The Blue GARTER No more a sign of Honesty Than a Gilded BUSH IS OF Good WINE.
INgratitude being so common in the Age we at present live in, it's no wonder if Princes meet with the same usage that the Common People find, in being slighted by those on whom they bestow their most signal Favours. That such has been the Fate of Princes of late Days is so apparent, that there needs no farther proof but an Inspection into the Actions of some Great Men, to make it sufficiently plain and Evident: Nor has the greatest Honours could possibly be bestow'd by a Gracious Princess have the power to Bind some Persons to their steddy Duty and Allegiance: Some of which have even crept into the most Honourable Order of the Garter; the Original of which take as follows:
IN Antient Times when
Britain's Warlike Sons
Half of the Universe had over-run,
And ev'ry Year, with Conquest fraught,
Fresh Lawrels to their Monarch brought;
Each Fortunate Auspicious Day
New Victories did still display,
Conquest on
England did seem to wait,
And Heav'n still to smil'd upon their happy State:
Nothing but Pleasure in the Court was found,
And Gaiety each blisful Moment crown'd,
Mars's bold Sons still in the charming Fair
Met with complaisant, kind, obliging Air,
At their Mistresses Feet their Trophies laid,
Who all their Toils with pleasing Smiles repaid.
Thus
Cytherea did on Ida meet
The God of War, and with soft Kisses greet
Her Love returning, soft'ning by her Charms
The dire Remembrance of War's harsh Alarms.
Around his Neck her folding Arms she flung,
And with uncommon Transport on him hung;
The tedious Hours she kindly did beguile,
Whilst the glad Hero did forget his Toil;
Securely on her downy Breast he laid
And Homage to her Soveraign Beauty paid.
Nor could their PRINCE escape Love's fatal Dart,
Brave tho' his Soul, yet tender was his Heart;
He who still got new Triumphs from the Field
At Home to Beauty's Power was forc'd to yield:
Love to his Heart an easie Passage found,
Sure was the Stroak, tho' pleasing was the Wound;
For Love does soonest generous Minds enslave,
The Vulgar scorns, but Captivates the Brave;
For whilst a Nymph with graceful Gesture mov'd,
He gaz'd, he saw, and seeing
Countess of Salis bury.
her, he lov'd.The more he saw, the more he did admire,
Her ev'ry Action fann'd the raging Fire,
When on a sudden on the Ground he 'spied
An
Azure Ribbon, which the Nymph had tied
Around her Leg; straight he with eager Joys
Seizes the welcome, tho' a worthless Prize.
The Nobles smil'd to see their Monarch stoop,
So small, so mean a Trifle to take up:
The Lady, conscious of the plain disgrace,
With crimson Blushes dy'd her beauteous Face;
When straight the
Edw.
3.
Monarch cry'd,
I'le make this Thing
A Present fitting for the greatest King,
Heroic Souls it only shall adorn,
And by the bravest Generals shall be worn.
Nor was it giv'n but to the Sons of Fame
Who by desert purchas'd a glorious Name;
[Page 3] Their Prince true Merit only did regard,
And gave to Honour only the reward.
Not so of late, when R—s did receive.
The greatest Gift that
Britain's Prince could give;
Who with Cabals and cheating Tricks repaid
The Sov'reign Honour their Prince had on them laid.
But
ANNA does its antient Worth restore,
Exalt it too 'bove what it was before;
Nev'r was it by more Worthy
Patriots worn,
Nor ev'r did braver
English-men adorn,
Witness Great
Beaufort, whose Illustrious Birth
Is Honour'd by his Virtue and his Worth;
Wise, Prudent, Noble, Generous and Just,
Firm to his Country's Interest and his Trust,
Whose
Loyalty in ev'ry Act is seen
A Subject worthy of so Great a Queen:
And
Oxford, who so bravely has withstood
The base Attempts of a curss'd
Factious Brood;
Did all their
Plots with prudence undermine,
And wisely blast each trayterous Design.
And
Strafford, who does zealously pursue
Britain's Happiness and Glory too.
By such the Garter credit will receive,
And all its antient Glory will retrieve:
And long may they the Noble Ensign bear,
Long, long, the glorious Badge of Honour wear;
And Heav'n their Loyal Councils always Bless,
And crown their Undertakings with Success,
LONDON: Printed Nowcomb in Wine-Court, Fleetstreet, 1713.