A PANEGYRICK sent by a Gentleman, with his Picture to his Mystriss.

Go, Envied Picture. With her leave, presume
To go where banish'd I must never come.
Thou art not from Orinda's Eyes debar'd;
She doom'd the substance, but the shadow spar'd;
How different is my punishment to theirs.
Who for their fins are sent to offer Prayers▪
And visit Saints at some far distant shrine?
But my hard pennance is to stay from mine.
Yet this may freely pass she's pleas'd to grant
My Deputy may visit my fair Saint:
My Duty to my Picture I resign,
The Pilgrim That, but the Devotion's Mine.
Since I'm debarr'd the freedom to be just,
To this small Envoy I my vows intrust.
This dumb Sollicitour plac'd in my stead,
May minde you of that cause, it cannot plead.
Whene're you look on this, think on my state,
And let my Offering be my Advocate.
But go thou false Diss…mbler. For each Line,
Which while with her kind Presence blest, was mine;
Now in her absence no Resemblance bears,
To look like Me it wants my Griefs and Tears.
Wanting her presence, all my looks and sence,
Which were employ'd t' admire her Excellence.
She gon, are grown so stupid and so dull
My shadow wants a Body, I a Soul
To him that Loves the gentle Fates allow
A Constancy in all things but his Brow.
He may look Dull, or Gay; be Mean, or Brave,
As he's a happy or a wretched Slave,
Who then Paints Me —
Must draw me in my Chains, each Feature mould
Just as the state I with my Conq'r…ur hold.
And to describe each Line must look on You:
Beauty that can make Shadows False, or True.
However go, and her fair Hand salute.
Thy want of Merits she will ne'…e dispute
So much of Heav'n reigns in her Generous Heart
She can give Honours though to undesert.
If my best Hopes prove true, and she prove Kind,
Thou from her Favours mayst Preserment find.
She may v…uchsafe to wear thee at her Brest.
Thus Worn, thus Ray…d, thus honour'd, & thus Blest
Had it but half the Love and flames I felt,
I would burst the Chrystal, and the Gold would melt
And at th' approach of so sublime a Bliss,
Break through its Prison walls to force a Kiss
But oh that Blessing's not for souls and Sence
Her Virtues cherish nought but Innocence.
Dull Picture cold and senceless as thou art,
Thou mayst press neare her Bos… me and her Heart.
That Rape is not for Flesh and Blood design'd,
Her Smile's too great a bl…ssing for Mankind.
Though thou'rt a poor …ow Present, yet that Seat
Her B…some w…l… en…t…l thee Rich and Great.
Thy cancel… Imperfections then are ceast.
The Sacred L…dging Con…e…rates the Guest.
Thy Price is from my Entert…nment given,
T'is the He…ven makes the S…in…s, …no… they Heavn
T'is thy Ex…ted …e thy Worth declares,
Base Mete…s t…us w…en … high▪ …em Stars.
From her fair Hand thy borrowed Lustre hold,
She can lend value to thy worthless Gold.
But if her favours can the Gift advance,
How much would they the Offerers worth in hance?
I'de tell her, (were it not a thought I find
Too large to be to breath and words confin'd)
How blest, how proud, how glorious I should be;
How Generous, how Divine, how Charming she,
To make her Acts of Grace thus near of Kin,
To wear this at her Breast, and Me within.