To Her Highness, the most illustrious, Mary, princess of Orange, etc.

May it please Your Highness,

The knowledge I have of my own weakness in things of this nature, together with that awful respect which ought to be had in all such near approaches to sacred Majesty, might very reasonably have dashed in me the first thoughts of this extreme presumption of lifting up my eyes to your Highness; and so in truth those considerations had, but that I was relieved by the power of that excessive clemency, which has ever appeared most familiar in you and which indeed seems to be natural and hereditary to all of the royal circle.

It is from that, Madam, I hope to obtain of Your Highness my pardon, for otherwise so inexcusable an arrogance, since it was your infinite goodness that gave me leave in this mean trifle to pay you the religion of my zeal.

Be pleased then to receive this poem (an absolute stranger to the world, being never yet seen upon the public theatre) with that generosity and grace you are always ready to bestow upon the unfortunate and fair. And such Your Highness’s knows were Oroondates and Stateira, who now being forced again from the peaceful shades of their happy retirement, do throw themselves at your princely feet, with the reverence and humility of idolaters, devoutly begging their protection might be in Your Highness’s umbrage, as in the only place where they can best be secured from the envy, if I may not venture to say, malice of persecuting censors, being sure that no outrages dare then be committed upon them by any of the most malignant, when once Your Highness shall please to take upon you the interest of their preservation.

For so illustrious, Madam and highly eminent is your birth (being derived from the first prince of the royal blood and from the only brother to the best and greatest monarch in the world) that you naturally inspire into all people the extremity of a universal submission and respect; that veneration which they with constraint do yield to others, they, out of an impatient eagerness to acquit themselves of their duty, do voluntarily pay to Your Highness and with an ambition commensurate to nothing upon earth, except it be your supreme quality, they are daily striving to sacrifice their hearts and utmost faculties upon that altar.

But, Madam, besides the great advantage of your royal birth, Your Highness is endowed with so vast a number of excelling charms, as that they cannot be look ed upon without dazzling and adoration, even by those who are themselves most adorable. There is in Your Highness’s looks, such a shine and lustre of beauty, as is not to be resembled by anything below a divinity. And as the brightness and glory of it, like the sun, delights and refreshes the eyes of all mankind, so also you have mixed with it such a fierceness and grand air of Majesty, that, like a divinity too, you cannot be beheld without fear and trembling. This, Madam, is the unanimous suffrage of all the happy world that have yet been blessed with a sight of your incomparable perfections. Everyway your beauty is triumphant. There is such a sweet composure of greatness and delicacy in your eyes, that you equally make all hearts to languish and consume in their devotion to you.

But Your Highness hath not only the attractions of birth and beauty to support your empire (though where ere those beams are scattered, they enjoy obedience) but you have also the extremest virtue to continue its duration. That virtue, Madam, of pure and unspotted innocence, honour and goodness, which (joined to the happiness of your flourishing youth) brings you as near to the resemblance of heaven, as it is possible for anything of humanity ever to think to attain.

And yet, Madam, these are not all the blessings for which you ought to be revered. Such birth, beauty and virtue were never intended only for a private enjoyment. Therefore, the most infinite wise and indulgent heaven, has been pleased to make on purpose a person of peculiar charms to be fitting for you; and for the last completion of happiness, saw nothing more worthy than to contract the greatest union that ever was, between the two most illustrious houses of York and Nassau, in the persons of Your Highness and the Great Prince of Orange; two such glorious characters, as that the largest account of romantic story has never yet presumed to say, were matched together.

Both your divine and goodly qualities are so numerous and yet united, that, like a deity, you can never be adored but in all your attributes. And, Madam, both of you must continually expect to receive the prayers and wishes of all mankind, for the renewed accessions of your, if possible, more flourishing felicities. But, Madam, heaven has not only been consulting to make you and your prince happy. It has likewise been considering the happiness of the whole Kingdom of England, as also that of all the high and mighty neighbour-states in this affair. We are in some measure sharers of your glory and (if your Highness will bear with me in the expression on the general behalf) will not give you the whole monopoly of it. No, our hearts must have the privilege of rejoicing too, for the lighting of this nuptial torch is such a blessing bestowed upon us all, as is incapable of addition. And nothing in the world can dare to pretend to any equality with it, unless it be the greatness of that joy, which every moment grows new and increases more upon us.

For Your Highness is joined to a prince, that seems, as it were, to be divested of his humanity; he is so God-like in his virtues and all his actions. A prince of such dazzling brightness in his glory and renown, as is impossible to be expressed, except we set down whatever is accounted excellent and that he is. A prince that knew how to conquer, before the world could reasonably imagine he was capable of wielding his sword. His countenance is so martial, that it plainly expresses the great courage he hath, not to know what fear is in himself and yet can strike a general dread and consternation in others; so that he needs not be obliged to the use of arms to conquer his enemies, for he can easily gain the victory over them when ere he pleases but to employ the terror of his looks. But yet withal, he has such graceful and winning charms, as none is able to behold him without admiration. Such justness and regularity, is in his shape and mien, such sweetness in his motions and such a generous condescension in all his ways; that he does not so much make to himself slaves by the force of his valour, as he does cause all hearts to become tributary to him by his obliging and familiar address. But, Madam, I find how insufficient I am to speak of either of your princely virtues as I ought and therefore fear I have already too much offended Your Highness in what I have said of them; being so vastly inferior to their particular merit, that, methinks, this small attempt has made me guilty of a very high profanation. The honour of so extraordinary an employment ought to be reserved for some more happy genius, that can ascend to your excellencies and my temerity would not be excusable, if I did not bound it with my earnest prayers for both your present and eternal felicities, being

Of Your Highness, the most humble and most obedient servant,

Edward Cooke.