Great Lady! that thus, quite against our use, We speak your welcome by an English Muse, And in a vulgar tongue our zeals contrive, Is to confess your large prerogative, Who have the pow'rful freedom to dispense With our strict Rules, or Custom's difference. 'Tis fit, when such a Star deigns to appear, And shine within the academic sphere, That ev'ry college, grac'd by your resort, Should only speak the language of your Court; 10 As if Apollo's learned quire, but You, No other Queen of the Ascendent knew. Let those that list invoke the Delphian name, To light their verse, and quench their doting flame; In Helicon it were high treason now, Did any to a feign'd Minerva bow; When You are present, whose chaste virtues stain The vaunted glories of her maiden brain. I would not flatter. May that diet feed Deform'd and vicious souls; they only need 20 Such physic, who, grown sick of their decays, Are only cur'd with surfeits of false praise; Like those, who, fall'n from youth or beauty's grace, Lay colours on, which more belie the face. Be You still what You are; a glorious theme For Truth to crown. So when that diadem Which circles Your fair brow drops off, and time Shall lift You to that pitch our prayers climb; Posterity will plait a nobler wreath, To crown Your fame and memory in death. 30 This is sad truth and plain, which I might fear Would scarce prove welcome to a Prince's ear; And hardly may you think that writer wise, Who preaches there where he should poetize; Yet where so rich a bank of goodness is, Triumphs and Feasts admit such thoughts as this, Nor will your virtue from her client turn, Although he bring his tribute in an urn. Enough of this: who knows not when to end Needs must, by tedious diligence, offend. 40 Tis not a poet's office to advance The precious value of allegiance. And least of all the rest do I affect To word my duty in this dialect. My service lies a better way, whose tone Is spirited by full devotion. Thus, whilst I mention _You_, _Your Royal Mate_, And _Those_ which your blest line perpetuate, I shall such votes of happiness rehearse, Whose softest accents will out-tongue my verse. 50 [_To the Queen at Oxford._] This poem was omitted in Hannah's MS., and it is in no way clear to what visit it refers. The absence of any reference to politics shows that it cannot have been Henrietta's residence at Merton during the Rebellion.] [Line: 29 plait] Orig 'plat'.] _A Salutation of His Majesty's ship The Sovereign._