Go, Lovely Rose!

1 Go, lovely Rose! Tell her that wastes her time and me, That now she knows, When I resemble her to thee, How sweet and fair she seems to be.

2 Tell her that's young, And shuns to have her graces spied, That hadst thou sprung In deserts, where no men abide, Thou must have uncommended died.

3 Small is the worth Of beauty from the light retired; Bid her come forth, Suffer herself to be desired, And not blush so to be admired.

4 Then die! that she The common fate of all things rare May read in thee; How small a part of time they share That are so wondrous sweet and fair!

SUNG BY MRS KNIGHT TO HER MAJESTY, ON HER BIRTHDAY.

This happy day two lights are seen, A glorious saint, a matchless queen; Both named alike, both crown'd appear, The saint above, th'Infanta here. May all those years which Catherine The martyr did for heaven resign, Be added to the line Of your bless'd life among us here! For all the pains that she did feel, And all the torments of her wheel, May you as many pleasures share! May heaven itself content With Catherine the Saint! Without appearing old, An hundred times may you, With eyes as bright as now, This welcome day behold!

'Matchless queen': Queen Catherine was born on the day set apart in the calendar for the commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Catherine.

SONG.

1 Say, lovely dream! where couldst thou find Shades to counterfeit that face? Colours of this glorious kind Come not from any mortal place.

2 In heaven itself thou sure wert dress'd With that angel-like disguise: Thus deluded am I bless'd, And see my joy with closèd eyes.

3 But, ah! this image is too kind To be other than a dream; Cruel Saccharissa's mind Never put on that sweet extreme!

4 Fair dream! if thou intend'st me grace, Change that heavenly face of thine; Paint despised love in thy face, And make it to appear like mine.

5 Pale, wan, and meagre let it look, With a pity-moving shape, Such as wander by the brook Of Lethe, or from graves escape.

6 Then to that matchless nymph appear, In whose shape thou shinest so; Softly in her sleeping ear, With humble words, express my woe.

7 Perhaps from greatness, state, and pride, Thus surprisèd she may fall; Sleep does disproportion hide, And, death resembling, equals all.

PROLOGUES AND EPILOGUES.

PROLOGUE FOR THE LADY-ACTORS. SPOKEN BEFORE KING CHARLES II.

Amaze us not with that majestic frown, But lay aside the greatness of your crown! And for that look which does your people awe, When in your throne and robes you give them law, Lay it by here, and give a gentler smile, Such as we see great Jove's in picture, while He listens to Apollo's charming lyre, Or judges of the songs he does inspire. Comedians on the stage show all their skill, And after do as Love and Fortune will. We are less careful, hid in this disguise; In our own clothes more serious and more wise. Modest at home, upon the stage more bold, We seem warm lovers, though our breasts be cold; A fault committed here deserves no scorn, If we act well the parts to which we're born.