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ANNUS MIRABILIS: VERSES TO HER HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS ON THE MEMORABLE, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Madam, %when, for our sakes, your hero you resigned
Last Line: Edge himself to owe all things who is, %sir, %the most obedient and most %faithful of your servants,


TO HER HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK
Madam,
Our muse, who has so long amused her court,
With tuneful notes that might for fame transport,
Desires that she might with the same regards
Observe at distance your bright shining stars,
Which oft appear to grace your high commands,
Whose influence both o'er sea and land extends;
And though the North, with piercing cold and frost,
Confines our bodies, and our minds almost,
Our noble fleets have through the world displayed
The British flag, and Cæsar's tribute paid.
The Belgians, awed, their ancient bounds disclaim,
And from their fears derive a new-born flame;
Confess the ocean to be England's due,
And pay their homage to the crowns of two;
Who, like the sun, the distant stars inspire,
And, with benignant rays, give life and fire.
For you, great lady, have no need to court,
Or through the flattering glass of princes sport;
Nature and merit, in your face combined,
At once your birth and beauty have defined;
And Heaven has stamped on this illustrious pair
The graces that distinguish great and rare.
As on the Thames, when prodigal of pride,
Her towers reflected in the silver tide,
Sees the low boatman, with astonish'd eyes,
View the rich pageant as it passes by;
So while our wonder does your form behold,
We view the treasure, yet the casket hold.
And though the jealous fates our hopes oppose,
And with malignant aspect on us glows,
Yet shall your subjects' joy your grief control,
And raise to heaven the fervour of the soul;
Who, by such bright examples taught to live,
Shall still their loyalty to you improve;
Whose thoughts by love to noble actions led,
Shall make their prince both feared and honoured.
Your royal husband, whose successful arms
Preserve from foreign foes his people's charms,
And yet reserves himself a greater store,
To vanquish rebel passions in his power;
While, with his blood and toil, he does restrain
The surly North, and both the Belgians' main;
Allured by fate, he, first of princes, tries
With virtue, peace, and contemplation's joys;
And like the sun, his native planet's king,
Does with indifferent ray both shine and bring
To each ennobled soul he does inspire,
His bounteous warmth and his extensive fire.
So, madam, while our vows prevent our pray'rs,
May every year but show the former's cares;
And as the sun in twenty-eight retires,
He shows us more the greatness he acquires;
Though each succeeding year he brighter grows,
For you and yours we wish no other close.
May your high tribe increase in virtue too,
And none of them, O, may degenerate from you;
But to the utmost of perfection run,
And have their mother's graces, with her son.
From her who does your birth and fortune crown,
And at whose feet we humbly lay them down,
Expect no more than what our weak endeavours
Can for their patroness, though but feebly, offer.
The muses in some forward line advance,
And, pointing out the honourable chance,
Say, this new work to future ages shows,
The ancient splendour of Britannia's foes.
Or, if another subject they require,
They bid me strike the bright, the shining lyre,
And sing the wonders of the present year,
When, like a star, great Charles appeared,
From whose bright influence such a lustre came,
As in succession shed its glorious flame;
Aspiring to the heaven of just renown,
The world with triumph did his actions crown.
But, madam, as I search my feeble mind,
I find my pen unequal to the task assigned;
Yet to your grace this humble work I send,
Hoping your favour and your royal commend.




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