mighty queen, why so
untimely
dressed ?
Marvell - Poems
This, this is he, who, with a stretched out hand,
And matchless might, shall free my groaning
land.
On earth's proud basilisks he'll justly fall,
Like Moses' rod, and prey upon them all.
He'll guide my people through the raging seas.
To holy wars, and certain victories ;
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198 THE POEMS
His spotless fame, and his immense desert,
Shall plead love's cause, and storm this virgin's
heart;
She, like JBgeria, shall his breast inspire
With justice, wisdom, and celestial fire ;
Like Numa, he her dictates shall obey.
And by her oracles the world shall sway.
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OP MARVELL. 199
BRITANNIA AND RALEIGH.
BRITANNIA.
Ah ! Raleighy when thou didst thy breath resign
To trembling James, would I had quitted mine.
Cubs didst thou call them ? Hadst thou seen
this brood
Of earls, and dukes, and princes of the blood,
No more of Scottish race thou would'st complain,
Those would be blessings in this spurious reign.
Awake, arise from thy long blessed repose,
Once more with me partake of mortal woes 1
RALEIGH.
What mighty power has forced me from my rest ?
Oh !
mighty queen, why so untimely dressed ?
BRITANNIA.
Favoured by night, concealed in this disguise,.
Whilst the lewd court in drunken slumber lies,
I stole away, and never will return,
Till England knows who did her city burn ;
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200 THE POEMS
Till cavaliers shall favourites be deemed,
And loj'al sufferers by the court esteemed ;
Till * Leigh and Galloway shall bribes nject ;
Thus O n's golden cheat I shall detect ;
Till atheist Lauderdale shall leave this land,
And Commons' votes shall cut-nose guards
disband :
Till Kate a happy mother shall become,
Till Charles loves parliaments, and James hates
Rome.
RALEIGH.
What fatal crimes make you for ever fly
Your once loved court, and martyr's progeny ?
BRITANNIA.
A colony of French possess the court ;
Pimps, priests, buffoons, in privy-chamber sport.
Such slimy monsters ne*er approached a tluone,
Since Pharaoh's days, nor so defiled a crown.
In sacred ear tyrannic arts they croak,
Pi^rvert his mind, and good intentions choke,
Tell him of golden Indias, fairy lands,
Leviathan, and absolute commands.
Tims fairy-like, they steal the king away,
And in his room a changeling Lewis lay.
* L'. 'igh and Galloway were suspected to be hrlUed by
Lor. I Danby, to side with the court.
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OP MABVELL. 201
How oft have I him to himself restored,
In 's lefl the scale, in 's right hand placed the
sword?
