OF THE LADY MARY, PRINCESS OF ORANGE.[1]
Reading edition
OF THE LADY MARY, PRINCESS OF ORANGE.[1]
1 As once the lion honey gave, Out of the strong such sweetness came; A royal hero, no less brave, Produced this sweet, this lovely dame.
2 To her the prince, that did oppose Such mighty armies in the field, And Holland from prevailing foes Could so well free, himself does yield.
3 Not Belgia's fleet (his high command) Which triumphs where the sun does rise, Nor all the force he leads by land, Could guard him from her conqu'ring eyes.
4 Orange, with youth, experience has; In action young, in council old; Orange is, what Augustus was, Brave, wary, provident, and bold.
5 On that fair tree which bears his name, Blossoms and fruit at once are found; In him we all admire the same, His flow'ry youth with wisdom crown'd!
6 Empire and freedom reconciled In Holland are by great Nassau; Like those he sprung from, just and mild, To willing people he gives law.
7 Thrice happy pair! so near allied In royal blood, and virtue too! Now love has you together tied, May none this triple knot undo!
8 The church shall be the happy place Where streams, which from the same source run, Though divers lands a while they grace, Unite again, and are made one.
9 A thousand thanks the nation owes To him that does protect us all; For while he thus his niece bestows, About our isle he builds a wall;
10 A wall! like that which Athens had, By th'oracle's advice, of wood; Had theirs been such as Charles has made, That mighty state till now had stood.
[1] 'Princess of Orange': The Princess Mary was married to the Prince of Orange at St. James's, in November 1677.