WITH OTHER LYRIC POESIES.

THeseLyric pieces, short, and few,Most worthy Sir, I send to you;To read them be not weary!They may becomeJohn Heweshis lyre,Which oft, at Polesworth,[12]by the fire,Hath made us gravely merry.Believe it, he must have the trickOf Ryming, with Invention quick,That should do Lyrics well:But how I have done in this kind,Though in myself I cannot find,Your judgment best can tell.Th' old British Bards (upon their harpsFor falling Flats, and rising Sharps,That curiously were strung)To stir their Youth to warlike rage,Or their wild fury to assuage,In these loose Numbers sung.No more I, for fools' censure pass,Than for the braying of an ass;Nor once mine ear will lend them:If you but please to take in greeTheseOdes, sufficient 'tis to me:Your liking can commend them.Yours,Michael Drayton.

THeseLyric pieces, short, and few,Most worthy Sir, I send to you;To read them be not weary!They may becomeJohn Heweshis lyre,Which oft, at Polesworth,[12]by the fire,Hath made us gravely merry.

HeseLyric pieces, short, and few,

Most worthy Sir, I send to you;

To read them be not weary!

They may becomeJohn Heweshis lyre,

Which oft, at Polesworth,[12]by the fire,

Hath made us gravely merry.

Believe it, he must have the trickOf Ryming, with Invention quick,That should do Lyrics well:But how I have done in this kind,Though in myself I cannot find,Your judgment best can tell.

Believe it, he must have the trick

Of Ryming, with Invention quick,

That should do Lyrics well:

But how I have done in this kind,

Though in myself I cannot find,

Your judgment best can tell.

Th' old British Bards (upon their harpsFor falling Flats, and rising Sharps,That curiously were strung)To stir their Youth to warlike rage,Or their wild fury to assuage,In these loose Numbers sung.

Th' old British Bards (upon their harps

For falling Flats, and rising Sharps,

That curiously were strung)

To stir their Youth to warlike rage,

Or their wild fury to assuage,

In these loose Numbers sung.

No more I, for fools' censure pass,Than for the braying of an ass;Nor once mine ear will lend them:If you but please to take in greeTheseOdes, sufficient 'tis to me:Your liking can commend them.

No more I, for fools' censure pass,

Than for the braying of an ass;

Nor once mine ear will lend them:

If you but please to take in gree

TheseOdes, sufficient 'tis to me:

Your liking can commend them.

Yours,Michael Drayton.

Yours,

Michael Drayton.

To his Valentine.

MUse, bid the Morn awake!Sad Winter now declines,Each bird doth choose a Make;This day's SaintValentine's.For that good Bishop's sakeGet up, and let us seeWhat Beauty it shall beThat Fortune us assigns!But, lo, in happy hour,The place wherein she lies;In yonder climbing Tower,Gilt by the glitt'ring Rise.O,Jove, that in a shower(As once that Thunderer did,When he in drops lay hid)That I could her surprise!Her canopy I'll draw,With spangled plumes bedight:No mortal ever sawSo ravishing a sight;That it the Gods might awe,And pow'rfully transpierceThe globy Universe,Outshooting every light.My lips I'll softly layUpon her heavenly cheek,Dyed like the dawning day,As polished ivory sleek;And in her ear I'll say:"O thou bright Morning Star!'Tis I, that come so far,My Valentine to seek."Each little bird, this tide,Doth choose her lovèd pheere;Which constantly abideIn wedlock all the year,As Nature is their guide;So may we Two be trueThis year, nor change for new;As turtles coupled were."The sparrow, swan, the dove,ThoughVenus'birds they be;Yet are they not for love,So absolute as we!For reason us doth move;But they by billing woo.Then try what we can do!To whom each sense is free."Which we have more than they,By livelier organs swayed;Our Appetite each wayMore by our Sense obeyed.Our Passions to display,This season us doth fit;Then let us follow it,As Nature us doth lead!"One kiss in two let's breathe!Confounded with the touch,But half words let us speak!Our lips employed so much,Until we both grow weak:With sweetness of thy breath,O smother me to death!Long let our joys be such!"Let's laugh at them that chooseTheir Valentines by lot;To wear their names that use,Whom idly they have got."SaintValentine, befriend!We thus this Morn may spend:Else, Muse, awake her not!

Use, bid the Morn awake!

Sad Winter now declines,

Each bird doth choose a Make;

This day's SaintValentine's.

For that good Bishop's sake

Get up, and let us see

What Beauty it shall be

That Fortune us assigns!

But, lo, in happy hour,The place wherein she lies;In yonder climbing Tower,Gilt by the glitt'ring Rise.O,Jove, that in a shower(As once that Thunderer did,When he in drops lay hid)That I could her surprise!

But, lo, in happy hour,

The place wherein she lies;

In yonder climbing Tower,

Gilt by the glitt'ring Rise.

O,Jove, that in a shower

(As once that Thunderer did,

When he in drops lay hid)

That I could her surprise!

Her canopy I'll draw,With spangled plumes bedight:No mortal ever sawSo ravishing a sight;That it the Gods might awe,And pow'rfully transpierceThe globy Universe,Outshooting every light.

Her canopy I'll draw,

With spangled plumes bedight:

No mortal ever saw

So ravishing a sight;

That it the Gods might awe,

And pow'rfully transpierce

The globy Universe,

Outshooting every light.

My lips I'll softly layUpon her heavenly cheek,Dyed like the dawning day,As polished ivory sleek;And in her ear I'll say:"O thou bright Morning Star!'Tis I, that come so far,My Valentine to seek.

My lips I'll softly lay

Upon her heavenly cheek,

Dyed like the dawning day,

As polished ivory sleek;

And in her ear I'll say:

"O thou bright Morning Star!

'Tis I, that come so far,

My Valentine to seek.

"Each little bird, this tide,Doth choose her lovèd pheere;Which constantly abideIn wedlock all the year,As Nature is their guide;So may we Two be trueThis year, nor change for new;As turtles coupled were.

"Each little bird, this tide,

Doth choose her lovèd pheere;

Which constantly abide

In wedlock all the year,

As Nature is their guide;

So may we Two be true

This year, nor change for new;

As turtles coupled were.

"The sparrow, swan, the dove,ThoughVenus'birds they be;Yet are they not for love,So absolute as we!For reason us doth move;But they by billing woo.Then try what we can do!To whom each sense is free.

"The sparrow, swan, the dove,

ThoughVenus'birds they be;

Yet are they not for love,

So absolute as we!

For reason us doth move;

But they by billing woo.

Then try what we can do!

To whom each sense is free.

"Which we have more than they,By livelier organs swayed;Our Appetite each wayMore by our Sense obeyed.Our Passions to display,This season us doth fit;Then let us follow it,As Nature us doth lead!

"Which we have more than they,

By livelier organs swayed;

Our Appetite each way

More by our Sense obeyed.

Our Passions to display,

This season us doth fit;

Then let us follow it,

As Nature us doth lead!

"One kiss in two let's breathe!Confounded with the touch,But half words let us speak!Our lips employed so much,Until we both grow weak:With sweetness of thy breath,O smother me to death!Long let our joys be such!

"One kiss in two let's breathe!

Confounded with the touch,

But half words let us speak!

Our lips employed so much,

Until we both grow weak:

With sweetness of thy breath,

O smother me to death!

Long let our joys be such!

"Let's laugh at them that chooseTheir Valentines by lot;To wear their names that use,Whom idly they have got."SaintValentine, befriend!We thus this Morn may spend:Else, Muse, awake her not!

"Let's laugh at them that choose

Their Valentines by lot;

To wear their names that use,

Whom idly they have got."

SaintValentine, befriend!

We thus this Morn may spend:

Else, Muse, awake her not!

IF thus we needs must go;What shall our one Heart do,This One made of our Two?Madam, two Hearts we brake;And from them both did takeThe best, one Heart to make.Half this is of your Heart,Mine in the other part;Joined by an equal Art.Were it cemented, or sewn;By shreds or pieces known,We might each find our own.But 'tis dissolved and fixed;And with such cunning mixed,No diff'rence that betwixt.But how shall we agree,By whom it kept shall be:Whether by you or me?It cannot two breasts fill;One must be heart-less still,Until the other will.It came to me to-day:When I willed it to say,With Whether would it stay?It told me, "In your breast,Where it might hope to rest:For if it were my guest,"For certainty, it knewThat I would still anewBe sending it to you!"Never, I think, had twoSuch work, so much, to do:A Unity to woo!Yours was so cold and chaste:Whilst mine with zeal did waste;Like Fire with Water placed.How did my Heart intreat!How pant! How did it beat,Till it could give yours heat!Till to that temper brought,Through our perfection wrought,That blessing either's thought.In such a height it liesFrom this base World's dull eyes;That Heaven it not envies.All that this Earth can show.Our Heart shall not once know!For it's too vile and low.

IF thus we needs must go;What shall our one Heart do,This One made of our Two?

F thus we needs must go;

What shall our one Heart do,

This One made of our Two?

Madam, two Hearts we brake;And from them both did takeThe best, one Heart to make.

Madam, two Hearts we brake;

And from them both did take

The best, one Heart to make.

Half this is of your Heart,Mine in the other part;Joined by an equal Art.

Half this is of your Heart,

Mine in the other part;

Joined by an equal Art.

Were it cemented, or sewn;By shreds or pieces known,We might each find our own.

Were it cemented, or sewn;

By shreds or pieces known,

We might each find our own.

But 'tis dissolved and fixed;And with such cunning mixed,No diff'rence that betwixt.

But 'tis dissolved and fixed;

And with such cunning mixed,

No diff'rence that betwixt.

But how shall we agree,By whom it kept shall be:Whether by you or me?

But how shall we agree,

By whom it kept shall be:

Whether by you or me?

It cannot two breasts fill;One must be heart-less still,Until the other will.

It cannot two breasts fill;

One must be heart-less still,

Until the other will.

It came to me to-day:When I willed it to say,With Whether would it stay?

It came to me to-day:

When I willed it to say,

With Whether would it stay?

It told me, "In your breast,Where it might hope to rest:For if it were my guest,

It told me, "In your breast,

Where it might hope to rest:

For if it were my guest,

"For certainty, it knewThat I would still anewBe sending it to you!"

"For certainty, it knew

That I would still anew

Be sending it to you!"

Never, I think, had twoSuch work, so much, to do:A Unity to woo!

Never, I think, had two

Such work, so much, to do:

A Unity to woo!

Yours was so cold and chaste:Whilst mine with zeal did waste;Like Fire with Water placed.

Yours was so cold and chaste:

Whilst mine with zeal did waste;

Like Fire with Water placed.

How did my Heart intreat!How pant! How did it beat,Till it could give yours heat!

How did my Heart intreat!

How pant! How did it beat,

Till it could give yours heat!

Till to that temper brought,Through our perfection wrought,That blessing either's thought.

Till to that temper brought,

Through our perfection wrought,

That blessing either's thought.

In such a height it liesFrom this base World's dull eyes;That Heaven it not envies.

In such a height it lies

From this base World's dull eyes;

That Heaven it not envies.

All that this Earth can show.Our Heart shall not once know!For it's too vile and low.

All that this Earth can show.

Our Heart shall not once know!

For it's too vile and low.

PRiestsofApollo, sacred be the roomFor this learned meeting! Let no barbarous groom,How brave soe'er he be,Attempt to enter!But of the Muses free,None here may venture!This for the Delphian Prophets is prepared:The profane Vulgar are from hence debarred!And since the Feast so happily begins;Call up those fair Nine, with their violins!They are begot byJove.Then let us place themWhere no clown in may shove,That may disgrace them:But let them near to youngApollosit;So shall his foot-pace overflow with wit.Where be the Graces? Where be those fair Three?In any hand, they may not absent be!They to the Gods are dear:And they can humblyTeach us, ourselves to bear,And do things comely.They, and the Muses, rise both from one stem:They grace the Muses; and the Muses, them.Bring forth your flagons, filled with sparkling wine(Whereon swollenBacchus, crownèd with a vine,Is graven); and fill out!It well bestowingTo every man about,In goblets flowing!Let not a man drink, but in draughts profound!To our godPhœbus, let the Health go round!Let your Jests fly at large; yet therewithalSee they be Salt, but yet not mixed with Gall!Not tending to disgrace:But fairly given,Becoming well the place,Modest and even,That they, with tickling pleasure, may provokeLaughter in him on whom the Jest is broke.Or if the deeds of Heroes ye rehearse:Let them be sung in so well-ordered Verse,That each word have its weight,Yet run with pleasure!Holding one stately heightIn so brave measureThat they may make the stiffest storm seem weak;And dampJove'sthunder, when it loud'st doth speak.And if ye list to exercise your vein,Or in the Sock, or in the Buskined strain;Let Art and Nature goOne with the other!Yet so, that Art may showNature her mother:The thick-brained audience lively to awake,Till with shrill claps the Theatre do shake.Sing Hymns toBacchusthen, with hands upreared!Offer toJove, who most is to be feared!From him the Muse we have.From him proceedethMore than we dare to crave.'Tis he that feedethThem, whom the World would starve. Then let the lyreSound! whilst his altars endless flames expire.

RiestsofApollo, sacred be the room

For this learned meeting! Let no barbarous groom,

How brave soe'er he be,

Attempt to enter!

But of the Muses free,

None here may venture!

This for the Delphian Prophets is prepared:

The profane Vulgar are from hence debarred!

And since the Feast so happily begins;Call up those fair Nine, with their violins!They are begot byJove.Then let us place themWhere no clown in may shove,That may disgrace them:But let them near to youngApollosit;So shall his foot-pace overflow with wit.

And since the Feast so happily begins;

Call up those fair Nine, with their violins!

They are begot byJove.

Then let us place them

Where no clown in may shove,

That may disgrace them:

But let them near to youngApollosit;

So shall his foot-pace overflow with wit.

Where be the Graces? Where be those fair Three?In any hand, they may not absent be!They to the Gods are dear:And they can humblyTeach us, ourselves to bear,And do things comely.They, and the Muses, rise both from one stem:They grace the Muses; and the Muses, them.

Where be the Graces? Where be those fair Three?

In any hand, they may not absent be!

They to the Gods are dear:

And they can humbly

Teach us, ourselves to bear,

And do things comely.

They, and the Muses, rise both from one stem:

They grace the Muses; and the Muses, them.

Bring forth your flagons, filled with sparkling wine(Whereon swollenBacchus, crownèd with a vine,Is graven); and fill out!It well bestowingTo every man about,In goblets flowing!Let not a man drink, but in draughts profound!To our godPhœbus, let the Health go round!

Bring forth your flagons, filled with sparkling wine

(Whereon swollenBacchus, crownèd with a vine,

Is graven); and fill out!

It well bestowing

To every man about,

In goblets flowing!

Let not a man drink, but in draughts profound!

To our godPhœbus, let the Health go round!

Let your Jests fly at large; yet therewithalSee they be Salt, but yet not mixed with Gall!Not tending to disgrace:But fairly given,Becoming well the place,Modest and even,That they, with tickling pleasure, may provokeLaughter in him on whom the Jest is broke.

Let your Jests fly at large; yet therewithal

See they be Salt, but yet not mixed with Gall!

Not tending to disgrace:

But fairly given,

Becoming well the place,

Modest and even,

That they, with tickling pleasure, may provoke

Laughter in him on whom the Jest is broke.

Or if the deeds of Heroes ye rehearse:Let them be sung in so well-ordered Verse,That each word have its weight,Yet run with pleasure!Holding one stately heightIn so brave measureThat they may make the stiffest storm seem weak;And dampJove'sthunder, when it loud'st doth speak.

Or if the deeds of Heroes ye rehearse:

Let them be sung in so well-ordered Verse,

That each word have its weight,

Yet run with pleasure!

Holding one stately height

In so brave measure

That they may make the stiffest storm seem weak;

And dampJove'sthunder, when it loud'st doth speak.

And if ye list to exercise your vein,Or in the Sock, or in the Buskined strain;Let Art and Nature goOne with the other!Yet so, that Art may showNature her mother:The thick-brained audience lively to awake,Till with shrill claps the Theatre do shake.

And if ye list to exercise your vein,

Or in the Sock, or in the Buskined strain;

Let Art and Nature go

One with the other!

Yet so, that Art may show

Nature her mother:

The thick-brained audience lively to awake,

Till with shrill claps the Theatre do shake.

Sing Hymns toBacchusthen, with hands upreared!Offer toJove, who most is to be feared!From him the Muse we have.From him proceedethMore than we dare to crave.'Tis he that feedethThem, whom the World would starve. Then let the lyreSound! whilst his altars endless flames expire.

Sing Hymns toBacchusthen, with hands upreared!

Offer toJove, who most is to be feared!

From him the Muse we have.

From him proceedeth

More than we dare to crave.

'Tis he that feedeth

Them, whom the World would starve. Then let the lyre

Sound! whilst his altars endless flames expire.

HErloved I most,By thee that's lost,Though she were won with leisure;She was my gain:But to my pain,Thou spoilest me of my treasureThe ship full fraughtWith gold, far sought,Though ne'er so wisely helmèd,May suffer wrackIn sailing back,By tempest overwhelmèd.But She, good Sir!Did not preferYou, for that I was ranging:But for that SheFound faith in me,And She loved to be changing.Therefore boast notYour happy lot;Be silent now you have her!The time I knewShe slighted you,When I was in her favour.None stands so fastBut may be castBy Fortune, and disgracèd:Once did I wearHer garter there,Where you her glove have placèd.I had the vowThat thou hast now,And glances to discoverHer love to me;And She to thee,Reads but old lessons over.She hath no smileThat can beguile;But, as my thought, I know it:Yea to a hair,Both when, and where,And how, she will bestow it.What now is thineWas only mine,And first to me was given;Thou laugh'st at me!I laugh at thee!And thus we two are even.But I'll not mourn,But stay my turn;The wind may come about, Sir!And once againMay bring me in;And help to bear you out, Sir!

HErloved I most,By thee that's lost,Though she were won with leisure;She was my gain:But to my pain,Thou spoilest me of my treasure

Erloved I most,

By thee that's lost,

Though she were won with leisure;

She was my gain:

But to my pain,

Thou spoilest me of my treasure

The ship full fraughtWith gold, far sought,Though ne'er so wisely helmèd,May suffer wrackIn sailing back,By tempest overwhelmèd.

The ship full fraught

With gold, far sought,

Though ne'er so wisely helmèd,

May suffer wrack

In sailing back,

By tempest overwhelmèd.

But She, good Sir!Did not preferYou, for that I was ranging:But for that SheFound faith in me,And She loved to be changing.

But She, good Sir!

Did not prefer

You, for that I was ranging:

But for that She

Found faith in me,

And She loved to be changing.

Therefore boast notYour happy lot;Be silent now you have her!The time I knewShe slighted you,When I was in her favour.

Therefore boast not

Your happy lot;

Be silent now you have her!

The time I knew

She slighted you,

When I was in her favour.

None stands so fastBut may be castBy Fortune, and disgracèd:Once did I wearHer garter there,Where you her glove have placèd.

None stands so fast

But may be cast

By Fortune, and disgracèd:

Once did I wear

Her garter there,

Where you her glove have placèd.

I had the vowThat thou hast now,And glances to discoverHer love to me;And She to thee,Reads but old lessons over.

I had the vow

That thou hast now,

And glances to discover

Her love to me;

And She to thee,

Reads but old lessons over.

She hath no smileThat can beguile;But, as my thought, I know it:Yea to a hair,Both when, and where,And how, she will bestow it.

She hath no smile

That can beguile;

But, as my thought, I know it:

Yea to a hair,

Both when, and where,

And how, she will bestow it.

What now is thineWas only mine,And first to me was given;Thou laugh'st at me!I laugh at thee!And thus we two are even.

What now is thine

Was only mine,

And first to me was given;

Thou laugh'st at me!

I laugh at thee!

And thus we two are even.

But I'll not mourn,But stay my turn;The wind may come about, Sir!And once againMay bring me in;And help to bear you out, Sir!

But I'll not mourn,

But stay my turn;

The wind may come about, Sir!

And once again

May bring me in;

And help to bear you out, Sir!

GOodfolk, for gold or hire,But help me to a Crier!For my poor Heart is run astrayAfter two Eyes, that passed this way.Oh yes! O yes! O yes!If there be any man,In town or country, canBring me my Heart again;I'll please him for his pain.And by these marks, I will you showThat only I this Heart do owe [own]:It is a wounded Heart,Wherein yet sticks the dart.Every piece sore hurt throughout it:Faith and Troth writ round about it.It was a tame Heart, and a dear;And never used to roam:But having got this haunt, I fear'Twill hardly stay at homeFor God's sake, walking by the way,If you my Heart do see;Either impound it for a Stray.Or send it back to me!

GOodfolk, for gold or hire,But help me to a Crier!For my poor Heart is run astrayAfter two Eyes, that passed this way.

Oodfolk, for gold or hire,

But help me to a Crier!

For my poor Heart is run astray

After two Eyes, that passed this way.

Oh yes! O yes! O yes!If there be any man,In town or country, canBring me my Heart again;I'll please him for his pain.

Oh yes! O yes! O yes!

If there be any man,

In town or country, can

Bring me my Heart again;

I'll please him for his pain.

And by these marks, I will you showThat only I this Heart do owe [own]:It is a wounded Heart,Wherein yet sticks the dart.Every piece sore hurt throughout it:Faith and Troth writ round about it.It was a tame Heart, and a dear;And never used to roam:But having got this haunt, I fear'Twill hardly stay at home

And by these marks, I will you show

That only I this Heart do owe [own]:

It is a wounded Heart,

Wherein yet sticks the dart.

Every piece sore hurt throughout it:

Faith and Troth writ round about it.

It was a tame Heart, and a dear;

And never used to roam:

But having got this haunt, I fear

'Twill hardly stay at home

For God's sake, walking by the way,If you my Heart do see;Either impound it for a Stray.Or send it back to me!

For God's sake, walking by the way,

If you my Heart do see;

Either impound it for a Stray.

Or send it back to me!

A Canzonet.

Ipraythee leave! Love me no more!Call home the heart you gave me!I but in vain that Saint adoreThat can, but will not, save me.These poor half kisses kill me quite!Was ever man thus servèd?Amidst an ocean of delight,For pleasure to be starvèd.Show me no more those snowy breastsWith azure riverets branchèd!Where whilst mine Eye with plenty feeds,Yet is my thirst not staunchèd.OTantalus, thy pains ne'er tell!By me thou art prevented:'Tisnothingto be plagued in Hell;But,thus, in Heaven, tormented!Clip me no more in those dear arms;Nor thy "Life's Comfort" call me:O these are but too powerful charms;And do but more enthrall me.But see how patient I am grown,In all this coil about thee!Come, nice Thing, let thy heart alone!I cannot live without thee!

praythee leave! Love me no more!

Call home the heart you gave me!

I but in vain that Saint adore

That can, but will not, save me.

These poor half kisses kill me quite!

Was ever man thus servèd?

Amidst an ocean of delight,

For pleasure to be starvèd.

Show me no more those snowy breastsWith azure riverets branchèd!Where whilst mine Eye with plenty feeds,Yet is my thirst not staunchèd.OTantalus, thy pains ne'er tell!By me thou art prevented:'Tisnothingto be plagued in Hell;But,thus, in Heaven, tormented!

Show me no more those snowy breasts

With azure riverets branchèd!

Where whilst mine Eye with plenty feeds,

Yet is my thirst not staunchèd.

OTantalus, thy pains ne'er tell!

By me thou art prevented:

'Tisnothingto be plagued in Hell;

But,thus, in Heaven, tormented!

Clip me no more in those dear arms;Nor thy "Life's Comfort" call me:O these are but too powerful charms;And do but more enthrall me.But see how patient I am grown,In all this coil about thee!Come, nice Thing, let thy heart alone!I cannot live without thee!

Clip me no more in those dear arms;

Nor thy "Life's Comfort" call me:

O these are but too powerful charms;

And do but more enthrall me.

But see how patient I am grown,

In all this coil about thee!

Come, nice Thing, let thy heart alone!

I cannot live without thee!

Coventry, that dost adornThe country [County] wherein I was born:Yet therein lies not thy praise;Why I should crown thy Towers with bays?Coventry finely walled.'Tis not thy Wall, me to thee weds;Thy Ports; nor thy proud Pyramids;Nor thy trophies of the Boar:But that She which I adore,(Which scarce Goodness's self can pair)First there breathing, blest thy air.The shoulder-bone of a Boar of mighty bigness.Idea; in which name I hideHer, in my heart deified.For what good, Man's mind can see;Only her ideas be:She, in whom the Virtues cameIn Woman's shape, and took her name.She so far past imitationAs (but Nature our creationCould not alter) she had aimedMore than Woman to have framed.She whose truly written story,To thy poor name shall add more glory,Than if it should have been thy chanceT'have bred our Kings that conquered France.Had she been born the former Age,Two famous Pilgrimages: one in Norfolk, the other in Kent.That house had been a Pilgrimage;And reputed more DivineThan Walsingham, orBecket's Shrine.Godiva, DukeLeofric'swife, who obtained the freedom of the city of her husband, by riding through it naked.That Princess, to whom thou dost oweThy Freedom (whose clear blushing snowThe envious sun saw; when as sheNaked rode to make thee free),Was but her type: as to foretellThou shouldst bring forth One should excelHer bounty; by whom thou shouldst haveMore Honour, than she Freedom gave.QueenElizabeth.And that great Queen, which but of lateRuled this land in peace and State,Had not been; but Heaven had swornA Maid should reign when She was born.Of thy streets, which thou hold'st best,And most frequent of the rest;A noted street in Coventry.His Mistress's birthday.HappyMich Park!Every year,On the Fourth of August there,Let thy Maids, fromFlora'sbowers,With their choice and daintiest flowersDeck thee up! and from their store,With brave garlands crown that door!The old man passing by that way,To his son, in time, shall say:"There was that Lady born: whichLong to after Ages shall be sung."Who, unawares being passed by,Back to that house shall cast his eye;Speaking my verses as he goes,And with a sigh shut every Close.Dear City! travelling by thee,When thy rising Spires I see,Destined her Place of Birth;Yet methinks the very earthHallowed is, so far as ICan thee possibly descry.Then thou, dwelling in this place,(Hearing some rude hind disgraceThy city, with some scurvy thingWhich some Jester forth did bring)Speak these Lines, where thou dost come,And strike the slave for ever dumb.

oventry, that dost adorn

The country [County] wherein I was born:

Yet therein lies not thy praise;

Why I should crown thy Towers with bays?

Coventry finely walled.

'Tis not thy Wall, me to thee weds;

Thy Ports; nor thy proud Pyramids;

Nor thy trophies of the Boar:But that She which I adore,(Which scarce Goodness's self can pair)First there breathing, blest thy air.

Nor thy trophies of the Boar:

But that She which I adore,

(Which scarce Goodness's self can pair)

First there breathing, blest thy air.

The shoulder-bone of a Boar of mighty bigness.Idea; in which name I hideHer, in my heart deified.For what good, Man's mind can see;Only her ideas be:She, in whom the Virtues cameIn Woman's shape, and took her name.She so far past imitationAs (but Nature our creationCould not alter) she had aimedMore than Woman to have framed.She whose truly written story,To thy poor name shall add more glory,Than if it should have been thy chanceT'have bred our Kings that conquered France.

The shoulder-bone of a Boar of mighty bigness.

Idea; in which name I hide

Her, in my heart deified.

For what good, Man's mind can see;

Only her ideas be:

She, in whom the Virtues came

In Woman's shape, and took her name.

She so far past imitation

As (but Nature our creation

Could not alter) she had aimed

More than Woman to have framed.

She whose truly written story,

To thy poor name shall add more glory,

Than if it should have been thy chance

T'have bred our Kings that conquered France.

Had she been born the former Age,Two famous Pilgrimages: one in Norfolk, the other in Kent.That house had been a Pilgrimage;And reputed more DivineThan Walsingham, orBecket's Shrine.

Had she been born the former Age,

Two famous Pilgrimages: one in Norfolk, the other in Kent.

That house had been a Pilgrimage;

And reputed more Divine

Than Walsingham, orBecket's Shrine.

Godiva, DukeLeofric'swife, who obtained the freedom of the city of her husband, by riding through it naked.That Princess, to whom thou dost oweThy Freedom (whose clear blushing snowThe envious sun saw; when as sheNaked rode to make thee free),Was but her type: as to foretellThou shouldst bring forth One should excelHer bounty; by whom thou shouldst haveMore Honour, than she Freedom gave.

Godiva, DukeLeofric'swife, who obtained the freedom of the city of her husband, by riding through it naked.

That Princess, to whom thou dost owe

Thy Freedom (whose clear blushing snow

The envious sun saw; when as she

Naked rode to make thee free),

Was but her type: as to foretell

Thou shouldst bring forth One should excel

Her bounty; by whom thou shouldst have

More Honour, than she Freedom gave.

QueenElizabeth.And that great Queen, which but of lateRuled this land in peace and State,Had not been; but Heaven had swornA Maid should reign when She was born.

QueenElizabeth.

And that great Queen, which but of late

Ruled this land in peace and State,

Had not been; but Heaven had sworn

A Maid should reign when She was born.

Of thy streets, which thou hold'st best,And most frequent of the rest;

Of thy streets, which thou hold'st best,

And most frequent of the rest;

A noted street in Coventry.His Mistress's birthday.HappyMich Park!Every year,On the Fourth of August there,Let thy Maids, fromFlora'sbowers,With their choice and daintiest flowersDeck thee up! and from their store,With brave garlands crown that door!

A noted street in Coventry.

His Mistress's birthday.

HappyMich Park!Every year,

On the Fourth of August there,

Let thy Maids, fromFlora'sbowers,

With their choice and daintiest flowers

Deck thee up! and from their store,

With brave garlands crown that door!

The old man passing by that way,To his son, in time, shall say:"There was that Lady born: whichLong to after Ages shall be sung."Who, unawares being passed by,Back to that house shall cast his eye;Speaking my verses as he goes,And with a sigh shut every Close.

The old man passing by that way,

To his son, in time, shall say:

"There was that Lady born: which

Long to after Ages shall be sung."

Who, unawares being passed by,

Back to that house shall cast his eye;

Speaking my verses as he goes,

And with a sigh shut every Close.

Dear City! travelling by thee,When thy rising Spires I see,Destined her Place of Birth;Yet methinks the very earthHallowed is, so far as ICan thee possibly descry.Then thou, dwelling in this place,(Hearing some rude hind disgraceThy city, with some scurvy thingWhich some Jester forth did bring)Speak these Lines, where thou dost come,And strike the slave for ever dumb.

Dear City! travelling by thee,

When thy rising Spires I see,

Destined her Place of Birth;

Yet methinks the very earth

Hallowed is, so far as I

Can thee possibly descry.

Then thou, dwelling in this place,

(Hearing some rude hind disgrace

Thy city, with some scurvy thing

Which some Jester forth did bring)

Speak these Lines, where thou dost come,

And strike the slave for ever dumb.

[Edinburgh: T. and A.Constable, Printers to His Majesty]

FOOTNOTES:[1]Ben Jonson (Conversations with William Drummond of Hawthornden) took exception to the opening lines:—'He scorned such verses as could be transponed—Where is the man that never yett did hearOf faire Penelope, Ulisses Queene?Of faire Penelope Ulisses Queene,Wher is the man that never yett did hear?'[2]The passage is thus rendered by Jasper Mayne (Part of Lucian, made English ... in the year 1638):—'Nor were it amiss, having passed through India and Aethiopia, to draw our discourse down to their neighbouring Aegypt. Where the ancient fiction which goes of Proteus, methinks, signifies him only to be a certain dancer and mimic; who could transform and change himself into all shapes, sometimes acting the fluidness of water, sometimes the sharpness of fire, occasioned by the quickness of its aspiring motion, sometimes the fierceness of a lion, and fury of a libbard, and waving of an oak, and whatever he liked.'[3]Cf. also Arnold's "Obermann once more":—'"Poor World," she cried, "so deep accurst,That runn'st from pole to poleTo seek a draught to quench thy thirst,Go seek it in thy soul."'[4]The poems of Barnfield were not in the originalGarnerand are now incorporated for the first time.[5]Prince in hisWorthies of Devon(1701) quotes this couplet as an epitaph, by an anonymous writer, on Drake.[6]There is a better epitaph on Drake inWit's Recreations(1640):—'Sir Drake, whom well the world's end knew,Which thou didst compasse round.And whom both Poles of Heaven once saw,Which North and South do bound:The Stars above would make thee knownIf men here silent were:The Sun himselfe cannot forgetHis fellow-passenger.'[7]On March 31, 1605, Captain George Weymouth started from the Downs with a crew of twenty-nine to discover a North-West Passage to the East Indies. On May 14 he 'descries land in 41° 30' N. in the midst of dangerous rocks and shoals. Upon which he puts to sea, the wind blowing south-south-west and west-south-west many days' (Prince'sNew England Chronology ap.Garner, ii. 356). Drayton advises the Virginian voyagers to keep the west-by-south course and so avoid misadventures. He had not reckoned on the Spanish fleet.[8]Several of Drayton's works have been reprinted by the Spenser Society, and an excellent Introduction to them has been written by Professor Oliver Elton (1895).[9]Diogenes.[10]Chaucer.[11]pincers.[12]In Warwickshire.

[1]Ben Jonson (Conversations with William Drummond of Hawthornden) took exception to the opening lines:—'He scorned such verses as could be transponed—Where is the man that never yett did hearOf faire Penelope, Ulisses Queene?Of faire Penelope Ulisses Queene,Wher is the man that never yett did hear?'

[1]Ben Jonson (Conversations with William Drummond of Hawthornden) took exception to the opening lines:—

'He scorned such verses as could be transponed—Where is the man that never yett did hearOf faire Penelope, Ulisses Queene?Of faire Penelope Ulisses Queene,Wher is the man that never yett did hear?'

'He scorned such verses as could be transponed—

Where is the man that never yett did hear

Of faire Penelope, Ulisses Queene?

Of faire Penelope Ulisses Queene,

Wher is the man that never yett did hear?'

[2]The passage is thus rendered by Jasper Mayne (Part of Lucian, made English ... in the year 1638):—'Nor were it amiss, having passed through India and Aethiopia, to draw our discourse down to their neighbouring Aegypt. Where the ancient fiction which goes of Proteus, methinks, signifies him only to be a certain dancer and mimic; who could transform and change himself into all shapes, sometimes acting the fluidness of water, sometimes the sharpness of fire, occasioned by the quickness of its aspiring motion, sometimes the fierceness of a lion, and fury of a libbard, and waving of an oak, and whatever he liked.'

[3]Cf. also Arnold's "Obermann once more":—'"Poor World," she cried, "so deep accurst,That runn'st from pole to poleTo seek a draught to quench thy thirst,Go seek it in thy soul."'

[3]Cf. also Arnold's "Obermann once more":—

'"Poor World," she cried, "so deep accurst,That runn'st from pole to poleTo seek a draught to quench thy thirst,Go seek it in thy soul."'

'"Poor World," she cried, "so deep accurst,

That runn'st from pole to pole

To seek a draught to quench thy thirst,

Go seek it in thy soul."'

[4]The poems of Barnfield were not in the originalGarnerand are now incorporated for the first time.

[5]Prince in hisWorthies of Devon(1701) quotes this couplet as an epitaph, by an anonymous writer, on Drake.

[6]There is a better epitaph on Drake inWit's Recreations(1640):—'Sir Drake, whom well the world's end knew,Which thou didst compasse round.And whom both Poles of Heaven once saw,Which North and South do bound:The Stars above would make thee knownIf men here silent were:The Sun himselfe cannot forgetHis fellow-passenger.'

[6]There is a better epitaph on Drake inWit's Recreations(1640):—

'Sir Drake, whom well the world's end knew,Which thou didst compasse round.And whom both Poles of Heaven once saw,Which North and South do bound:The Stars above would make thee knownIf men here silent were:The Sun himselfe cannot forgetHis fellow-passenger.'

'Sir Drake, whom well the world's end knew,

Which thou didst compasse round.

And whom both Poles of Heaven once saw,

Which North and South do bound:

The Stars above would make thee known

If men here silent were:

The Sun himselfe cannot forget

His fellow-passenger.'

[7]On March 31, 1605, Captain George Weymouth started from the Downs with a crew of twenty-nine to discover a North-West Passage to the East Indies. On May 14 he 'descries land in 41° 30' N. in the midst of dangerous rocks and shoals. Upon which he puts to sea, the wind blowing south-south-west and west-south-west many days' (Prince'sNew England Chronology ap.Garner, ii. 356). Drayton advises the Virginian voyagers to keep the west-by-south course and so avoid misadventures. He had not reckoned on the Spanish fleet.

[8]Several of Drayton's works have been reprinted by the Spenser Society, and an excellent Introduction to them has been written by Professor Oliver Elton (1895).

[9]Diogenes.

[10]Chaucer.

[11]pincers.

[12]In Warwickshire.

Transcriber notes:P.18. 'aad' changed to 'and' in stanza #53.P.80. Sidenote: 'sensative' changed to 'sensitive'.P.82. Sidenote: 'Unerstanding' changed to 'Understanding'.P.110. 'Astrea' changed to 'Astræ' in Hymn II.Fixed various punctuation.

Transcriber notes:

P.18. 'aad' changed to 'and' in stanza #53.

P.80. Sidenote: 'sensative' changed to 'sensitive'.

P.82. Sidenote: 'Unerstanding' changed to 'Understanding'.

P.110. 'Astrea' changed to 'Astræ' in Hymn II.

Fixed various punctuation.

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