Collection of Poems, Poem 2

Collection of Poems · Poem 2

Epithalamion.

BRight Northerne Starre, and great Mineruaes peere,

Sweete Lady of this Day: Great Britaines deere.

Loe thy poore Vaſſall, that was erſt ſo rude,

With his moſt Ruſticke Satyrs to intrude,

Once more like a poore Siluan now drawes neare;

And in thy ſacred Preſence dares appeare.

Oh let not that ſweete Bowe thy Brow be bent,

To ſcarre him with a Shaft of diſcontent:

One looke with Anger, nay thy gentleſt Frowne,

Is twice enough to caſt a Greater downe.

My Will is euer, neuer to offend,

Theſe that are good; and what I here intend,

Your Worth compels me to. For lately greeu'd,

More then can be expreſt, or well beleeu'd;

Minding for euer to abandon ſport,

And liue exilde from places of reſort;

Careleſſe of all, I yeelding to ſecuritie,

Thought to ſhut vp my Muſe in darke obſcuritie:

And in content, the better to repoſe,

A lonely Groue vponupon a Mountaine choſe.

Eaſt from Caer Winn, mid-way twixt Arle and Dis,

True Springs, where Britains true Arcadia is.

But ere I entred my entended courſe,

Great Aeolus began to offer force.

**…ere re…ers and …ibes the Winter, … was ſo …ing …The boiſterous King was growne ſo mad with rage,

That all the Earth, was but his furies ſtage.

Fire, Ayre, Earth, Sea, were intermixt in one:

Yet Fire, through Water, Earth and Ayre ſhone.

The Sea, as if ſhe ment to whelme them vnderunder,

Beat on the Cliffes, and rag'd more loud then thunder:

And whil'ſt the vales ſhe with ſalt waues did fill,

The Aire ſhowr'd flouds, that drencht our higheſt hill;

And the proud trees, that would no dutie know;

Lay ouer-turned, twenties in a Row.

Yea, eueryevery Man for feare, fell to Deuotion;

Leſt the whole Ile ſhould hauehave bin drencht in th'Ocean.

Which I perceiuing, coniur'd vp my Muſe,

The Spirit, whoſe good helpe I ſometime vſe:

And though I ment to breake her reſt no more,

I was then faine her aide for to implore.

And by her helpe indeed, I came to know,

Why, both the Ayre and Seas were troubled ſo.

For hauing vrg'd her, that ſhe would vnfold

What cauſe ſhe knew: Thus much at laſt ſhe told.

Of late (quoth ſhe) there is by powers Diuine;

A match concluded, twixt Great Thame and Rhine.

Two famous Riuers, equall both to Nile:

The one, the pride of Europes greateſt Ile.

Th'other diſdaining to be cloſely pent;

Waſhes a great part of the Continent.

Yet with abundance, doth the Wants ſupply,

Of the ſtill-thirſting Sea, that's neuer dry.

And now, theſe, being not alone endear'd,

To mightie Neptune, and his watrie Heard:

But alſo to the great and dreadfull Ioue,

With all his ſacred Companies aboue,

Both hauehave aſſented by their Loues inuiting:

To grace (with their owne preſence) this Vniting.

Ioue call'd a Summons to the Worlds great wonder,

'Twas that we heard of late, which we thought thunder.The reaſon of the … Winter.

A thouſand Legions he intends to ſend them,

Of Cherubins and Angels to attend them:

And thoſe ſtrong Windes, that did ſuch bluſtring keepe,

Were but the Tritons, ſounding in the Deepe;

To warne each Riuer, petty Streame and Spring,

Their aide vntounto their Soueraigne to bring.

The Floods and Showres that came ſo plenteous downe,

And lay entrencht in eueryevery Field and Towne,

Were but retainers to the Nobler ſort,

That owe their Homage at the Watrie Court:

Or elſe the Streames not pleaſ'd with their owne ſtore,

To grace the Thames, their Miſtris, borrowed more.

Exacting from their neighbouring Dales and Hills,

But by conſent all (nought againſt their wills.)

Yet now, ſince in this ſtirre are brought to ground

Many faire buildings, many hundreds drown'd,

And daily found of broken Ships great ſtore,

That lie diſmembred vponupon eueryevery ſhore:

With diuers other miſchiefes knowne to all,

This is the cauſe that thoſe great harmes befall.

Whilſt other, things in readineſſe, did make,

Hells hatefull Hags from out their priſons brake:… cauſe of all … dangers as … during … diſtempera… of the ayre.

And ſpighting at this hopefull match, began

To wreake their wrath on Ayre, Earth, Sea, and Man.

Some hauing ſhapes of Romiſh ſhauelings got,

Spew'd out their venome; and began to plot

Which way to thwart it: others made their way

With much diffraction thorough Land and Sea

Extreamely raging. But Almightie Ioue

Perceiues their Hate and Enuie from aboue:

He'le checke their furie, and in yrons chain'd,

Their libertie abus'd, ſhall be reſtrain'd:

Hee'le ſhut them vp, from comming to moleſt

The Meriments of Hymens holy feaſt.

Where ſhall be knit that ſacred Gordian knot,

Which in no age to come ſhall be forgot.

Which Policie nor Force ſhall nere vntie,

But muſt continue to eternitie:

Which for the whole Worlds good was fore-decree'd,

With Hope expected long; now come indeed.

And of whoſe future glory, worth, and merit

Much I could ſpeake with a prophetike ſpirit.

Thus by my Muſes deare aſſiſtance, finding

The cauſe of this diſturbance, with more minding

…y Countries welfare, then my owne content,He noteth the moſt … alteration of … weather a … before theſe Nuptials.

…nd longing to behold this Tales euent:

My lonely life I ſuddenly forſooke,

…nd to the Court againe my lourney tooke.

Meane-while I ſaw the furious Windes were laid;

The riſings of the ſwelling Waters ſtaid.

The Winter gan to change in eueryevery thing.

And ſeem'd to borrow mildneſſe of the Spring.

The Violet and Primroſe freſh did grow;

And as in Aprill, trim'd both Cops and rowe.

The Citie, that I left in mourning clad,

…rouping, as if it would hauehave ſtill beene ſad.

… found deckt vp in roabes ſo neat and trimme,

…aire Iris would hauehave look't but ſtale and dimme

… her beſt colours, had ſhe there appear'd,

The Sorrowes of the Court I found well cleer'd,

Their wofull habits quite caſt off, and ty'rd

… ſuch a glorious faſhion: I admir'd.The … preparation … this … the ſtate wh… of …is here …gorically …

All her chiefe Peeres and choiſeſt beauties to,

… greater pompe, then Mortals vſe to doe,

Wait as attendants. Iuno's come to ſee;

…ecauſe ſhe heares that this ſolemnitie

…xceeds faire Hippodamia's (where the ſtrife

Twixt her, Minerua, and lame Vulcans wife

…id firſt ariſe,) and with her leades along

… noble, ſtately, and a mighty throng.

Venus, (attended with her rareſt features,

Sweet louely-ſmiling, and heart-mouing creatures,

The very faireſt Iewels of her treaſure,

Able to moue the ſenceles ſtones to pleaſure.)

Of all her ſweeteſt Saints, hath robd their ſhrines;

And brings them for the Courtiers Valentines.

Nor doth Dame Pallas, from theſe triumphs lurke;

Her nobleſt wits, ſhe freely ſets on worke.

Of late ſhe ſummond them vntounto this place,

To doe your maskes and Reuels better grace.

Here **Meaning the …, and … of … on … water, which … moſt ….Mars himſelfe to, clad in Armour bright,

Hath ſhowne his furie in a bloudleſſe fight;

And both on land and water, ſternely dreſt,

Acted his bloudy Stratagems in ieſt:

Which (to the people, frighted by their error,)

With ſeeming wounds and death did ad more terror,

Beſides, to giuegive the greater cauſe of wonder,

Ioue did vouchſafe a ratling peale of thunder:

Comets and Meteors by the ſtarres exhald.… workes ….

Were from the Middle-Region lately cald;

And to a place appointed made repaire,

To ſhow their fierie Friſcols in the aire,

People innumerable doe reſort,

As if all Europe here would keepe one Court:

Yea, Hymen in his Safferon-coloured weed,

To celebrate his rites is full agreed.

All this I ſee: which ſeeing, makes me borrow

Some of their mirth a while, and lay downe ſorrow.

And yet not this: but rather the delight

My heart doth taken in the much hoped ſight

Of theſe thy glories, long already due;

And this ſweet comfort, that my eyes doe view

Thy happy Bridegroome, Prince Count Palatine,

Now thy beſt friend and trueſt Valentine.

VponUpon whoſe brow, my minde doth reade the ſtorie

Of mightie fame, and a true future glorie.

Me thinkes I doe foreſee already, how

Princes and Monarchs at his ſtirrop how:

I ſee him ſhine in ſteele; the bloudy fields

Already won, and how his proud foe yeelds.

God hath ordaind him happineſſe great ſtore:

And yet in nothing is he happy more,

Then in thy louelove (faire Princeſſe:) For (vnleſſe Heauen, like to Man, be prone to fickleneſſe)

Thy Fortunes muſt be greater in effect,

Then time makes ſhow of, or men can expect.

Yet, notwithſtanding all thoſe goods of fate,

Thy Minde ſhall euer be aboue thy ſtate:

For ouer and beſide thy proper merit,

Our laſt Eliza grants her Noble ſpirit

To be re-doubled on thee; and your names

Being both one, ſhall giuegive you both one fames.

Oh bleſſed thou! and they to whom thou giu'ſt

The leaue for to be attendants where thou liu'ſt:

And hapleſſe we, that muſt of force let goe,

The matchleſſe treaſure we eſteeme of ſo.

But yet we truſt 'tis for our good and thine;

Or elſe thou ſhouldſt not change thy Thame for Rhyne.

We hope that this will the vniting proue

Of Countries and of Nations by your louelove:

And that from out your bleſſed loynes, ſhall come

Another terror to the Whore of Rome:

And ſuch a ſtout Achilles, as ſhall make

Her tottering Walls and weake foundation ſhake:

For Thetis-like, thy fortunes doe require,

Thy Iſſue ſhould be greater then his fire.

But (Gracious Princeſſe) now ſince thus it fares,

And God ſo well for you and vsus prepares:

Since he hath daign'd ſuch honours for to doe you,

And ſhowne himſelfe ſo fauourable to you:

Since he hath chang'd your ſorrowes, and your ſadnes,

Into ſuch great and vnexpected gladneſſe:

Oh now remember you to be at leaſure,

Sometime to thinke on him amidſt your pleaſure:

Let not theſe glories of the world deceaue you,

Nor her vaine fauours of yourſelfe bereaue you.

Conſider yet for all this Iollitie,

Y'are mortall, and muſt feele mortalitie:

And that God can in midſt of all your Ioyes,

Quite daſh this pompe, and fill you with annoyes.

Triumphes are fit for Princes; yet we finde

They ought not wholly to take vp the minde,

Nor yet to be let paſſe; as things in vaine:

For out of all things, wit will knowledge gaine.

Muſique may teach of difference in degree,

The beſt tun'd Common-Weales will framed bee:

And that he moues, and liues with greateſt grace,

That vntounto Time and Meaſure ties his pace.

Then let theſe things be aaHe declares what vſus… is to be made of theſe ſhowes and triumphes, and wha… meditations the minde may be occupied about, when … behold them.Emblemes, to preſent

Your minde with a more laſting true content.

When you behold the infinite reſort,

The glory and the ſplendor of the Court;

What wondrous fauours God doth here bequeath you,

How many hundred thouſands are beneath you;

And view with admiration your great bliſſe,

Then with your ſelfe you may imagine this.

'Tis but a blaſt, or tranſitory ſhade,

Which in the turning of a hand may fade.

Honours, which you your ſelfe did neuer winne,

And might (had God been pleas'd) anothers binne.

And thinke, if ſhadowes hauehave ſuch maieſtie,

What are the glories of eternitie;

Then by this image of a fight on Sea,

Wherein you heard the thundring Canons plea;

And ſaw flames breaking from their murthering throts,

Which in true skirmiſh, fling reſiſtleſſe ſhots;

Your wiſedome may (and will no doubt) begin,

To caſt what perill a poore Souldiers in:

You will conceaue his miſeries and cares,

How many dangers, deaths, and wounds he ſhares:

Then though the moſt paſs't ouer, and neglect them,

That Rethoricke will moue you to reſpect them.

And if hereafter, you ſhould hap to ſee

Such Mimick Apes (that Courts diſgraces be:)

I meane ſuch Chamber-combatants; who neuer

Weare other Helmet, then a Hat of Beuer:

Or nere board Pinnace but in ſilken ſaile;

And in the ſteed of boyſterous ſhirts of maile,

Goe arm'd in Cambrick: If that ſuch a Kite

(I ſay) ſhould ſcorne an Eagle in your ſight;

Your wiſedome iudge (by this experience) can,

Which hath moſt worth, Hermaphrodite, or Man.

The nights ſtrange **Fireworkes.proſpects, made to feed the eies,

With Artfull fiers, mounted in the skies:

Graced with horred claps of ſulphury thunders;

May make you minde th' Almighties greater wonders.

Nor is there any thing, but you may thence

Reape inward gaine; as well as pleaſe the Senſe.

But pardon me (oh faireſt) that am bold,

My heart thus freely, plainely, to vnfold.

What though I know, you knew all this before:

My louelove this ſhowes, and that is ſomething more.

Doe not my honeſt ſeruice here diſdaine,

I am a faithfull, though an humble Swaine.

I'me none of thoſe that hauehave the meanes or place,

With ſhowes of coſt to doe your Nuptials grace:

But onelyonly maſter of mine owne deſire,

Am hither come with others to admire.

I am not of thoſe Heliconian wits;

Whoſe pleaſing ſtraines the Courts knowne humour fits.

But a poore rurall Shepheard, that for need,

Can make ſheepe Muſique on an Oaten reed:

Yet for my louelove (Ile this be bold to boaſt)

It is as much to you, as his that's moſt.

Which, ſince I no way elſe can now explaine,

If you'l in midſt of all theſe glories daigne,

To lend your eares vntounto my Muſe ſo long,

She ſhall declare it in a Wedding ſong.