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by Charles Sedley, Sir (1639 - 1701)

Birthday Ode for Queen Mary
Language: English 
Love's goddess sure was blind this day
Thus to adorn her greatest foe,
And Love's artillery betray
To one that would her realm o'erthrow.

Those eyes, that form, that lofty mien,
Who could for virtue's camp design?
Defensive arms should there be seen,
No sharp, no pointed weapons shine.

Sweetness of Nature and true wit,
High pow'r with equal goodness join'd,
In this fair paradise are met,
The joy and wonder of mankind.

Long may she reign over this Isle,
Lov'd and ador'd in foreign parts;
But gentle Pallas shield awhile
From her bright charms our single hearts.

May her blest example chase
Vice in troops out of the land,
Flying from her awful face,
Like trembling ghosts when day's at hand.
May her hero bring us peace,
Won with honour in the field,
And our home-bred factions cease,
He still our sword and she our shield.

Many such days may she behold,
Like the glad sun without decay,
May Time, that tears where he lays hold,
Only salute her in his way.

May she to Heaven late return
And choirs of angels there rejoice.
As much as we below shall mourn
Our short, but their eternal choice.

Text Authorship:

  • by Charles Sedley, Sir (1639 - 1701) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "Birthday Ode for Queen Mary", Z. 331 (1692). [soli, chorus, 2 recorders, and continuo] [
     text verified 1 time
    ]

Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2012-03-29
Line count: 32
Word count: 198

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