 | The Works of Michael Drayton |  |
498
TO MASTER NICHOLAS GEFFE.
[_]
[From Nicholas Geffe's translation of Olivier de Serres's The Perfect Use of Silk-wormes, 1607.]
As thou deare friend with thy industrious hand
Reachest this rich invaluable Clue;
So once Columbus offred to this land
That from which Spaine her now-hie courage drue.
Reachest this rich invaluable Clue;
So once Columbus offred to this land
That from which Spaine her now-hie courage drue.
And had not she provok'd by his designes,
Traveld to find what hidden was before,
Ne're had her Argo's from the Indian mines
Powr'd their full panches, on th'Iberian shore.
Traveld to find what hidden was before,
Ne're had her Argo's from the Indian mines
Powr'd their full panches, on th'Iberian shore.
From small beginnings how brave noble things
Have gathered vigor and themselves have rear'd
To be the strength and maintenance of Kings
That at the first but frivolous appear'd:
Have gathered vigor and themselves have rear'd
To be the strength and maintenance of Kings
That at the first but frivolous appear'd:
So may thy Silk-wormes happily increase
From sea to sea to propagate their seed,
That plant still, nourish'd by our glorious peace
Whose leafe alone, the labouring Worme doth feed.
From sea to sea to propagate their seed,
That plant still, nourish'd by our glorious peace
Whose leafe alone, the labouring Worme doth feed.
And may thy fame perpetually advance
Rich when by thee, thy countrey shall be made;
Naples, Granado, Portugale, and France,
All to sit idle, wondring at our trade.
Rich when by thee, thy countrey shall be made;
Naples, Granado, Portugale, and France,
All to sit idle, wondring at our trade.
The tree acquainting with the Brittish soyle
And the true use unto our people taught
Shall trebble ten times recompence the toile
(From forraine parts) of him it hither brought,
And the true use unto our people taught
Shall trebble ten times recompence the toile
(From forraine parts) of him it hither brought,
In spight of them would rob thee of thy due,
Yet not deprive us of thy noble skill,
Still let faire vertue to her selfe be true,
Although the times ingratefull be and ill.
Yet not deprive us of thy noble skill,
Still let faire vertue to her selfe be true,
Although the times ingratefull be and ill.
Michael Drayton.
| The Works of Michael Drayton | |