Juftice exerce, with mercy and confcience,
And let no fmall beast suffer fkaith or fcorns
Of greater beafts, that been of more puissance;
Do law alike to Apes and Unicorns,
And let no Bugle with his boufteous horns
Oppress 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 greatnefs mitigates.
Then crowned fhe the Eagle King of fowls;
And sharp as darts of steel she made his pens,
And bade him be as just 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 she all flow'rs grew
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 such price,
As herb of virtue and of odour sweet;
And let no nettle vile, and full of vice,
Her fellow with the goodly Flow'r-de-lyce;
Nor let no wild weed, full of churlishness,
Compare her to the Lilly's nobleness.
XXI.
Nor hold none other flow'r in fuch dainty
As the fresh ROSE, of colour red and white;
For if thou doft, hurt is thine honesty,
Confidering that no flow'r is fo perfyte,
So full of pleafaunce, virtue, and delight;
So full of blissful angelic beauty,
Imperial birth, honour, and dignity.
XXII.
Then to the ROSE she 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 richest gems be crown'd.
For o'er the laif thy beauty is renown'd.
A costly crown with ftones clarified bright,
This comely Queen did in her head inclose,
While all the land illumined of light;
Wherefore methought, the flow'rs did all rejoyce,
Crying at once, Hail to the fragrant ROSE!
Hail Emprefs of the herbs! fresh Queen of flow'rs!
To thee be glore and honour at all hours.
Then all the birds they fang with voice on height,
Whose mirthful found was marvellous to hear:
The Mavys fang, Hail ROSE moft rich and right,
That does upflourish under Phebus' fphere,
Hail plant of youth, hail prince's daughter dear,
Hail bloffom breaking out of blood royal,
Whofe precious virtue is imperial.
XXV.
The Merle she fang, Hail ROSE of moft delight,
Hail of all flow'rs the sweet and fov'raign Queen:
The Lark fhe fang, hail ROSE both red and white,
Most pleasant flow'r of mighty colours * twain:
Nightingals fang, hail Nature's 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 person of Queen MARGARET.
The common voice uprofe of warblers small,
Upon this wife, "O bleffed be the hour
"That thou waft chose to be our principal,
"Welcome to be our Princess crown'd with pow'r,
“Our pearl, our pleasance, and our paramour,
"Our peace, our play, our plain felicity:
"Chrift thee conserve 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 subject chose
To fing the royal THISTLE and the ROSE.
Blivion wraps not in her filent shade
All human labours. Virtue blooms a flower, That Time's rough hand shall never violate. Still CAROLINE shall live in faithful verse, Sweet nurse of Memory, and in the voice Of grateful Britain. These shall testify How well her calm impartial rule fupplied 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 shades thy spacious walks,
Delightful Richmond, and the terrafs rais'd
Of regal grandeur, whence the eye discerns
Fair Thames with copious waters winding flow
Midft paftures, spreading herds, and villages
Of aspect neat, and villas wrapt in shades :
air fcene of chearful peace! The lovely fight
Frequent she view'd, and bless'd the honour'd reign
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