(19)
But a new Prologue to Virginity.
Thy Mate shall be no Proteus, yet in thee,
Although but one, will be Polygamy.
Thou canst intombe a Wife-hood, and yet rise
A Virgin out of th'ashes, Phœnix-wise.
Cease would the Romans th'wonder to extoll
Of th Head found fresh; Thine had been Capitoll.
Caligula his bloudy wish would check
To cut off Rome, had thine but been the neck.
WHat hath the Law its power lost
Since th' English tongue hath it engrost?
Or did old Juno owe a spight
To Fate, and it for to requite
Sit cross-leg'd charming Her alive,
And hence Death prove so Abortive?
Sure Venus was in th' Horoscope,
When She was strugling with the Rope:
And kept out Death from entring in,
To shew that Cupid cannot sin.
If so? then might She well escape,
Love suffers not a second rape.
Strange Beast! what all her Riders fling?
Could not Death rule Her in a string?
IUstice would cut, but Fate unedg'd the knife,
Unravel'd the vex'd thread,and repreiv'd life
Bad the astonish'd Sisters spin more years,
New-cloath their Distaffe, and lay by their Shears.
Wonders long since were in their Sepulcher,
Yet did One miracle revive with Her.
SHe liv'd, and in the cord made Fate despair,
Safe, as Sea-Surgeons in their Cable are,
Whose scruples palsie-Juryes weigh amisse,
The Gallowes her exacter Balance is.
