FLOWERS Strovved by the MUSES, Against the coming of the most Illustrious Infanta of PORTUGAL Catharina Queen of ENGLAND.
[...].
—Tibi lilia plenis
Ecce ferunt Nymphae calathis—
By John Crouch Gent.
LONDON Printed for Francis Kirkman and Henry Marsh at the Princes Arms in Chancery Lane, 1662.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Henry Marquis of DORCHESTER, Earl of Kingston, Viscount Newark, And one of his MAJETIES most Honourable Privy Councel.
May it please your Lordship,
THe humble presenter of this Poem (once your Lordships I Domestick, had almost said your Favorit) is as well acquainted with your Lordships goodness, as your Lordship can be with his unworthiness; and therefore stands more in need of Merit then Incouragement: However his Subject (the greatest and best of Princes) will easily court your Lordship to the kindest Reception: Since his Majesties Royall Spouse is now become the care of the Priest, it is time She should appear the Ioy of the Poet; and have Her Canticles as well as Prayrrs. My Lord the Authors presumption in borrowing your name to adorn his Frontespiece, [Page]hach two honest and Honourable Designes (to be improv'd by your Lordships Favour) the one is an Ambition to proclaim his Alleigance by so great and glorious a Herald of all Honour, Vertue and Learning: by so Noble a Confessor of a Martyrd cause; which Your Wisdome and Courage maintained to its last and longest breathing. Oxford (that Loyal Sphear of clouded Majesty) may, without the use of Sophismes, vindicate your Lordshs. untainted Reputation; whose early surrender you so strenuously oppos'd. His other design (as innocent though not so honourable as the former) is, to make the world a witness (too corrupt to be a Judge) how much Duty and Service is owing to your Lordship, from
My Lord,
Your Lordships most humble Servant, JO. CROUCH.
Upon the approach of the most Illustrious Infanta of PORTUGAL, Queen of England
A Prologue to the following Poem.
AFter such Dire Scenes this Romantick Age
Acted in England, on her publick stage;
Vicisitudes the Sun nor Moon ere saw,
Moving without the Circle of their Law;
When faith rackt on the wheel, and scru'd too high,
Suspected sence, grew jealous of the Eye:
What can be strange? posterity may tell
Some little wonders, no new miracle.
Time with expanded wings, has things reveald,
Like the Sphears, glorious, but by clouds conceald;
The Spheares those plastick wheels, which Sages say,
Inform us, as the Potter forms his clay:
Rapt with whose motion, Ptolemys sharpest spies
Midst bright Intelligences lost their eyes,
Though 'assisted with auxiliary light
Of Sun, Moon, Starrs; inlightued into Night.
Dull Ignorance has still a Gazer been,
Of truths, not as Perplext, but not foreseen;
The People fear to be surpris'd with good,
Traduce all Acts by them not understood;
Which yet in wisdomes ballance poys'd, are found,
Full weight, and Fools Absurdities prov'd sound:
Could popular Pride make good its bold appeal,
Heaven nor the King should have their Privy Seal
Happy that man, who learnd in Natures Lawes,
Admires th'Effect because he knew the Cause!
But Kings sit in a higher Orbe, and so
Discover Stars, not seen by us below;
Act their cleer wills, and then a license give,
For curious Eyes, to use their Perspective.
The Poem.
A Match with Portugal? Good news but strange!
Beleive me tis a Royal New Exchange!
(We once (affaires so inauspicious stood)
Mingled in slaughters, now in kinder blood.
Heaven that pacifick Throne, serenely wise,
Makes two strange Nations strangely sympathize!
[Page 7] (One lately ravisht from the Eagles claws,)
(One later, from a Bears untoward Pawes.)
cromwel
Link not in League but Love, joyne Hearts and Hands;
Thames sylver streams, with Tagus golden sands.
East, West, North, South, (so opposite) may share
In tempers, mixe affections, though not Aire,
If in this vast bulk of the World there be
A Forme or Soul doubtless tis sympathy:
Hence conflicts kindness; ills compassion move,
Extreams dispute themselves into a Love:
This match, to prove great Digbys Secret good
Cur'd two States by the sympathy of blood.
Time before now has known the Brittish Sun,
Henry 2.
In converse with the Lusitanian Moon;
Our Prince in honor of the Forraign Mayd
Though Black himself, against the Moors sent aide.
Some Legends talke of Interests as neer
As those fam'd Duellers, York and Lancaster.
Crown-Controversies well espouse and Wed
Make best Convinctions in the Nuptial Bed.
Thy Catharina, Charles, approacheth nigh:
South Winds blow-warme, not from the Austrian Skie:
[Page 6] Fair Catharina, favorit of same,
whose vertue is her Nature and her name!
Purity.
Since Edwards Resormation first began
We he're had such a gratious Puritan!
From whose prest lips divinest Nectar flows
An aire of Spices with her motion goes:
Her eyes though black, so quick and piercing bright.
Sparkles like Stars through clouds, make darkness light:
But her best Excellencies, glorys, bless,
Like Heaven's, are rich invisibilitys:
He that hath eyes can reach a vertuous mind,
May there fair Catharin's Beauty find:
Shall there the greatness of her spirit see
Rais'd on a Columne of Humility.
When joys exalt the lusture of her Eye,
Her Soul descends as low as Heaven is high.
One that a glorious Cabinet views, may guess
By that first cost how rich the jewell is!
Joyn happy payr! your Ring is richly set,
But still the Diamond thanks the friendly Iet:
Mix your majestick Locks, those mystick bands
At home are amorous and abroad commands:
Black and yet lovely must not be denied,
Enamour'd Heaven courts a dark-featur'd Bride,
[Page 9] When th' Altars Coal in flames of Incense glow's
Ther's no such beauty in the fairest Rose.
Natures first Cabinet, wore this Royal Hue,
From whence (unlockt) a world of Beauties flew:
From whose rich Blackness sprang the Sun, Moon, Stars,
Fire, Aire, Earth, Sea, Espoused by their Jarrs.
Nor Nature, nor Apelles ever made
Sun shine, or Picture smile without a shade!
Beloved Black! whose never alterd dye,
Gathers the opticks and unites the Eye:
When glittering Colours in their weakness gay
Make sight by loose Emissions weak as they,
O may your likeness of complexions find
Similitude of Vertue, Temper, mind!
May your kind Hearts as close in union come
As nature, that admits no vacuum!
Or when you sever for short days, or nights,
Renew your Nuptials, meet with fresh Delights.
[Page 10] But can Kings fancy what they never saw?
Create Love, not by sympathy but law?
Not to transcend a Poets sphear, and tell
How nobler Objects are invisible;
Princes commence not Suits like common men,
Their leaden eyes must see and see agen;
Whose first congress, if it fall out by night,
No love, no faith, till the next day give light:
And then (poor amorous moles,) look themselves blind,
Meet not as Rationals, but like beasts, too kind:
So few once fir'd, are in their slames discreet,
Like wild sparks, to their own Extinction meet!
When Monarchs, like their Brother-sun dispence
Pure rayes, send Spirits for intelligence:
Court not the woman, but the Goddess Queen,
Who, like his Daphne must be ever, green:
Vend not their passions at a vulgar rate,
Distance is merit, in Amours keep slate:
[Page 11] Subject not Honor to their sostest will.
But though great Lovers, are great Princes still.
Pictures serve them, whose active fancy give
Spirit to paint, and make dead Colours live:
Can kiss those cheeks and lips, inspir'd by Art
T'express the silent language of the heart:
Gaze on two Starrs, till (fancy working high)
They twinkle; Time now to lay the Picture by.
No durty passion such a flame controuls.
Where two espouse not Bodies but chast Souls!
Angels ride post twixt such a payr as this,
Act their affaires, and expedite their bliss,
Temper the weak and strong, the fair and wise,
Lovers inspir'd, mou'd by impulse not eyes:
If business render Love more nicely kind,
Letters (that brightest imag'ry of the mind)
From heart to heart so swift intelligence brings
As if the inclosed Thoughts had lent them wings.
[Page 12] Heaven seals such matches! If all this be true,
Princes may Love without an interview.
Sit still ye floating Isles, y'ave long wheeld round,
Danc'd mazes long, centerd on aire not ground:
With stormes, and Earthquakes long bin rent and torne.
Yet toylings Turks have still the crescent worn:
When your half Moon grew big, began to swell,
Rebells turnd Lunaticks and madly fell.
Now Britaine's moon is full. Her total summe
Containes the fractions of all Christendome:
Let civil (but wise) Spain cease to be kind,
Englands Queen shall be treated not design'd;
Not all the Mynes of India should controul,
Or Bribe the judgement of a generous soule:
Resolve to conquer first with slighter pains,
ndias whole body, with its wealthy veins!
Blush, blush degenerous Princes, you that Mate
Not to concern your Honour but estat;
[Page 31] Conclude how little England is afraid,
Whose King has wood a persecuted Maid:
A Phaenix destin'd for the Eagles prey,
But by the care of Providence snacht away:
He, whom Heaven rescued with so strong a hand
Owed a Protection to some tottering Land:
An Act worthy a Martyrs sonne, to wed
As well his Ladys Sufferings as her bed!
Spain could not his Infanta thus advance,
To britains Monarch, and the King of France:
Fortune in this has hallowed her lost name,
By dealing Crowns to Merit and not fame!
Triumph great Heir of Portugal! To Thee
This marriage is beyond a victory:
Affinity with England, either ends
Thy warrs by Power, or makes thy foes thy friends:
Ride on brave Prince victorious, to maintain
Thy Portugal against usurping Spain;
Conquer thy pristin conqueror, the Moor
But few and fools, to Castile back return,
And let the Proverb prove the Coyners scorn,
This Match and their Recovery, declare
Spain wise! what fools the Portuguesses are!
See the grave Spaniard well advis'd inclines,
To save his Honour and his Silver Mines.
Thou first Restorer of thy self and Kings,
Whose sharper Policy prund the Eagles wings,
Sleep great Briganza! Let the proud Bird soare,
She may be blind, but thou disthrond no more.
Hast good Queen! England with impatience naites
Till Charles have Tangeers and possess the Straits.
FINIS.