TRUTH

Who art thou, thus that imitatest my Grace, In Steps, in Habit, and resembled Face? I am that TRUTH, thou some illusive Spright; Whom to my likeness, the black Sorceress Night Hath of these dry, and empty fumes created. I challenge thee, and fit this Time of Love, With this Position, which TRUTH comes to prove; That the most honoured state of Man and Wife, Does far exceed th'insociate Virgin -Life. It is confirmed. With what and equal brow To TRUTH, Hippocrat. in a certain E Pistol to Phi lopoem. descri beth her, Mu lierem, quae non mala videatur, said audacior aspectum & con citatior. To which, Caesarem Ripam in his Iconolog. allu death, in these words, Fac cia, ne bellam, ne dispiaceuole, &c. OPINION'S confident! and how, Like TRUTH, her Habit shows to sensual Eyes! But whosoever thou be, in this disguise, Clear TRUTH, anon, shall strip thee to the heart; And show how mere Fantastical thou art. Know then, the first Production of Things, Required Two; from mere One nothing springs: Without that knot, the Theme thou gloriest in, (Unprofitable Virgin) had not been. The Golden Tree of Marriage began In Paradise, and boar the fruit of Man; On whose sweet branches Angels sat, and sung, And from whose firm root all Society sprung. LOVE (whose strong Virtue wrapped Heavens soul in Earth, And made a Woman glory in his Birth In Marriage, opens his inflamed Breast; And, lest in him Nature should stifled rest, His genial fire about the world he darts; Which Lips with Lips combines, and Hearts with Hearts. Marriage LOVES Object is; at whose bright eyes He lights his Torches, and call's them his Skies. For her, he wings his shoulders; and does fly To her white bosom, as his Sanctuary: In which no lustful Finger can profane him, Nor any Earth, with black Eclipses wane him. She makes him smile in sorrows, and does stand Betwixt him, and all wants, with her silver hand. In her soft Locks, his tender Feet are tied; And in his Fetters he takes worthy pride. And as Geometricians have approved That Lines, and Superficies are not moved By their own forces, but do follow still. Their Bodies motions; so the self-loved Will Of Man, or Woman should not rule in them, But each with other wear the Anademe. Mirrors, though decked with Diamonds, are nought worth, If the Like Forms of Things they set not forth; So Men, or Women are worth Nothing, neither, If either's Eyes and Hearts present not either. And where is Marriage more declared, then there? Is there a Band more strict, then that does tie The Soul, and Body in such unity? Subjects to Sovereigns? does one Mind display In th'ones Obedience, and the others Sway? Believe it, Marriage suffers no compare, When both Estates are valued, as they are. The Virgin were a strange, and stubborn Thing, Would longer stay a Virgin, then to bring Her self fit use, and profit in a Make. Virgins, Oh Virgins, to sweet HYMEN yield, For as a lone Vine, in a naked Field, Never extols her branches, never bears Ripe Grapes, but with a headlong heaviness wears Her tender body, and her highest sproote Is quickly leveled with his fading root; By whom no Husbandmen, no Youths will dwell; But if, by fortune, she be married well To that Elm, her Husband, many Husbandmen, And many Youths inhabit by her, then: So while a Virgin does, untouched, abide All unmanured, she grows old, with his pride; But when to equal Wedlock, in fit Time, Her Fortune, and Endeavour lets her climb Dear to h r Love, and Parents, she is held. Virgins, Oh Virgins, to sweet HYMEN yield. To that high proof I would have dared thee. I'll strait fetch Champions for the Brides and Me. Now join; and if his varied Trial fail, To make my Truth in Wedlock's praise prevail, I will retire, and in more power appear; To cease this strife, and make our Question clear. Whereat OPINION insulting, followed her with this speech. Honour to all, that Honour Nuptials. To whose fair Lot, in ustice, now it falls, That this my Counterfeit be here disclosed, Who, for Virginity hath her self opposed. Nor, though my Brightness do undo her Charms, Let these her Knights think, that their equal Arms Are wronged therein; "For Valour wins applause "That dares, but to maint aine the weaker Cause. And Princes, see, 'tis mere OPINION, That in TRUTH'S forced Robe, for TRUTH hath gone! Her gaudy Colours, pieced, with many Folds, Show what vncer tainties she ever holds: Vanish Adulterate TRUTH, and never dare With proud Maids praise, to press where Nuptials are. And Champions, since you see the Truth I held, To Sacred HYMEN, reconciled, yield: Nor, (so to you ld,) think it the least Despite "It is a Conquest to submit to Right. This Royal Judge of our Contention Will prop, I know, what I have under gone; To whose right Sacred Highness Iresigne Low, at his feet, this Starry Crown of mine, To show his Rule, and Judgement is divine; These Doves to him I consecrate withal, To note his Innocence, without spot, or gall; These Serpents, for his Wisdom and these Rays, To show his piercing Splendour; These bright Keys, Designing Power to open the ported Skies, And speak their Glori S to his Subject's Eyes. Lastly, this Heart, with which all Hearts be true: And TRUTH in him make Treason ever rue.