Forth feasting A panegyricke to the Kings most excellent Maiestie.

FORTH FEASTING . A PANEGYRICKE To the Kings most excellent Majesty . WHat blustring Noise now interrupts my Sleepe ? What echoing Shouts thus cleaue my chrystal Deep ? And call mee hence from out my watrie Court ? What Melodie , what Sounds of Ioye and Sport , Bee these heere hurl'd from eu'rie neighbour Spring ? With what lowd Rumours doe the Mountaines ring ? Which in vnusuall Pompe on tip-toes stand , And ( full of Wonder ) ouer-looke the Land ? Whence come these glittring Throngs , these Meteors bright , This golden People set vnto my Sight ? Whence doth this Praise , Applause , and Loue arise ? What Load-starre east-ward draweth thus all Eyes ? And doe I wake ? or haue some Dreames conspir'd To mocke my Sense with Shadowes much desir'd ? Stare I that liuing Face , see I those Lookes , Which with Delight wont to amaze my Brookes ? Doe I beholde that Worth , that Man diuine , This Ages Glorie , by these Bankes of mine ? Then is it true what long I wish'd in vaine ? That my much-louing Prince is come againe ? So vnto them whose Zenith is the Pole When sixe blacke Months are past the Sunne doth rolle : So after Tempest to Sea-tossed Wights , Faire Helens Brothers show their Chearing Lights : So comes Arabias Meruaile from her Woods , And farre farre off is seene by Memphis Floods , The feather'd Syluans clowd-like by her flie , And with applauding Clangors beate the Skie , Nyle wonders , Seraps Priests entranced raue , And in Mygdonian Stone her Shape ingraue ▪ In golden Leaues write downe the joyfull time In which Apollos Bird came to their clime . Let Mother Earth now deckt with Flowrs bee seene , And sweet-breath'd Zephyres curle the Medowes greene : Let Heauens weepe Rubies in a crimsin Showre , Such as on Indies Shores they vse to powre : Or with that golden Storme the Fields adorne , Which Loue rain'd , when his Blew-eyed Maide was borne . May neuer Houres the Webbe of Day out-weaue , May neuer Night rise from her sable Caue . Swell prowd my Billowes , faint not to declare Your Ioyes , as ample as their Causes are : For Murmures hoarse sound like Arions Harpe , Now delicatelie flat , now sweetlie sharpe . And you my Nymphes , rise from your moyst Repaire , Strow all your Springs and Grotts with Lillies faire : Some swiftest-footed get her hence and pray Our Floods and Lakes , come keepe this Holie-day ; What e're beneath Albanias Hills doe runne , Which see the rising or the setting Sunne , Which drinke , Sterne Grampius Mists , or Ochelles Snows : Stone-rowling Taye , Tine Tortoyse-like that flows , The Pearlie Done , the Deas , the fertile Spay , Wild Neuerne which doth see our longest Day , Nesse smoaking-Sulphure , Leaue with Mountains crown'd , Strange Loumond for his floting Isles renown'd : The Irish Rian , Ken , the Siluer Aire , The Snakie Dun , the Ore with Rushie Haire , The Chrystall-streaming Nid , lowd-bellowing Clyd , Tweed which no more our Kingdomes shall diuide : Rancke-swelling Annan , Lid with curled Streames , The Eskes , the Solway where they loose their Names . To eu'rie one proclaime our Ioyes , and Feasts , Our Triumphes , bid all come , and bee our Guests : And as they meet in Neptunes azure Hall , Bid them bid Sea-Gods keepe this Festiuall . This Day shall by our Currents bee renown'd , Our Hills about shall still this Day resound : Nay , that our loue more to this Day appeare , Let vs with it hencefoorth begin our Yeare . To Virgins Flowrs , to Sun-burnt Earth the Raine , To Mariners faire Winds amidst the Maine : Coole Shades to Pilgrimes , which hote Glances burne , Please not so much , to vs as thy returne . That Day ( deare Prince ) which rest vs of thy Sight , [ Day , no , but Darknesse ▪ and a clowdie Night ] Did fraight , our Brests with Sights , our Eyes with Teares , Turn'd Minutes in sad Months , sad Months in Yeares : Trees left to flowrish , Meadows to beare Flowrs , Brookes hid their Heads within their Sedgie Bowrs , Faire Ceres curst our Fields with barren Frost , As if againe shee had her Daughter lost : The Muses left our Groues , and for sweete Songs Sate sadlie silent , or did weepe their Wrongs ; Yee know it Meads , yee murmuring Woods it know , Hilles , Dales , and Caues , Copartners of their Woe ; And yee it know my Streames , which from their Eine Oft on your Glasse recieu'd their pearled Brine ; O Naïds deare ( saide they ) Napaeas faire , O Nymphes of Trees , Nymphes which on Hills repaire , Gone are those maiden Glories , Gone that State , Which made all Eyes admire our Hap of late . As lookes the Heauen when neuer Starre appeares , But slow and wearie shroude them in their Spheares , While Tithons wife embosom'd by him lies , And World doth languish in a drearie Guise : As lookes a Garden of its Beautie spoil'd . As Wood in Winter by rough Boreas foil'd : As Pourtraicts raz'd of Colours vse to bee : So lookt these abject Bounds depriu'd of Thee . While as my Rills enjoy'd thy royall Gleames , They did not enuie Tybers haughtie Streames , Nor wealthie Tagus with his golden Ore , Nor cleare Hydaspes , which on Pearles doth roare , Empampred Gange , that sees the Sunne new borne , Nor Acheloüs with his flowrie Horne , Nor Floods which neare Elysian Fields doe fall : For why ? thy Sight did serue to them for all . No Place there is so desert , so alone , Euen from the frozen to the torrid Zone , From flaming Hecla to great Quincys Lake , Which thine abode could not most happie make . All those Perfections which by bounteous Heauen To diuerse Worlds in diuerse Times were giuen , The starrie Senate powr'd at once on Thee , That Thou Examplare mightst to others bee . Thy Life was kept till the three sisters spunne Their Threedes of Gold , and then it was begunne . With curled Clowds when Skies doe looke most faire , And no disordred Blasts disturbe the Aire : When Lillies doe them decke in azure Gownes , And new-borne Roses blushe with golden Crownes ; To bode how calme wee vnder Thee should liue , What Halcyonean Dayes Thy Reigne should giue , And to two flowrie Diadems Thy right , The Heauens Thee made a Partner of the Light . Scarce wast Thou borne , when joyn'd in friendlie Bands Two mortall Foes with other clasped Hands , With Vertue Fortune stroue , which most should grace Thy Place for Thee , Thee for so high a Place , One vow'd thy sacred Brest not to forsake , The Other on Thee not to turne her Backe , And that Thou more her loues Effects mightst feele For Thee shee rent her Saile , and broke her Wheele . When Yeeres Thee vigour gaue , O then how cleare Did smother'd Sparkles in bright Flames appeare ! Amongst the Woods to force a flying Hart , To pearce the mountaine Wolfe with feathred Dart , See Faulcons climbe the Clowds , the Foxe ensnare , Out-runne the winde-out-running daedale Hare , To loose a trampling Steede alongst a Plaine , And in meandring Gyres him bring againe , The Preasse Thee making place , were vulgare Things , In Admirations Aire on Glories Wings O! Thou farre from the common Pitch didst rise , With Thy designes to dazell Enuies Eyes : Thou soughtst to know , this Alls eternall Source , Of euer-turning Heauens the restlesse Course , Their fixed Eyes , their Lights which wandring runne , Whence Moone her Siluer hath , his Gold the Sunne ▪ If Destine bee or no , if Planets can By fierce Aspects force the Free-will of Man : The light and spyring Fire , the liquid Aire , The flaming Dragons , Comets with red Haire , Heauens tilting Launces , Attillerie , and Bow , Lowd-sounding Trumpets , Darts of Haile and Snow , The roaring Element with People dombe , The Earth with what conceiu'd is in her Wombe , What on her moues , were set vnto thy Sight , Till thou didst find their Causes , Essence , Might : But vnto nought Thou so Thy Mind didst straine As to bee read in Man and learne to raigne ; To know the Weight and Atlas of a Crowne , To spare the Humble Prowdlings pester downe . When from those pearcing Cares which Thrones inuest , As Thornes the Rose , Thou weari'd wouldst Thee rest , With Lute in Hand , full of Coelestiall Fire , To the Pierian Groues Thou didst retire : There , garlanded with all Vranias Flowrs , In sweeter Layes than builded Thaebès Towrs , Or them which charm'd the Dolphines in the Maine , Or which did call Euridicè againe , Thou sungst away the Houres , till from their Spheare Starrs seem'd to shoote , Thy Melodie to heare . The God with golden Haire , the Sister Maids , Left , nymphall Helicon , their Tempès Shades , To see Thine Isle , heere lost their natiue Tongue , And in Thy world-diuided Language sung . Who of thine After-age can count the Deedes , With all that Fame in Times hudge Annales Reedes , How by Example more than anie Law , This People fierce Thou didst to Goodnesse draw , How while the Neighbour Worlds ( tows'd by the Fates ) So manie Phaëtons had in their States , Which turn'd in heedlesse Flames their Burnish'd Thrones , Thou ( as ensphear'd ) keep'dst temperate Thy Zones ; In Africke Shores the Sands that ebbe and flow , The speckled Flowrs in vnshorne Meads that grow , Hee sure may count , with all the Waues that meet To wash the Mauritanian Atlas feet . Though Thou were not a crowned King by Birth , Thy Worth deserues the richest Crowne on Earth . Search this Halfë . Spheare and the opposite Ground , Where is such Wit and Bountie to bee found ? As into silent Night , when neare the Beare The Virgine Huntresse shines at full most cleare , And striues to match her Brothers golden Light , The Hoast of Starrs doth vanish in her sight , Arcturus dies , cool'd is the Lyons ire , Po burnes no more with Phaëtontall Fire , Orion faints to see his Armes grow blacke , And that his blazing Sword hee now doth lacke : So Europes Lights , all bright in their Degree , Loose all their Lustre paragond with Thee . By just discent Thou from moe Kings dost shine , Than maine can name Men in all their Line : What most they toyle to find , and finding hold , Thou scornest , orient Gemmes , and flattring Gold : Esteeming Treasure surer in Mens Brests , Than when immur'd with Marble , clos'd in Chests ; No Stormie Passions doe disturbe Thy Mind , No Mists of Greatnesse euer could Thee blind : Who yet hath beene so meeke ? Thou Life didst giue To them who did repine to see Thee liue . What Prince by Goodnesse hath such Kingdoms gain'd ? Who hath so long his Peoples Peace maintain'd ? Their Swords are turn'd in Sythes , in Culters Speares , Some giant Post their anticke Armour beares : Now , where the wounded Knight his Life did bleed , The wanton Swaine sits piping on a Reed , And where the Canon did Ioues Thunder scorne , The gawdie Hunts-man windes his shrill-tun'd Horne : Her greene Lockes Ceres without feare doth die , The Pilgrime safelie in the Shade doth lie , Both Pan and Pales ( carelesse ) keepe their Flockes , Seas haue no Dangers saue the Winds and Rockes : Thou art this Isles Palladium , neither can [ While Thou art kept ] it bee o're-throwne by Man . Let Others boast of Blood and Spoyles of Foes , Fierce Rapines , Murders , Iliads of Woes , Of hated Pompe , and Trophaees reared faire , Gore-spangled Ensignes streaming in the Aire , Count how they make the Scythian them adore , The Gaditan the Souldier of Aurore , Unhappie Vauntrie ! to enlarge their Bounds , Which charge themselues with Cares , their Frends with wounds ; Which haue no Law to their ambitious Will , But ( Man-plagues ) borne are humane Blood to spill : Thou a true Victor art , sent from aboue What Others straine by Force to gaine by Loue , World-wandring Fame this Praise to Thee imparts , To bee the onlie Monarch of all Hearts . They manie feare who are of manie fear'd , And Kingdomes got by Wrongs by Wrongs are tear'd , Such Thrones as Blood doth raise Blood throweth downe , No Guard so sure as Loue vnto a Crowne . Eye of our westerne World , Mars . daunting King , With whose Renowne the Earths seuen Climats ring , Thy Deeds not only claime these Diademes , To which Thame , Liffy , Taye , subject their Streames : But to thy Vertues rare , and Gifts , is due , All that the Planet of the Yeare doth view ; Sure if the World aboue did want a Prince , The World aboue to it would take Thee hence . That Murder , Rapine , Lust , are fled to Hell , And in their Roomes with vs the Graces dwell , That Honour more than Riches Men respect , That Worthinesse than Gold doth more effect , That Pietie vnmasked showes her Face , That Innocencie keepes with Power her Place , That long-exil'd Astrea leaues the Heauen , And vseth right her Sword , her Weights holds euen , That the Saturnian World is come againe , Are wish'd Effects of Thy most happie Raigne . That daylie Peace , Loue , Truth , Delights encrease , And Discord , Hate , Fraude , with Incombers cease , That Men vse Strength not to shed others Blood , But vse their Strength now to doe other Good , That Furie is enchain'd , disarmed Wrath , That ( saue by Natures Hand ) there is no Death , That late grimme Foes , like Brothers other loue , That Vultures prey not on the harmlesse Doue , That Wolues with Lambs doe Friendship entertaine , Are wish'd Effects of thy most happie Raigne . That Towns encrease , that ruin'd Temples rise , And their wind-mouing Vanes plante in the Skies , That Ignorance and Sloth hence runne away , That buri'd Arts now rowse them to the Day , That Hyperiòn farre beyond his Bed Doth see our Lyons rampe , our Roses spred , That Iber courts vs , Tyber not vs charmes , That Rhein with hence-brought Beams his Bosome warmes , That Euill vs feare , and Good vs doe maintaine , Are wish'd Effects of Thy most happie Raigne . O Vertues Patterne , Glorie of our Times , Sent of past Dayes to expiate the Crimes , Great King , but better farre than thou art great , Whom State not honours , but who honours State , By Wonder borne , by Wonder first enstall'd , By Wonder after to new Kingdomes call'd , Young , kept by Wonder , neare home-bred Alarmes , Old , sau'd by Wonder , from pale Traitours Harmes , To bee for this Thy Raigne which Wonders brings , A King of Wonder , Wonder vnto Kings . If Pict , Dane , Norman , Thy smooth Yoke had seene , Pict , Dane , and Norman , had Thy Subjects beene : If Brutus knew the Blisse Thy Rule doth giue , Euen Brutus joye would vnder Thee to liue : For Thou Thy People dost so dearlie loue , That they a Father , more than Prince , Thee proue . O Dayes to bee desir'd ! Age happie thrice ! If yee your Heauen-sent-Good could duelie prize , But yee ( halfe-palsey-sicke ) thinke neuer right Of what yee hold , till it bee from your Sight , Prize onlie Summers sweet and musked Breath , When armed Winters threaten you with Death , In pallid Sicknesse doe esteeme of Health , And by sad Pouertie discerne of Wealth : I see an Age when after manie Yeares , And Reuolutions of the slow-pac'd Spheares , These Dayes shall bee to other farre esteem'd , And like Augustus palmie Raigne bee deem'd . The Names ▪ of Arthure Fabulous Palladines , Grau'n in Times surlie Brows in wrinckled Lines , Of Henries , Edwards , Famous for their Fights , Their Neighbour Conquests , Orders new of Knights , Shall by this Princes Name bee past as farre As Meteors are by the Idalian Starre . If Gray-hair'd Proteüs Songs the Truth not misse , And Gray-hair'd Proteüs oft a Prophet is , There is a Land hence-distant manie Miles , Out-reaching Fiction and Atlanticke Iles , Which ( Homelings ) from this little World wee name , That shall imblazon with strange Rites his Fame , Shall , raise him Statues all of purest Gold , Such as men gaue vnto the Gods of old . Name by him Fanes , prowd Pallaces , and Townes , With some great Flood , which most their Fields renownes , This is that King who should make right each wrong , Of whom the Bards and mysticke Sybilles song , The Man long promis'd , by whose glorious Raigne , This Isle should yet her ancient Name regaine , And more of Fortunate deserue the Stile , Than those where Heauens with double Summers smile . Runne on ( Great Prince ) Thy Course in Glories Way , The End the Life the Euening crownes the Day ▪ Heape Worth on Worth , and stronglie soare aboue Those Heights which made the World the first to loue , Surmount Thy Selfe , and make thine Actions past Bee but as Gleames or Lightnings of Thy last , Let them exceed them of Thy younger Time , As farre as Autumne doth the flowrie Prime . Through this Thy Empire range , like Worlds bright Eye , That once each Yeare suruayes all Earth and Skie , Now glaunces on the slow and restic Beares , Then turnes to drie the weeping Austers Teares , Iust vnto both the Poles , and moueth euen In the infigur'd Circle of the Heauen . O long long haunt these Bounds , which by Thy Sight Haue now regain'd their former Heate and Light . Heere grow greene Woods , heere siluer Brookes doe glide , Heere Meadowes stretch them out with painted Pride Embrodring all the Banks , heere Hills aspire To crowne their Heads with the aetheriall Fire : Hills , Bullwarkes of our Freedome , giant Walls , Which neuer Fremdlings Slight nor Sword made Thralls ; Each circling Flood to Thetis Tribute payes , Men heere ( in Health ) out-liue old Nestors Dayes : Grimme Saturne yet amongst our Rockes remaines , Bound in our Caues , with manie Mettald Chaines : Bulls haunt our Shades like Ledas Louer white , Which yet might breede Pasiphaè Delight , Our Flocks faire Fleeces beare , with which for Sport Eudemion of Old the Moone did court , High-palmed Harts amidst our Forrests runne , And , not impall'd , the deepe-mouth'd Hounds doe shunne ; The rough-foote Hare him in our Bushes shrowds , And long-wing'd Haulks doe pearch amidst our Clowds . The wanton wood-Nymphes of the verdant Spring , Blew , Golden , Purple , Flowers shall to Thee bring , Pomonas Fruits the Paniskes , Thetis Gyrles Thy Thulys Amber , with the Ocean Pearles ; The Tritons , Heards-men of the glassie Field , Shall giue Thee what farre-distant Shores can yeeld , The Serean Fleeces , Erythrean Gemmes , Vaste Platas Siluer , Gold of Peru Streames , Antarticke Parrots , Aethiopian Plumes , Sabaean Odours , Myrrhe , and sweet Perfumes . And I my selfe , wrapt in a watchet Gowne , Of Reeds and Lillies on my Head a Crowne , Shall Incense to Thee burne , greene Altars raise , And yearlie sing due Paeans to thy Praise . Ah why should Isis onlie see Thee shine ? Is not Thy FORTH , as well as Isis Thine ? Though Isis vaunt shee hath more Wealth in store , Let it suffice Thy FORTH doth loue Thee more : Though Shee for Beautie may compare with Seine , For Swannes and Sea - Nymphes with Imperiall Rhene , Yet in the Title may bee claim'd in Thee , Nor Shee , nor all the World , can match with mee . Now when ( by Honour drwne ) Thou shalt away To her alreadie jelous of Thy stay , When in her amourous Armes Shee doth thee fold , And dries thy Dewie Haires with Hers of Gold , Much questioning of Thy Fare , much of Thy Sport , Much of Thine Absence , Long , how e're so short , And chides ( perhaps ) Thy Comming to the North , Lothe not ro thinke on Thy much-louing FORTH . O loue these Bounds , whereof Thy royall Stemme More than an hundreth were a Diademe . So euer Gold and Bayes Thy Browes adorne , So neuer Time may see Thy Race out-worne , So of Thine Owne still mayst Thou bee desir'd , Of Strangers fear'd , redoubted , and admir'd . So MEMORIE the Praise , so pretious Houres May character Thy Name in starrie Flowres ; So may Thy high Exployts at last make euen , With Earth thy Empire , Glorie with the Heauen . FINIS .