PHILALETHES

NO more of your Poetry (pretty Cupid's ) lest presuming on your lit tle wits, you profane the intention of your service. The Place I confess, wherein (by the Providence of your Mother Venus ) you are now planted, is the divine School of Love. And Academy, or Court, where all the true lessons of Love are thoroughly read and taught. The Reasons, the Proportions, and Harmony, drawn forth in analytic Ta bles, and made demonstrable to the Senses. Which if you (Brothers) should report, and swear to, would hardly get credit above a Fable, here in the edge of Derbyshire (the region of Ale) because you relate in Rhyme. Oh, that Rhyme is a shrewd disease, and makes all suspected it would persuade. Leave it, pretty Cupid's, leave it. Rhyme will undo you, and hinder your growth, and reputation in Court, more then any thing be side you have either mentioned, or feared. If you dabble in Poëtrie once, it is done of your being believed, or understood here. No man will trust you in this Verge, but conclude you for a mere case of Canters, or a pair of wandering Gipsies. Return to your selves (little Deities) and admire the Miracles you serve, this excellent King, and his unparalleled Queen, who are the Can nons, the Decretals, and whole School-divinity of Love. Contem plate, and study them. Here shall you read Hymen, having lighted two Torches, either of which inflame mutually, but waste not. One Love by the others aspect increasing, and both in the right lines of aspi ring. The Fates spinning them round and even threads, and of their whi test wool, without brack, or pearl. Fortune, and Time fettered at their feet with Adamantine Chains, their wings deplumed, for starting from them. All amiableness in the richest dress of delight and colours, cour ting the season to tarry by them, and make the Idea of their Felicity per fect; together with the love, knowledge, and duty of their Subject's perpetual. So wishes the glad, and grateful Client, seated here, the overjoyed Master of the house; and prayeth that the whole Region about him could speak but his language. Which is, that first the Peoples love would let that People know their own happiness, and that know ledge could confirm their duties, to and admiration of your sacred Per sons; descended, one from the most peaceful, the other the most warlike, both your pious, and just progenitors; from whom, as out of Peace came Strength, and out of the Strong came sweetness, alluding to the holy Riddle, so in you joined by holy marriage in the flower and ripeness of years, live the promise of a numerous Succession to your Sceptres, and a strength to secure your own Lands, with their own Ocean, but more your own Palm-branches, the Types of perpetual Victory. To which, two words be added, a zealous Amen, and ever room dead, with a Crown of Welcome. Welcome, Welcome. *⁎*