To the QUEEN's most Excellent MAJESTY. Lady Mary Chudleigh Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T97275 Chudleigh, Mary Lee, 1656-1710. Poems on several occasions. Together with the Song of the three children paraphras'd. By the Lady Chudleigh. London Printed by W.B. for Bernard Lintott at the Middle Temple Gate in Fleetstreet 1703 pp. 41-45. [16],125,[17],73,[1]p.; 8⁰.

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To the QUEEN's most Excellent MAJESTY . 1. MADAM , PErmit me at Your Royal Feet to lay This humble Off'ring of a trembling Muse ; Permit me there to pay This Tribute to transcendent Merit due ; To that transcendent Merit which conspicuous is in You . Bold is th' Address , and the Presumption high ! But she all meaner Objects does refuse , To this vast height will fly , And hopes Your Goodness will th' ambitious Flight excuse . I strove a while her Ardor to conceal , Unseen it burnt within my Breast ; But now impetuous grows , and will it self reveal ; 'Tis much too strong to be supprest . What was at first but Warmth , now to a Flame do's rise , On you she gazes with admiring Eyes , And ev'ry lower Object does despise : Pardon her Transports , since from Zeal they spring , And give her Leave of You to sing ; Of You , the noblest Theme that she can chuse , Of You , who're with Ten thousand Graces fraught , Of You , who far exceed the widest Bounds of Thought : In whom as to their Centre Lines are drawn , All those bright Qualities in one combine , Which did till now with scatter'd Glory shine ; Appear'd till now but in their Dawn : You're the Meridian Splendor of Your Line ; And on Your Sex entail a lasting Fame ; We shall be ever proud of Your illustrious Name . 2. Long may You reign , long fill the British Throne , And make the haughty Gallick Foe our English Valor own : Assert the Rights of Your Imperial Crown , And vie with ancient Heroes for Renown : Tread in his Steps whom Fate has snatch'd away , Like him the Terror of Your Arms display ; But longer , longer much Your happy Subjects sway , His mighty Acts cou'd not the Victor save , Those Conquests he had gain'd Cou'd not preserve his Life : Death to his vast Designs a Period gave , Sent him amidst his Triumphs to the Grave : For You he fought , for You he Wreaths obtain'd , For You he strove to humble France : For You has been the Toil , for You the Strife , For You the Battels he has won , The wondrous things which he has done : To him there nothing now remains , But empty Fame , that mean Reward for all his Pains . Heav'n brought him here Your Grandeur to advance , That was the kind Design of Fate , And took him hence when he had aggrandiz'd Your State . To You he all his Trophies yields , To You the dusty Honours of the bloody Fields : He at Your Feet lays all his Lawrels down . And adds his great Atchievements to the Glories of Your Crown . 3. If Poets may to Prophesie pretend , If they're allow'd to pry , Into the hidden Secrets of Futurity , They dare presage , You will Your Pow'r extend , And spite of Salic Laws , the Gallick Throne ascend : For You that noble Task's assign'd , 'Tis You are born Mankind to free , From arbitrary Sway , and hateful Tyranny : You , none but You , are for that Work design'd ; We no where cou'd a fitter Champion find : Go on great Heroin , and exalt Your Name , Go fearless on in the bright Tracks of Fame : When Beauty leads , and Virtue shows the Way , The Men will soon with joyful hast obey , None then will shew a greater Zeal than they : They for Your Service with a noble Pride Will all Your Enemies defie , Will all their Vain Efforts deride , And strive who first for You shall die ; Who first th' ambition'd Honour have , Who first lie down in the contested Grave . 4. Where You reside , may Pleasures still abound , May blooming Joys disperse themselves around , And may there nothing there but soft Delights be found : Still may Your Subjects make Your Bliss their Care , Contending Parties in Your Cause unite : No more within our British Sphere May threatning Clouds appear , Or deafning Storms affright , But all be calm , and all be bright ; Bright as those Virtues which adorn Your Mind , Those Virtues , which we no where else can in Perfection find , May Heav'n indulgent to Your Wishes prove , And make You still chief Object of its Love : Bless You with all the Favours it can give , And let You in a num'rous Off-spring live ; An Off-spring worthy of Your Princely Line , Great as Your Merit , like Your self Divine . 5. My pious Pray'rs have quick Acceptance found , Propitious Omens Heaven is pleas'd to send , Pleas'd Nature does this glorious Change approve ; On You she seems t'attend Commission'd from Above : Each Hour of Your auspicious Reign , Has been with wondrous Blessings crown'd ; The Sun restores his Heat again , Again restores reviving Rays , Again we're blest with radiant Days : No noxious Vapors now dare rise , No Streams of Earth pollute the Skies , Back to their gloomy Source each darkning Atom flies : A balmy Swetness fills the Air , Health and Pleasure revel there ; The Flow'rs rise beauteous from the Ground , And spread their fragrant Odors round ; The Trees prepare Their verdant Crowns to wear ; Amidst their Boughs soft Zephyrs play : And in low whisp'ring Murmurs their glad Homage pay : The warbling Birds resound Your Praise , And welcom You with cheerful Lays : Joy does in every Face appear , In ev'ry Face is seen to smile ; A Joy till now to us unknown , A Joy which You cou'd give alone ; You to Your Subjects are more dear , To us the happy Natives of this Isle , Than Life , and all the Pleasures we possess below , All , all the gay Delights Your Albion can bestow , Which rich in You , and Your immortal Fame , The Title now of Fortunate may claim , And justly be allow'd to glory in so great a Name .