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DARBY-SHIRE.
1663.
To Mr. P. K. upon his Prolusion to his intended History of that County.
I'l knock at Gate; Who is it lives here? Ho!
It is a Palace by the Portico.
The Porch of Solomon was thus esteem'd;
Compar'd with others it a Temple seem'd.
'Tis thine Aurora, which (as Poets say)
Is Harbinger to a more glorious Day.
Thy Lady-Fancy in her Bed still lies,
This is the Usher that attends her rise,
Her Face is beautiful, and makes us wooe
T'enjoy the Blessings of the Body too.
Thy quick Invention may be justly ghest
More than half ready, since her Head is drest.
Thy Preface, like a hopeful Heir, does stand
Rich in Reversion of the Father's Land.
The infant-bud that does such sweetness own,
What may it promise when the Rose is blown?
In this small Handful thou hast clutcht such store,
Methinks thy Country should afford no more.
Yet Darbyshire is so enrich'd by thee,
It now may vie with fruitful Thessaly.
Potosi Mines, and Rocks of Bengalay,
Thine happy Country are more rich than they.
Its Leaden Treasures (that our Cannons hold)
We can exchange for Argosies of Gold.
Pearls, Diamonds, Rubies, and such costly fraight,
Our smaller Shot can purchase weight for weight.
It is a Palace by the Portico.
The Porch of Solomon was thus esteem'd;
Compar'd with others it a Temple seem'd.
'Tis thine Aurora, which (as Poets say)
Is Harbinger to a more glorious Day.
Thy Lady-Fancy in her Bed still lies,
This is the Usher that attends her rise,
85
T'enjoy the Blessings of the Body too.
Thy quick Invention may be justly ghest
More than half ready, since her Head is drest.
Thy Preface, like a hopeful Heir, does stand
Rich in Reversion of the Father's Land.
The infant-bud that does such sweetness own,
What may it promise when the Rose is blown?
In this small Handful thou hast clutcht such store,
Methinks thy Country should afford no more.
Yet Darbyshire is so enrich'd by thee,
It now may vie with fruitful Thessaly.
Potosi Mines, and Rocks of Bengalay,
Thine happy Country are more rich than they.
Its Leaden Treasures (that our Cannons hold)
We can exchange for Argosies of Gold.
Pearls, Diamonds, Rubies, and such costly fraight,
Our smaller Shot can purchase weight for weight.
Those rare Coal-Mines (thy Book to us here shows)
Far greater Miracles than all disclose:
The Carbuncle and Topaz are out-shone;
Here's Light and Heat too, treasur'd in a stone.
Pliny did ne're of such a Wonder write;
Here you may see the Heat, and feel the Light.
Far greater Miracles than all disclose:
The Carbuncle and Topaz are out-shone;
Here's Light and Heat too, treasur'd in a stone.
Pliny did ne're of such a Wonder write;
Here you may see the Heat, and feel the Light.
Pactolus, Tagus, and those Eastern streams,
(Whose Pibbles, Poets have advanc'd to Gemms)
Exceed not thy clear Trent; when thou hast told
Its Stream's like Silver, and its Sand like Gold.
Why dost not witty Cotton then invite,
To do thee and his native River right.
Such Trophies rais'd in great Augustus's days,
Their Founders were not only crown'd with Bays;
But we may see each Leaf was edg'd with Gold,
Mecænas Favours in their Verse inroll'd.
Nor were their hopes by Patrons only rais'd;
Their merits also were by Poets prais'd.
Thus when thou dost thy lofty Building reer,
Stately, as Hardwick or as Chatsworth are;
Thou'lt see the prouder Wits make their resort,
And humbly beg admittance to thy Court;
Whilst I am justly proud that I may wait,
And stand a Porter to attend thy Gate.
(Whose Pibbles, Poets have advanc'd to Gemms)
Exceed not thy clear Trent; when thou hast told
Its Stream's like Silver, and its Sand like Gold.
Why dost not witty Cotton then invite,
To do thee and his native River right.
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Their Founders were not only crown'd with Bays;
But we may see each Leaf was edg'd with Gold,
Mecænas Favours in their Verse inroll'd.
Nor were their hopes by Patrons only rais'd;
Their merits also were by Poets prais'd.
Thus when thou dost thy lofty Building reer,
Stately, as Hardwick or as Chatsworth are;
Thou'lt see the prouder Wits make their resort,
And humbly beg admittance to thy Court;
Whilst I am justly proud that I may wait,
And stand a Porter to attend thy Gate.
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