University of Virginia Library

Epigram.

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The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[Come my braue gallant come, vncase, vncase]

Come my braue gallant come, vncase, vncase,
Nere shall obliuion your great actes deface.
He has been there where neuer man came yet,
An vnknowne countrie, I, ile warrant it,
Whence he could Ballace a good ship in holde,
With Rubies, Saphiers, Diamonds and golde,
Great Orient Pearles esteem'd no more then moates,
Sould by the pecke as chandlers measure oates,
I meruaile then we haue no trade from thence:
O tis too farre it will not beare expence.
T'were far indeede, a good way from our mayne,
If charges eate vp such excessiue gaine,
Well he can shew you some of Lybian grauell,
O that there were another world to trauell,
I heard him sweare that hee (twas in his mirth)
Had been in all the corners of the earth.
Let all his wonders be together stitcht,
He threw the barre that great Alcides pitcht:
But he that saw the Oceans farthest strands,
You pose him if you aske where Douer stands.
He has been vnder ground and hell did see,
Aeneas nere durst goe so farre as hee.
For he has gone through Plutœs Regiment,
Saw how the Fiendes doe Lyers there torment.
And how they did in helles damnation frye,
But who would thinke the Traueller would lye?
To dine with Pluto he was made to tarrie,
As kindly vs'd as at his Ordinarie.
Hogsheades of wine drawne out into a Tub,
Where he did drinke hand-smooth with Belzebub,
And Proserpine gaue him a goulden bow,
Tis in his chest he cannot shew it now.