Justice exerce, with mercy and conscience,
And let no fmall beast fuffer fkaith or fcorns
Of greater beafts, that been of more puiffance;
Do law alike to Apes and Unicorns,
And let no Bugle with his boufteous horns
Opprefs the meek plough Ox, for all his pride,
But in the yoke go quietly him befide.
When this was faid, with noise and found of joy,
All kind of Quadrupeds in their degree,
At once cry'd LAUD, and then VIVE LE ROY;
Then at his feet fell with humility;
To him they all paid homage and fealty;
And he did them receive with princely laits,
Whofe noble ire his greatness mitigates.
Then crowned fhe the Eagle King of fowls; And sharp as darts of steel she made his pens, And bade him be as juft to Whawps and Owls, As unto Peacocks, Papingoes, or Cranes,
And make one law for Wicht Fowls, and for Wrens, And let no fowl of rapine do affray,
Nor birds devour, but his own proper prey.
Then called fhe all flowers grew in the field,
Describing all their fashions and effeirs,
Upon the awful THISTLE fhe beheld.
And faw him guarded with a bush of spears,
Confidering him fo able for the wars,
A radiant crown of rubies fhe him gave,
And faid, in field go forth, and fend the laif.
XX.
And fince thou art a King, be thou discreet,
Herb without value hold not of fuch price,
As herb of virtue and of odour sweet;
And let no nettle vile, and full of vice,
Her fellow with the goodly Flower-de lyce ;
Nor let no wild weed full of churlishness,
Compare her to the Lilly's nobleness.
Nor hold none other flower in such dainty
As the freth ROSE, of colour red and white;
For if thou doft, hurt is thine honesty,
Confidering that no flower is fo perfyte,
So full of pleafaunce, virtue and delight;
So full of blissful angelic beauty,
Imperial birth, honour and dignity.
Then to the ROSE fhe did her visage turn,
And faid, O lufty daughter moft benign,
Above the Lilly thou art illuftrious born,
From royal lineage rifing fresh and young,
But any spot, or macul doing sprung;
Come bloom of joy, with richeft gems be crown'd,
For o'er the laif thy beauty is renown'd.
A coftly crown with ftones clarified bright,
This comely Queen did in her head inclose,
While all the land illumined of light;
Wherefore methought, the flowers did all rejoyce,
Crying at once, Hail to the fragrant ROSE!
Hail Empress of the herbs! fresh Queen of flowers!
To thee be glore and honour at all hours.
Then all the birds they fang with voice on height,
Whofe mirthful found was marvellous to hear:
The Mavys fang, Hail ROSE moft rich and right,
That does upflourish under Phebus' sphere,
Hail plant of youth, hail Prince's daughter dear,
Hail bloffom breaking out of blood royal,
Whofe precious virtue is imperial.
The Merle she fang, Hail ROSE of most delight,
Hail of all flowers the fweet and fovereign Queen:
The lark fhe fang, hail ROSE both red and white,
Most pleasant flower of mighty colours twain:
Nightingals fang, hail Natures fuffragan,
In beauty, nurture, and each nobleness,
In rich array, renown, and gentleness.
* Alluding to the Houfes of YORK and LANCASTER, which were distinguished by the wHITE and RED ROSE, and united in the perfon of Queen MARGARET.
The common voice uprofe of warblers fmall,
Upon this wife," O bleffed be the hour
"That thou waft chose to be our principal,
"Welcome to be our Princefs crown'd with pow'r,
* Our pearl, our pleasance, and our paramour,
"Our peace, our play, our plain felicity:
"Chrift thee conferve from all adverfity."
XXVII.
Then all the concert fang with such a shout,
That I anon awaken'd where I lay,
And with a braid I turned me about
To fee this court, but all were gone away;
Then up I lean'd me, halflings in affray,
Call'd to my Muse, and for my fubject chofe
To fing the royal THISTLE and the ROSE.
Oblivion wraps not in her filent shade
All human labours. Virtue bloom's a flower, That Time's rough hand fhall never violate. Still CAROLINE fhall live in faithful verfe, Sweet nurfe of Memory, and in the voice Of grateful Britain. These fhall testify How well her calm impartial rule supplied A monarch's abfence; these commemorate Her foul contemplative of peaceful Truth And nature, mindful midst the pomp of Courts Of wife retirement, and the filent grove.
She stretch'd thro' length'ning fhades thy fpa
Delightful Richmond, and the terrass rais'd
Of regal grandeur, whence the eye discerns
Fair Thames with copious waters winding flow
Midft paftures, fpreading herds, and villages
Of aspect neat, and villas wrapt in shades:
Fair scene of chearful peace! the lovely fight
Frequent fhe view'd, and bless'd the honour'd reign
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