The Worthines of Wales Wherein are more then a thousand seuerall things rehearsed: some set out in prose to the pleasure of the Reader, and with such varietie of verse for the beautifying of the Book, as no doubt shal delight thousands to vnderstand. Which worke is enterlarded with many wonders and right strange matter to consider of: All the which labour and deuice is drawne forth and set out by Thomas Churchyard, to the glorie of God, and honour of his Prince and Countrey |
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 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
Returne
I must, to my discourse before,
Of Borrow townes, and Castles as they are:
Aborgaynie, behind I kept in store,
Whose Seate and Soyle, with best may well compare.
The Towne somewhat, on steepe and mounting hill,
With Pastor grounds, and Meddowes great at will.
On euery side, huge Mountaines hard and hye,
And some thicke woods, to please the gazers eye.
Of Borrow townes, and Castles as they are:
It stands ouer two little Riuers called Ceybbie and Ceyuennie, of which Ceyuen̄ie, Aborgeuenie tooke the name.
Whose Seate and Soyle, with best may well compare.
The Towne somewhat, on steepe and mounting hill,
With Pastor grounds, and Meddowes great at will.
On euery side, huge Mountaines hard and hye,
And some thicke woods, to please the gazers eye.
The Riuer Oske, along the Uale doth passe,
Right vnderneath, an auncient Bridge of stone:
A goodly worke, when first it reared was,
(And yet the Shiere, can shewe no such a one)
Makes men to knowe, old Buildings were not bare,
And newe things blush, that steps not so in place,
With suretie good, and shewe to step on stage,
To make newe world, to honor former age.
Right vnderneath, an auncient Bridge of stone:
A goodly worke, when first it reared was,
(And yet the Shiere, can shewe no such a one)
Makes men to knowe, old Buildings were not bare,
And newe things blush, that steps not so in place,
With suretie good, and shewe to step on stage,
To make newe world, to honor former age.
For former tyme, built Townes and Castles trim,
Made Bridges braue, and strong for tyme to come:
And our young daies, that doth in glorie swim,
Holds hard in hand, that finger fast may thome.
Looke what tyme past, made gallant fresh and fayre,
Tyme present spoyles, or will not well repayre:
As in this Towne, a stately Castle shoes,
Which loe to ruyne, and wretched wracke it goes.
Made Bridges braue, and strong for tyme to come:
And our young daies, that doth in glorie swim,
Holds hard in hand, that finger fast may thome.
Looke what tyme past, made gallant fresh and fayre,
Tyme present spoyles, or will not well repayre:
As in this Towne, a stately Castle shoes,
Which loe to ruyne, and wretched wracke it goes.
Most goodly Towers, are bare and naked laft,
That cou'red were, with timber and good lead:
These Towers yet stand, as streight as doth a shaft,
The walles whereof, might serue to some good stead.
For sound and thicke, and wondrous high withall,
They are in deede, and likely not to fall:
Would God therefore, the owner of the same,
Did stay them vp, for to encreace his fame.
That cou'red were, with timber and good lead:
These Towers yet stand, as streight as doth a shaft,
The walles whereof, might serue to some good stead.
They are in deede, and likely not to fall:
Would God therefore, the owner of the same,
Did stay them vp, for to encreace his fame.
Who doth delight, to see a goodly Plaine,
Faire Riuers runne, great woods and mountaines hye:
Let him a while, in any Tower remaine,
And he shall see, that may content the eye.
Great ruth to let, so trim a Seate goe downe,
The Countries strength, and beautie of the Towne:
A Lordly place, a princely plot and viewe,
That laughs to scorne, our patched buildings newe.
Faire Riuers runne, great woods and mountaines hye:
Let him a while, in any Tower remaine,
And he shall see, that may content the eye.
Great ruth to let, so trim a Seate goe downe,
The Countries strength, and beautie of the Towne:
A Lordly place, a princely plot and viewe,
That laughs to scorne, our patched buildings newe.
The shell of this, I meane the walles without,
The worthie worke, that is so finely wrought:
The Sellers deepe, and buildings round about,
The firme Freestone, that was so derely bought,
Makes men lament, the losse of such a thing,
That was of late, a house for any King.
Yea who so wayes, the worth of Castle yet,
With heauie mynd, in muse and dump shall sit.
The worthie worke, that is so finely wrought:
The Sellers deepe, and buildings round about,
The firme Freestone, that was so derely bought,
Makes men lament, the losse of such a thing,
That was of late, a house for any King.
Yea who so wayes, the worth of Castle yet,
With heauie mynd, in muse and dump shall sit.
To see so strong, and stately worke decay,
The same disease, hath Oske in Castle wall:
Which on maine Rocke, was builded euery way,
And now Got wot, is readie downe to fall.
A number more, in Monmouth Shiere I finde,
That can not well, abyde a blast of winde:
The losse is theirs, that sees them ouerthrowne,
The gaine were ours, if yet they were our owne.
The same disease, hath Oske in Castle wall:
Which on maine Rocke, was builded euery way,
And now Got wot, is readie downe to fall.
A number more, in Monmouth Shiere I finde,
That can not well, abyde a blast of winde:
The losse is theirs, that sees them ouerthrowne,
The gaine were ours, if yet they were our owne.
Though Castle here, through trackt of tyme is worne,
A Church remaines, that worthie is of note:
Where worthie men, that hath bene nobly borne,
Were layd in Tombe, which els had bene forgot.
And buried cleane, in graue past mynd of man,
As thousans are, forgot since world began:
Whose race was great, and who for want of Tome,
In dust doth dwell, vnknowne till day of Dome.
A Church remaines, that worthie is of note:
Where worthie men, that hath bene nobly borne,
Were layd in Tombe, which els had bene forgot.
As thousans are, forgot since world began:
Whose race was great, and who for want of Tome,
In dust doth dwell, vnknowne till day of Dome.
| The Worthines of Wales | |