Now surely I shall reach the Clouds, For none besides such Vertue shrouds: Having scal'd this with holy Strains, Nought higher but the Heaven remains! No more I'll Praise on them bestow, Who to ill Deeds their Glories owe; Who build their _Babels_ of Renown, Upon the poor oppressed Crown, Whole Kingdoms do depopulate, To raise a Proud and short-Liv'd State: I prize no more such Frantick Might, Than his that did with Wind-Mills Fight: No, give me Prowess, that with Charms Of Grace and Goodness, not with Harms, Erects a Throne i'th' inward Parts, And Rules mens Wills, but with their Hearts; Who with Piety and Vertue thus Propitiates God, and Conquers us. O that now like _Araunah_ here, Altars of Praises I could rear, Suiting her worth, which might be seen Like a Queens Present, to a Queen! 'Alone she stands for Vertues Cause, When all decry, upholds her Laws: When to Banish her is the Strife, Keeps her unexil'd in her Life; Guarding her matchless Innocence From Storms of boldest Impudence; In spight of all the Scoffs and Rage, And Persecutions of the Age, Owns Vertues Altar, feeds the Flame, Adores her much-derided Name; While impiously her hands they tie, Loves her in her Captivity; Like _Perseus_ saves her, when she stands Expos'd to the _Leviathans_. So did bright Lamps once live in Urns, So Camphire in the water burns, So _Ætna's_ Flames do ne'er go out, Though Snows do freeze her head without.' How dares bold Vice unmasked walk, And like a Giant proudly stalk? When Vertue's so exalted seen, Arm'd and Triumphant in the Queen? How dares its Ulcerous Face appear, When Heavenly Beauty is so near? But so when God was close at hand, And the bright Cloud did threatning stand (In sight of _Israel_) on the Tent, They on in their Rebellion went. O that I once so happy were, To find a nearer Shelter there! Till then poor Dove, I wandering fly Between the Deluge and the Skie: Till then I Mourn, but do not sing, And oft shall plunge my wearied wing: If her bless'd hand vouchsafe the Grace, I'th'Ark with her to give a place, I safe from danger shall be found, When Vice and Folly others drown'd. A Pastoral Dialogue. _Dorinda._ _Sabæan_ Perfumes fragrant Roses bring, With all the Flowers that Paint the gaudy Spring: Scatter them all in young _Alexis_'s way, With all that's sweet and (like himself) that's Gay. _Alexis._ Immortal Laurels and as Lasting Praise, Crown the Divine _Dorinda_'s matchless Laies: May all Hearts stoop, where mine would gladly yield, Had not _Lycoris_ prepossest the Field.