The Poems of William Smith :: :: University of Virginia Library

It is a saying treu, and that of oulde,
Dutie, and zeale, can neuer bee to boulde,
Throughe wch: My Muse presumes to offer you,
althoughe vnknowen, yet dutious loue, and trewe:
wishing your honors, may still with. vertue. runne,
and liue, for length (euen to outstripp the sunne:
your pietie, bee such, that you may charme,
The highest Heau'ns, to guarde you from all harme.
Liue Longe, and prosper still, and let your eies,
behoulde all happynes: who otherwise,
shall wish, The Ruler of the Earthe,
shall cause, that hee hymself, shall cursse his Birth.

Thus I, deuine, the keeper of the skies,
shall still protect you, from your enemies.

your ho: Ladyshippes. deuoted seruante Willm: Smithe

[I haue no lande therefore the fertile earthe]

I haue no lande therefore the fertile earthe,
Affordes mee nothing, vnto you to presente:
The Flowers, I, offer, in my braine had Birthe,
They wante sweete smells, yet may they yeeld content
for eie, or Nose, small pleasure they do beare,
they haue theire being, but to please the eare.

The primerose.

The Primerose. is the faire Spring's harbinger,
And first sweete Flower, the wealthie Earth: doth yee[lde]
After the Heaue'ns, haue newlie crown'd the yeare,
No flower appeares, before it, in the feelde:
So: in trew worthe, and vertue, I do finde,
You are the firste, the rest come lagg behinde.

The marygould. 2.

The Marigoulde. vnto the newyeares Sunne
Doth spreade it self: Like the eye spotted traine,
Of (Junoes Birde) But hir daies iourney doone
In discontent, Shee shrowdes hir cheecks againe:
So: your brighte fauours shine
Do make mee spreade:
But your least showe of frowens,
Do, strike mee deade.

The Gillyflower.

The (Gillyflower) hath an odoriferous smell,
And beares an intermingled pretie hew,
but whether the (carnation) or it doth most excell
for showe, and coler, (that I leaue to you:
Euen so, I knowe not, whether yor: honor. or your Face
Both sett togeather, Giues the greater grace.

The violett.

The violet. doth growe in groue or feeldes,
In hedges, or in gardens, or high waies,
But whereso'ere it growes, it pleasure yeeldes:
So: where I come, I allwaies finde yor: praise,
Your name, and vertue too, (all people heare)
and touch with wounder, euerie common eare.

The. Cowslipp.

The. Cowslipp. doth couer all the feeldes,
with purp'led state: all ritchlie beautified,
For then (Dame Flora) mickle pleasure yeelds,
all smelling flowers: most heau'nly glorified:
So: your ritch vertues, disperc'd both farr and neare,
make all your honors shine, your name full deare.

.Time.

Time. is no flower, but an hearbe of grace,
more pretious, then the pearles on (Libyan shore)
who gathers .TIME. sure planted in his place,
shall finde, all heauenly sentes, (In heau'ns faire Bower
In wch: faire Garden: the seate of Glorious rest:
God graunte your Soule, with Saincts may, e're bee blest.

The rose. 3. F.

The Garden's beautie, the flagrant smellinge. Rose.
Doth daigne amongst the lowlie weedes to growe,
And doth by humblenes, no glorie loose,
but smells with sweeter sente, by growing lowe:
So: you faire (Rose of honor) I, haue harde,
Doth with good will, the least desert regarde.