Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE QUEEN AT OXFORD, by HENRY KING (1592-1669)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO THE QUEEN AT OXFORD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Great lady! That thus, quite against our use
Last Line: Whose softest accents will out-tongue my verse.
Subject(s): Henrietta Maria, Queen Of England


GREAT Lady! that thus, quite against our use,
We speak your welcome by an English Muse,
And in a vulgar tongue our zeals contrive,
Is to confess your large prerogative,
Who have the pow'rful freedom to dispense
With our strict Rules, or Custom's difference.

'Tis fit, when such a Star deigns to appear,
And shine within the academic sphere,
That ev'ry college, grac'd by your resort,
Should only speak the language of your Court;
As if Apollo's learned quire, but You,
No other Queen of the Ascendent knew.

Let those that list invoke the Delphian name,
To light their verse, and quench their doting flame;
In Helicon it were high treason now,
Did any to a feign'd Minerva bow;
When You are present, whose chaste virtues stain
The vaunted glories of her maiden brain.

I would not flatter. May that diet feed
Deform'd and vicious souls; they only need
Such physic, who, grown sick of their decays,
Are only cur'd with surfeits of false praise;
Like those, who, fall'n from youth or beauty's grace,
Lay colours on, which more belie the face.

Be You still what You are; a glorious theme
For Truth to crown. So when that diadem
Which circles Your fair brow drops off, and time
Shall lift You to that pitch our prayers climb;
Posterity will plait a nobler wreath,
To crown Your fame and memory in death.
This is sad truth and plain, which I might fear
Would scarce prove welcome to a Prince's ear;
And hardly may you think that writer wise,
Who preaches there where he should poetize;
Yet where so rich a bank of goodness is,
Triumphs and Feasts admit such thoughts as this,
Nor will your virtue from her client turn,
Although he bring his tribute in an urn.

Enough of this: who knows not when to end
Needs must, by tedious diligence, offend.
'Tis not a poet's office to advance
The precious value of allegiance.
And least of all the rest do I affect
To word my duty in this dialect.

My service lies a better way, whose tone
Is spirited by full devotion.
Thus, whilst I mention You, Your Royal Mate,
And Those which your blest line perpetuate,
I shall such votes of happiness rehearse,
Whose softest accents will out-tongue my verse.





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