VERSES to the Author , In IMITATION of HORACE's ODE on PINDAR . By a DIVINE . Apply'd to the Marriage of his Highness the Prince of Orange with ANNE , Princess Royal of Great Britain . WHO hopes to rival MILTON's Flame , With waxen Pinions fondly flies ; His Fall will give the Sea a Name , While he attempts to reach the Skies . MILTON is like a Flood , whose Tide , Swell'd with tempestuous Deluge , roars ; Which from some lofty Mountain's Side Resistless foams , and knows no Shores . With sacred Laurels justly crown'd , Whether , in bold , unfetter'd Strains , His tow'ring Muse the common Bound , Superior to all Rhyme , disdains ; Whether the Realms of endless Day He fill with Wars , and rude Alarms ; Or set , in terrible Array , Seraphic Legions , clad in Arms . Aloft , with all their Forests , thrown See Hills , from their Foundations raz'd ! See Angels hurl'd with Vengeance down , When the MESSIAH's Standard blaz'd ! Or leads he to connubial Bow'rs The new-form'd Pair ? The teeming Ground Smiles with a Wilderness of Flow'rs , Diffusing Gales of Fragrance round . Lo ! ADAM , with majestic Mien , For Empire and Command design'd ! Consummate Beauty crowns his Queen , With Dignity and Sweetness join'd . While he the charming Scene displays , Where Innocence and Pleasure reign'd ; Delighted with his sacred Lays , We hear it lost , and feel it gain'd . His Lays , inimitably fine , With Ecstasy each Passion move , When loud they trumpet War divine , Or softly warble human Love . O STEPHEN ! this Britannic Swan Surmounts the Clouds with noble Flight , While I , at Distance , only can Admire him less'ning to the Sight . As the poor Bee , with endless Toil , To suck the Thyme , and blooming Rose , Skims over Richmond's fragrant Soil , Thus I with pleasing Pain compose . You , with a happy Genius blest , In bolder Strains shall NASSAU sing , When ANNA , by the Graces drest , He to the Nuptial Dome shall bring : ANNA , enrich'd with various Charms By the indulgent Care of Heav'n ; Than whom , into his longing Arms , No greater Treasure can be giv'n . Not , tho' with Riches of the East , At his Command , the Ganges flow ; Tho' , with full Empire , he possess'd Whate'er Ambition wish'd below . Ye NEREIDS , with propitious Gales The gilded Vessel kindly aid ; Let CUPIDS fan the swelling Sails , And waft him to the Royal Maid . This was written before the Prince came to England . When THAMES , with floating Forests crown'd , LEANDER safe arriv'd proclaims , And of tumultuous Joy the Sound Shall bid AUGUSTA rise in Flames ; Loud Thunder , bursting from her Tow'rs , Shall signalize the sacred Day ; And Transport to the Belgic Shores , For Blessings which they lent , convey . Around while Hymeneals ring , My Voice to highest Pitch I'll raise ; Thrice happy , if I can but sing An humble Ode to NASSAU's Praise . You , soaring in Heroic Verse , By native Strength of Wing upborn , His godlike Virtues shall rehearse , And Beauties , which the Bride adorn . He , in your Lays , shall finish'd rise , For Council , or th'embattled Field ; Immortals the contested Prize To her superior Charms shall yield . Then , ravish'd with prophetic Views , Succeeding Glories shall presage ; And , from the Genial Bed , the Muse Raise Princes , to improve the Age : Who , bravely prodigal of Blood , Shall prove , that to set free Mankind , And conquer for the Public Good , The Race of NASSAU was design'd . Thus great ALCIDES ( Poets feign ) By Labours gain'd the Seats above ; Countries preserv'd , and Monsters slain , Assert the genuine Son of JOVE .