FLORA

Where's Hyacinth! the Boy Apollo loud, And turned into a Flower? Adonis! thou that for thy beauteous chastity, Wertenberg turned into the chastest of all Flowers, (The closse-infolded Rose ) blown into Blushes It is so mayden-modest, Willing Servants! I have Employment for you both, and speedy, Hast, to the two Assisting Magistrates, Those worthy City Consuls, Bear our sweet wishes to e'm, and speak Joy From us, to both their Feasts, And to that partly of their Graue-worthy Guess Which here we miss to day, though here be those Whom we ought more especially to Honour, Say though we cannot there our self appear, Because we owe our greater service here, Yet that they shall not fail of all their endue, We send the wishes of our Heart by you. 'Tis presumed; But to this fair Assembly present now I, and these yielding Sweets all their heads bow In honour of this Feast, of the Day, chief, Made solemn by the works of your Relief, Your Cares, your Charities, the holy Use Of pious exercise; all which infuse Blessings into your Fortune's, you abound In temporal things, cause blessed fruits are found Upon the Stocks you grafted on, mark the Increase; You plant poor Orphans in a ground of Peace, And carefully provide, when fruit time comes, You gather Heavens Joys for't, in infinite Summer; This day you viewed the Garden of those Deeds, That bless the Founders; and all those succeeds In Zeal and Imitation; you saw there, Virtues true Paradise, dressed with your Care; (Your most religious Care) and those Blue Sets, They are the Cities Bank of Violets That smells most sweet to Heaven; never cease then You worthy Presidents for Times and Men, Till Charity spring, (by your Examples given) As thick on Earth, as Rewards stand in Heaven; If there were sloth or faintness tow'ard good works; (As blessed be Heaven there is not) Time instructs, The Season of the Year, for as the Ground, The heaviest and dul'st Creature can be found, Yet now begins both in her Meads and Bowers To offer up her Sacrifice, in Flowers, How much more ought that Earth with a Soul blessed, Which is of every of you here possessed, To spring forth Works of Piety and Love, To gratify those Dews fallen from Above; And as the humblest Flower that ever grew, Ha not his Sent alone, but Virtue too, Good for Men griefs; so 'tis not Men full Fame To have a Christian Savour, or a Name, And empty voice of Charity and Relief, He must apply Ease to his Brother's grief; ' Faith is the Sent and Odour of the Flower, But Work's the Virtue, that makes good the pow er; 'Tis Like the Tincture of those Robes you wear, In which clear Vesture you to me appear Like Borders of fair Roses; and worn High Upon the Cities forehead; that rich Die As it is reverend, honourable, graven, So it is precious, wholesome; which does crave A double Virtue at the Wearers hands, Justice and Mercy; by which goodness stands: Thus Honour still claims Virtue for his Endue, And may both ever lay joust claim to you: What? the four Seasons of the Year struck dumb? I looked for a kind Welcome, now Im'e come. So ya're confirmed; from your harmonious Closes May Sweetness drop, as Honey-dew from Roses, A blessed Health possess you, and a long, That in this latter Spring of your graven years, You may be green in Virtues, and grow strong In works of Grace, which souls to Heaven endears; your good Cares, here, Justice, and well spent hours Crown you hereafter with eternal Flowers. GOod Heaven What's that? Here's a strange sudden boldness of both sides of me, So, this becomes you well, Thus I answer you, Taking my President from the joust care Of those clear Lights of Honour, shining fair To their Works End; you see before your Eyes The Trust that was committed to their wise And discreet Powers (for his Highness Use) They put not off to others, with excuse Of weariness, or pains; as they begun, In their own Noble Persons see all done: So, by their sweet Example, I that am Your Queen and Mistress, and may rightly blame, And tax the boldness of your ruder blood, I do not think, or hold my self too good In mine own Person, to commend their Cares That have so justly served their King, in Theirs, Now you pull in your Heads. Yet why should Anger in my brow be seen They came but to show duty to the Time, Contention to do Service was their Crime, That's no ill looking fault; but it's still known, They that give Honour, love to doe't alone, It brooks no Partnership:—To give this last Duty her Endue, as others before passed, Though it came now from men of meaner Rank, Where wealth was never known to overflow the bank Like Spring-Tides of the Rich, that swell more High, Yet tak't for Truth, it comes as cheerfully, All smiling Givers; and well may it come With smooth and loving Faces, the small Sum That they return, is thousand times repayed In Peace and Safety, beside Sovereign Aid For each Hearts Grievance, (to its full content) By this high Synod of the Parliament; Before whose fair, clear, and Unbribed Eyes, (When it appears) Corruption Sinks and die, Secure Oppression once, comes trembling thither (Stead of her hard heart knocks her knees together This Benefit is purchased, this Reward To which all Coin is dross to be compar'de: