'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.

Anne Kingsmill Finch