The train of equipage and pomp of state, <br />The shining sideboard and the burnish'd plate, <br />Let other ministers, great Anne, require, <br />And partial fall thy gift to their desire. <br />To the fair Portrait of my sovereign dame, <br />To that alone eternal be my claim. <br />My bright defender, and my dread delight, <br />If ever I found favour in thy sight; <br />If all the pains that for thy Britain's sake <br />My past has took, or future life may take, <br />Be grateful to my Queen, permit my prayer, <br />And with this gift reward my total care. <br />Will thy indulgent hand, fair Saint, allow <br />The boon? and will thy ear accept the vow? <br />That, in despite of age, of impious flame, <br />And eating Time, thy Picture, like thy fame, <br />Entire may last, that, as their eyes survey <br />The semblant shade, men yet unborn may say, <br />Thus great, thus gracious, look'd Britannia's Queen, <br />Her brow thus smooth, her look was thus serene; <br />When to a low but to a loyal hand <br />The mighty Empress gave her high command, <br />That he to hostile camps and kings should haste, <br />To speak her vengeance, as their danger, past; <br />To say, she wills detested wars to cease; <br />She checks her conquest for her subjects' ease, <br />And bids the world attend her terms of peace. <br />Thee, gracious Anne, thee present I adore, <br />Thee, Queen of Peace -- If Time and Fate have power <br />Higher to raise the glories of thy reign <br />In words sublimer and a nobler strain, <br />May future bards the mighty theme rehearse! <br />Here, Stator Jove, and Phoebus king of verse, <br />The votive tablet I suspend * * * * * * * * * *<br /><br />Matthew Prior<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-epistle-desiring-the-queen-s-picture-but-left-unfinished-by-the-sudden-news-of-her-majesty-s-death/
