[1]
THE
PROLOUGE
TO
King WILLIAM & Queen MARY,
At a Play Acted before Their Majesties at
Whitehall, on Friday the 15th of November 1689.
Written by N. TATE.
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WHILE BritainState Her Monarch does support,
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Protects Her Liberties, adorns Her Court,
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Confirms Her Laws; the Muses Tribe would wrong
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The Publick Int'rest to detain him long.
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Yet, with His grateful Subjects they implore
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Their Hour of Thanks, ------ even Them He did Restore.
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To Them and Their Lov'd Swains did safety bring,
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Permits Their Flocks to Feed, and Them to Sing.
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No Lambs shall now for Foreign Altars bleed,
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The Flock, the Fleece, the Shepherds too are freed.
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He Scorn'd all Danger, for Fair Britains Aid,
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(To Roman Zeal, a ready Victim laid,)
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And with His Peril, sav'd the helpless Maid.
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Belgia, that next Devoted was to Fall,
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Did for the same Advent'rous Courage call,
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He Fac'd our Common Fears------
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Outbrav'd both Seas and Foes, to rescue All!
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So HERCULES, when Monsters did infest,
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Commenc'd His Toils to give the Nations rest.
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Such Pious Valour justly is Ador'd,
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And well may different Tongues, that had implor'd
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His Guardian-Aid, consent to call him Lord.
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[2]
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Fortune and Chance, elsewhere may shew their Powers,
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Give Kingdoms Lords, but Providence gives Ours!
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Our kind Restorer first, who, to maintain
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Our rescu'd Freedom, Condescends to Reign.
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For Albions Wounds a Sov'raign Balm decreed,
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But Heav'n not sent Him, 'till the utmost Need,
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To make its Champion Priz'd, and let Him lay
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Engagements, such as we cou'd nere Repay.
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His Fames vast only Price was his before,
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MARIACharms---------Empire cou'd add no more,
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Nature in Her exhausted all its Store.
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What we conferr, on Us descends again,
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Who wait the ripening Blessings of his Reign:
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Saturnian Days revolve, of former Crimes
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If any Seeds molest our Halcyon Times,
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And Rouze our Mars, on him lies all the Care,
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Defence and Freedom nere were bought too Dear.
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He only Arms to make our Dangers cease,
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His Wars are Glorious, for his End is Peace.
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The Muses once were Sacred, give 'em leave,
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One Vote for Britains Welfare to conceive;
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They Sum Their Wishes up, in one short Pray'r,
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(Join all True Hearts) Long Live the ROYAL PAIR.
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