Phoebus make haste, the day's too long, begone, The silent night's the fittest time for moan; But stay this once, unto my suit give ear, And tell my griefs in either Hemisphere:...
When England did enjoy her Halsion dayes, Her noble Sidney wore the Crown of Bayes; As well an honour to our British Land, As she that sway'd the Scepter with her hand; Mars and Minerva did in one agree,...
All things within this fading world hath end, Adversity doth still our joys attend; No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet, But with death's parting blow is sure to meet....
Proem. Although great Queen, thou now in silence lie, Yet thy loud Herald Fame, doth to the sky Thy wondrous worth proclaim, in every clime, And so has vow'd, whilst there is world or time....
With troubled heart and trembling hand I write. The heavens have changed to sorrow my delight. How oft with dissappointment have I met When I on fading things my hopes have set....
I had eight birds hatched in one nest, Four cocks there were, and hens the rest. I nursed them up with pain and care, Nor cost, nor labour did I spare, Till at the last they felt their wing,...
Lo now four other act upon the stage, Childhood and Youth the Manly & Old age; The first son unto flegm, Grand-child to water, Unstable, supple, cold and moist's his nature....
The former four now ending their discourse, Ceasing to vaunt their good, or threat their force, Lo other four step up, crave leave to show The native qualityes that from them flow:...
Thou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain, Who after birth did'st by my side remain, Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true, Who thee abroad expos'd to public view,...
In secret place where once I stood Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood, I heard two sisters reason on Things that are past and things to come. One Flesh was call'd, who had her eye...
The Fire, Air, Earth and Water did contest Which was the strongest, noblest and the best, Who was of greatest use and might'est force; In placide Terms they thought now to discourse,...
When time was young, & World in Infancy, Man did not proudly strive for Soveraignty: But each one thought his petty Rule was high, If of his house he held the Monarchy....
Another four I've left yet to bring on, Of four times four the last Quarternion The Winter, Summer, Autumn & the Spring, In season all these Seasons I shall bring:...
To sing of Wars, of Captains, and of Kings, Of Cities founded, Common-wealths begun, For my mean pen are too superior things: Or how they all, or each their dates have run...
Stout Romulus, Romes founder, and first King, Whom vestal Rhea to the world did bring; His Father was not Mars as some devis'd, But 'mulus in Armour all disguiz'd:...
Cyrus Cambyses Son of Persia King, Whom Lady Mandana did to him bring, She daughter unto great Astiages, He in descent the seventh from Arbaces. Cambyses was of Achemenes race,...
Great Alexander was wise Philips son, He to Amyntas, Kings of Macedon; The cruel proud Olympias was his Mother, She to Epirus warlike King was daughter. This Prince (his father by Pausanias slain)...
As he said vanity, so vain say I, Oh! vanity, O vain all under Sky; Where is the man can say, lo, I have found On brittle Earth a Consolation sound? What is't in honour to be set on high?...