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To Her ROYAL HIGHNESS the PRINCESS of WALES, With the Tragedy of CATO. Nov. 1714.

1 THE Muse that oft, with sacred Raptures fired,
2 Has gen'rous Thoughts of Liberty inspired,
3 And, boldly rising for Britannia's Laws,
4 Engaged great Cato in her Country's Cause,
5 On You submissive waits, with Hopes assured,
6 By whom the mighty Blessing stands secured,
7 And all the Glories, that our Age adorn,
8 Are promis'd to a People yet unborn.
9 No longer shall the widow'd Land bemoan
10 A broken Lineage, and a doubtful Throne;
11 But boast her Royal Progeny's Increase,
12 And count the Pledges of her future Peace.
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13 O Born to strengthen and to grace our Isle!
14 While You, fair PRINCESS, in your Off-spring smile
15 Supplying Charms to the succeeding Age,
16 Each Heav'nly Daughter's Triumphs we presage;
17 Already see th' Illustrious Youths complain,
18 And pity Monarchs doom'd to sigh in vain.
19 Thou too, the Darling of our fond Desires,
20 Whom Albion, opening wide her Arms, requires,
21 With manly Valour and attractive Air
22 Shalt quell the Fierce, and captivate the Fair,
23 O England's younger Hope! in whom conspire
24 The Mother's Sweetness, and the Father's Fire!
25 For Thee perhaps, ev'n Now, of Kingly Race
26 Some dawning Beauty bloom's in ev'ry Grace,
27 Some CAROLINA, to Heav'n's Dictates true,
28 Who, while the Scepter'd Rivals vainly sue,
29 Thy inborn Worth with conscious Eyes shall see,
30 And slight th' Imperial Diadem for Thee.
31 Pleas'd with the Prospect of successive Reigns,
32 The tuneful Tribe no more in daring Strains
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33 Shall vindicate, with pious Fears opprest,
34 Endanger'd Rights, and Liberty Distrest:
35 To milder Sounds each Muse shall tune the Lyre,
36 And Gratitude, and Faith to Kings inspire,
37 And Filial Love; bid impious Discord cease,
38 And sooth the madding Factions into Peace;
39 Or rise Ambitious in more lofty Lays,
40 And teach the Nation their new Monarch's Praise,
41 Describe his awful Look, and Godlike Mind,
42 And Caesar's Pow'r with Cato's Vertue join'd.
43 Mean-while, Bright PRINCESS, who, with graceful Ease
44 And native Majesty, are form'd to please,
45 Behold those Arts with a propitious Eye,
46 That suppliant to their great Protectress fly!
47 Then shall they Triumph, and the British Stage
48 Improve her Manners, and refine her Rage,
49 More noble Characters expose to view,
50 And draw her finisht Heroines from You.
51 Nor You the kind Indulgence will refuse,
52 Skill'd in the Labours of the deathless Muse:
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53 The deathless Muse with undiminisht Rays
54 Through distant Times the lovely Dame conveys.
55 To GLORIANA Waller's Harp was strung;
56 The Queen still shines, because the Poet sung.
57 Ev'n all those Graces, in your Frame combin'd,
58 The common Fate of Mortal Charms may find;
59 (Content Our short-liv'd Praises to engage,
60 The Joy and Wonder of a Single Age,)
61 Unless some Poet in a lasting Song
62 To late Posterity their Fame prolong,
63 Instruct our Sons the radiant Form to prize,
64 And see Your Beauty with their Fathers' Eyes.

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Title (in Source Edition): To Her ROYAL HIGHNESS the PRINCESS of WALES, With the Tragedy of CATO. Nov. 1714.
Themes: monarchy (heads of state); patriotism; glory of the British nation
Genres: heroic couplet; dedication; panegyric; address

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Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719. To her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, with the tragedy of Cato. Nov. 1714. To Sir Godfrey Kneller, on his picture of the King. London: printed for J. Tonson, 1716 [1715], pp. 1-4. [2],9,[1]p. ; 2⁰. (ESTC T51118; Foxon A41-A42; OTA K046707.000) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library, M 6.6(7) Art.)

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