PROLOGUE
TO
The Dutchess,
On Her Return from
SCOTLAND.
Written by Mr. DRYDEN.
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WHEN Factious Rage to cruel Exile, drove
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The Queen of Beauty, and the Court of Love;
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The Muses Droop'd, with their forsaken Arts,
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And the sad Cupids broke their useless Darts.
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Our fruitfull Plains to Wilds and Desarts turn'd,
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Like Edens Face when banish'd Man it mourn'd:
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Love was no more when Loyalty was gone,
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The great Supporter of his Awfull Throne.
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Love cou'd no longer after Beauty stay,
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But wander'd Northward to the verge of day,
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As if the Sun and He had lost their way.
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But now th' Illustrious Nymph return'd again,
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Brings every Grace triumphant in her Train:
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The wondring Nereids, though they rais'd no storm.
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Foreslow'd her passage to behold her form:
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Some cry'd a Venus, some a Thetis past:
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But this was not so fair, nor that so chast.
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Far from her sight flew Faction, Strife and Pride:
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And Envy did but look on her, and dy'd.
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What e'er we suffer'd from our sullen Fate,
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Her fight is purchas'd at an easy rate:
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Three gloomy Years against this day were set:
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But this one mighty Sum has clear'd the Debt.
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Like Josephs Dream, but with a better doom;
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The Famine past, the Plenty still to come.
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For Her the weeping Heav'ns become serene,
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For Her the Ground is clad in cheerfull green:
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For Her the Nightingales are taught to sing,
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And Nature has for her delay'd the Spring.
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The Muse resumes her long-forgotten Lays,
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And Love, restor'd, his Ancient Realm surveys;
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Recalls our Beauties, and revives our Plays.
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His Wast Dominions peoples once again,
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And from Her presence dates his Second Reign.
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But awfull Charms on her fair Forehead sit,
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Dispensing what she never will admit.
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Pleasing, yet cold, like Cynthia's silver Beam,
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The Peoples Wonder, and the Poets Theam.
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Distemper'd Zeal, Sedition, canker'd Hate,
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No more shall vex the Church, and tear the State;
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No more shall Faction civil Discords move,
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Or onely discords of too tender love:
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Discord like that of Musicks various parts,
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Discord that makes the harmony of Hearts,
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Discord that onely this dispute shall bring,
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Who best shall love the Duke, and serve the King.
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