Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A CHAINE OF PEARLE: THE FOURTH PEARLE. TEMPERANCE, by DIANA PRIMROSE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A CHAINE OF PEARLE: THE FOURTH PEARLE. TEMPERANCE, by                    
First Line: The golden bridle of bellerophon
Last Line: In sacred concord, and sweete symphonie!
Subject(s): Love; Passion; Pearls; Temperance; Prohibition


The Golden Bridle of Bellerophon
Is Temperance, by which our Passion,
And Appetite we conquer and subdue
To Reasons Regiment: else may we rue
Our yeelding to Mens Syren-blandishments,
Which are attended with so foule Events.
This Pearle in Her was so conspicuous,
As that the King Her Brother still did use
To stile Her His sweete Sister Temperance;
By which Her much-admir'd Selfe-governance,
Her Passions still Shee checkt, and still Shee made
The World astonisht, that so undismaid
Shee did with equall Tenor still proceede
In one faire course, not shaken as a reed:
But built upon the Rocke of Temperance:
Not daz'd with feare, not maz'd with any Chance;
Not with (sic) vaine Hope (as with an emptie Spoone)
Fed or allur'd to cast beyond the Moone:
Not with rash Anger to precipitate,
Not fond to love, nor too too prone to hate:
Not charm'd with Parasites, or Syren Songs,
Whose hearts are poison'd, though their sugred Tongues
Sweare, vow, and promise all Fidelity,
When they are bruing deepest Villany.
Not led to vaine or too profuse Expence,
Pretending thereby State Magnificence:
Not spending on these momentany pleasures
Her precious Time: but deeming her best Treasures
Her Subjects Love, which Shee so well preserv'd,
By sweete and milde Deameanour, as it serv'd
To guard Her surer, then an Armie Royall;
So true their Loves were to Her, and so Loyall:
O Golden Age! O blest and happie Yeares!
O Musicke sweeter then that of the Spheares!
When Prince and people mutually agree
In sacred Concord, and sweete Symphonie!





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