Introductory: Unto Her Majesty’s sacred honourable Maids

Richard Smith

ETERNAL TWINS! that conquer Death and Time,

Perpetual advocates in heaven and earth!

Fair, chaste, immaculate, and all divine;

Glorious alone, before the first man’s birth:

Your twofold CHARITES! celestial lights!

Bow your sun-rising eyes, planets of joy,

Upon these Orphan Poems! in whose rights

CONCEIT first claimed his birthright to enjoy.

If pitiful, you shun the Song of Death;

Or fear the stain of love’s life-dropping blood;

O know then, you are pure; and purer faith

Shall still keep white the flower, the fruit, and bud.

LOVE moveth all things. You that love, shall move

All things in him, and he in you shall love.