To Zelinda.

FAirest piece of well form'd Earth,
Urge not thus your haughty birth:
The power which you have o're us lies
Not in your Race, but in your Eyes:
None but a Prince… alas that voice
Confines you to a narr… choice!
Should you no Honey vow to taste,
But what the Master-Bees have plac't
In compass of their Cells, how small
A portion to your share would fall?
Nor all appear among those few,
Worthy the stock from whence they grew?
The sap which at the Root is bred
In Trees, through all the Boughs is spred;
But Vertues which in Parents shine,
Make not like progress through the Line▪
'Tis not from whom, but … we live;
The place does oft those graces give
Great Iuli…s on the Mountains bred,
A Flock perhaps, or Herd, had led,
He that the world subdu'd▪ had been
But the best wrestler on the Green:
'Tis Art and Knowledge which draw forth
The hidden Seeds of Native worth;
They blow those sp…rks▪ and make them rise
Into such flames as touch the Skies
To the old Heroes hence was given
A Pedigree which reacht to Heaven▪
Of mortal Seed they were not held.
Which other mortals so excell'd▪
And Beauty too in such excess
As yours, Zeli…da claims no less.
Smile but on me; and you shall scorn
Henceforth to be of Princes born.
I can describe the shady Grove
Where your lov'd Mother slept with Iove,
And yet excuse the faultless Dame,
Caught with her Spouses shape and name;
Thy matchless form will credit bring
To all the wonders I shall sing.