A CONGRATULATORY POEM Ʋpon the Happy Nuptials of the Right Honourable CHARLES HOPE of Hopetoun, And the Very Vertuous LADY HENRIETTA JOHNSTON Daughter to the Right Honourable the Earl of ANNANDALE, Which was Solemnized on the 31st. of August, 1699.
IN
Autumn when
Seges decores the Fields,
And
Phoebus all plentiful Desires yeelds.
These Creatures who did formerly bewail
Their hard Estate, sing now in
Annandale,
There's
Hope that Heavens will crown the year with good
And
Hoptoun blest with all manner of Food.
Whilst Sun and Moon endure, so that there may
Never be Want of
Hope that Grace decay.
For 'tis by
Hope, That Love and Charity
Are still upheld, without it both do dye.
May
Hoptoun flourish still with Lady
Hen-
Rietta, and have a Stock of good Children.
That thro' all Ages, there may never fail
The Memory of
Hope and
Annandale.
Whose Noble Fame doth add to
Hopton's Honour,
He being by good Fate bestow'd upon Her.
Who like to
Flora in Spring of the Year,
Sends furth a Fragrant Smell both far and near,
To the Solace of all that See or Hear.
Of these choice Virtues wherewith her tender Breast
Is richly endu'd wherein true
Hope doth rest,
And full Assurance may always obtain
Of human Pleasure, Beauty pure and clean.
Her Noble Predecessors ever have
Prov'd in all Ages Pious, Wise and Grave,
And famous in such actions as might tend
Their Countrey's Good, and Int'rest to defend.
So, all who know the Bridegroom and the Bride,
Hope they will prove in time (if Good betide)
Which is the hearty Pray'r of
Muses, when
They are encourag'd
Virtue's Praise to pen.
But if they find their Labour quite neglected,
To pray or praise they cease, being dejected.
Yet still there's Hope they may revive again,
And not always improve their time in vain.
FINIS.