Henry King

Here you will find the Poem To the Queen at Oxford of poet Henry King

To the Queen at Oxford

Great Lady! That thus quite against our use, 
We speak your welcome by an English Muse, 
And in a vulgar tongue our zeales contrive, 
Is to confess your large prerogative, 
Who have the pow'rful freedom to dispense 
With our strict Rules, or Customes difference. 
Tis fit when such a Star deigns to appeare 
And shine within the Academick Spheare, 
That ev'ry Colledge grac't by your resort, 
Should onely speak the language of your Court; 
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 chast vertues stain 
The vaunted glories of her Maiden brain. 
I would not flatter. May that dyet feed 
Deform'd and vicious soules: they onely need 
Such physick, who grown sick of their decayes, 
Are onely cur'd with surfets of false praise; 
Like those, who fall'n from Youth or Beauties grace, 
Lay colours on which more bely the face. 
Be You still what You are; a glorious Theme 
For Truth to crown. So when that Diademe 
Which circles Your fair brow drops off, and time 
Shall lift You to that pitch our prayers climbe; 
Posterity will plat a nobler wreath, 
To crown Your fame and memory in death. 
This is sad truth and plain, which I might fear 
Would scarce prove welcome to a Princes 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 vertue from her Client turn, 
Although he bring his tribute in an urn. 
Enough of this: who knowes not when to end 
Needs must by tedious diligence offend. 
'Tis not a Poets 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 whil'st I mention You, Your Royal Mate, 
And Those which your blest line perpetuate, 
I shall such votes of happiness reherse, 
Whose softest accents will out-tongue my verse.