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Anne Kingsmill Finch - A Poem For The Birth-Day Of The Right Honble The Lady Catharine Tufton
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`Tis fit SERENA shou`d be sung.
High-born SERENA, Fair and Young, 
Shou`d be of ev`ry Muse and Voice 
The pleasing, and applauded Choice. 
But as the Meanest of the Show 
Do First in all Processions go: 
So, let my Steps pursue that Swain 
The humblest of th` inspired Train; 
Whose well-meant Verse did just appear, 
To lead on the preceding Year: 
So let my Pen, the next in Fame, 
Now wait on fair SERENA`s Name; 
The second Tribute gladly pay, 
And hail this blest returning Day. 
But let it not attempt to raise 
Or rightly speak SERENA`s Praise: 
Since with more ease we might declare 
How Great her Predecessors were; 
How Great that more distinguish`d Peer, 
To whom she owes her Being here; 
In whom our Britain lets us see 
What once they were, and still shou`d be; 
As, when the earliest Race was drown`d, 
Some Patterns, from amongst them found, 
Were kept to shew succeeding Times 
Their Excellence without their Crimes: 
More easily we might express 
What Vertues do her Mother dress; 
What does her Form and Mind adorn, 
Of whom th` engaging Nymph was born; 
What Piety, what generous Love, 
Does the enlarged Bosom move 
Of Her, whose Fav`rite she appears, 
Who more than as a Niece endears. 
Such full Perfections obvious lie, 
And strike, at first, a Poet`s Eye. 
Deep Lines of Honour all can hit, 
Or mark out a superior Wit; 
Consummate Goodness all can show, 
And where such Graces shine below: 
But the more tender Strokes to trace, 
T` express the Promise of a Face, 
When but the Dawnings of the Mind 
We from the Air unripen`d find; 
Which alt`ring, as new Moments rise, 
The Pen or Pencil`s Art defies; 
When Flesh and Blood in Youth appears, 
Polish`d like what our Marble wears; 
Fresh as that Shade of op`ning Green, 
Which first upon our Groves is seen; 
Enliven`d by a harmless Fire, 
And brighten`d by each gay Desire; 
These nicer Touches wou`d demand 
A Cowley`s or a Waller`s Hand, 
T`explain, with undisputed Art, 
What `tis affects th`enlighten`d Heart, 
When ev`ry darker Thought gives way, 
Whilst blooming Beauty we survey; 
To shew how All, that`s soft and sweet, 
Does in the fair SERENA meet; 
To tell us, with a sure Presage, 
The Charms of her maturer Age. 
When Hothfeild shall (as heretofore {4}
From its far-sought and virtuous Store 
It Families of great Renown 
Did with illustrious Hymens crown) 
When Hothfeild shall such Treasure know, 
As fair SERENA to bestow: 
Then shou`d some Muse of loftier Wing 
The Triumphs of that Season sing; 
Describe the Pains, the Hopes, the Fears 
Of noble Youths, th`ambitious Cares 
Of Fathers, the long-fram`d Design, 
To add such Splendour to their Line, 
Whilst all shall strive for such a Bride 
So Educated, and Ally`d.
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