She makes her Progress through the East,
From every Grove her numerous Train's increast:
Each Poet of the air her Glory sings,
And round him the pleas'd Audience clap their Wings.





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