All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet Being Sixty and three in Number. Collected into one Volume by the Author [i.e. John Taylor]: With sundry new Additions, corrected, reuised, and newly Imprinted |
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 | All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet |  |
115
HEAVENS BLESSING, AND EARTHS IOY.
Or, A true relation, of the supposed sea-fights and Fire-workes, as were accomplished, before the Royall Celebration of the all-beloued Marriage, of the two peerelesse Paragons of Christendome, Fredericke and Elizabeth.
With Triumphall Encomiasticke Verses, consecrated to the Immortall memory of those happie and blessed Nuptials.
DEDICATED To the illustrous Lampe of true Worth, the noble, Ingenious, judicious, and vnderstanding Gentleman, Sir Iames Mvray Knight.
Vnto the prospect of your Wisedomes eyes,I Consecrate these Epithalamies.
Not that I thinke them worthy of your view,
But for in Loue my thoughts are bound to you:
I doe confesse my selfe vnworthy farre
To write, in such high causes as these are,
Which, Homer, Virgil, nor the fluent Tully,
In fitting tearmes could scarce expresse them fully:
But since the Muses did their bounties show,
And on me did poore Poësie bestow;
I hold it best to play the thankefull man,
To spend their guifts the best wayes that I can,
And not like pedling Bastards of the Muses,
That like to Lawyers, liue on Times abuses.
Thus vnto you I giue it as it is,
Desiring pardon where there's ought amisse.
Your Worships, Euer to be commanded in all integritie: Iohn Taylor.
121
[Triumphall Verses.]
EPITHALAMIES.
Or, Encomiasticke Triumphall Verses, Consecrated to the Immortall memory, of the royall Nuptials of the two Parragons of Christendome Fredericke and Elizabeth.
Hee
that vpon the Poles hath hing'd the skyes
Who made the Spheares, the Orbs, and Planets seuen.
Whose justice dams, whose mercy justifies,
What was, is, shall be, in earth, Hell, or Heauen:
Whom men and Angels lauds and magnifies,
(According as his Lawes command hath giuen)
The poore, the Rich, the Begger and the King.
In seuerall Anthems his great praises sing.
Who made the Spheares, the Orbs, and Planets seuen.
Whose justice dams, whose mercy justifies,
What was, is, shall be, in earth, Hell, or Heauen:
Whom men and Angels lauds and magnifies,
(According as his Lawes command hath giuen)
The poore, the Rich, the Begger and the King.
In seuerall Anthems his great praises sing.
Then as the meanest doe their voices stretch,
To lawd the sempiternall Lord of Lords:
So I a lame Decrepit-witted wretch,
With such poore Phrases as my skill affoords:
From out the Circuit of my braine did fetch,
Such weake inuention as my wit records.
To write the tryumphs of this famous Ile,
On which both Heauen & earth with ioy doth smile.
To lawd the sempiternall Lord of Lords:
So I a lame Decrepit-witted wretch,
With such poore Phrases as my skill affoords:
From out the Circuit of my braine did fetch,
Such weake inuention as my wit records.
To write the tryumphs of this famous Ile,
On which both Heauen & earth with ioy doth smile.
My Genius therefore my inuention moues,
To sing of Britaines great Olympick Games,
Of mirth, of Heau'n and earths beloued loues,
Of Princely sports, that noble mindes enflames
To doe the vtmost of their best behoues;
To fill the world with their atchieued Fames.
T'attaine Eternities all-passing bounds,
Which neither Fate, nor Death, nor Time confounds.
To sing of Britaines great Olympick Games,
Of mirth, of Heau'n and earths beloued loues,
Of Princely sports, that noble mindes enflames
To doe the vtmost of their best behoues;
To fill the world with their atchieued Fames.
T'attaine Eternities all-passing bounds,
Which neither Fate, nor Death, nor Time confounds.
Guns, Drums, and Trumpets, Fire-workes, Bonfires, Bels,
With acclamations, and applausefull noyse:
Tilts, Turneyes, Barriers, all in mirth excels,
The ayre reuerberates our earthly ioyes.
This great Tryumphing, Prophet-like fore-tels
(I hope) how Leathes Lake all griefe destroyes,
For now blacke sorrow from our Land is chac'd,
And ioy and mirth each other haue embrac'd.
With acclamations, and applausefull noyse:
Tilts, Turneyes, Barriers, all in mirth excels,
The ayre reuerberates our earthly ioyes.
This great Tryumphing, Prophet-like fore-tels
(I hope) how Leathes Lake all griefe destroyes,
For now blacke sorrow from our Land is chac'd,
And ioy and mirth each other haue embrac'd.
How much Iehouah hath this Iland blest,
The thoughts of man can neuer well conceaue:
How much we lately were with woes oprest.
For him whom Death did late of life bereaue.
And in the midst of griefe, and sad vnrest,
To mirthfull sport freely giu'es vs leaue:
And when we all were drench'd in blacke dispaire.
Ioy conquered greife, and comfort vanquish'd care.
The thoughts of man can neuer well conceaue:
How much we lately were with woes oprest.
For him whom Death did late of life bereaue.
And in the midst of griefe, and sad vnrest,
To mirthfull sport freely giu'es vs leaue:
And when we all were drench'd in blacke dispaire.
Ioy conquered greife, and comfort vanquish'd care.
Thou high and mighty Fredericke the Fift,
Count Pallatine and Palsgraue of the Rhine:
Bauares great Duke, whom God on high doth lift.
To be the tenth vnto the Worthies nine.
Be euer blest with thy beloued Guift,
Whom God, and best of men makes onely thine:
Let annually the day be giuen to mirth,
Wherein the Nuptials gaue our Ioyes new birth.
Count Pallatine and Palsgraue of the Rhine:
Bauares great Duke, whom God on high doth lift.
To be the tenth vnto the Worthies nine.
Be euer blest with thy beloued Guift,
Whom God, and best of men makes onely thine:
Let annually the day be giuen to mirth,
Wherein the Nuptials gaue our Ioyes new birth.
Right gracious Princesse, great Elizabeth
In whose Heroicke, pure, white Iuory breast,
True vertue liues, and liuing flourisheth:
And as their Mansion hath the same possest:
Belou'd of God aboue, and men beneath,
In whom the Goddesses and graces rest.
By vertues power, Iehouah thee hath giuen,
Each place doth seeme (where thou remein'st) a heauen.
In whose Heroicke, pure, white Iuory breast,
True vertue liues, and liuing flourisheth:
And as their Mansion hath the same possest:
Belou'd of God aboue, and men beneath,
In whom the Goddesses and graces rest.
By vertues power, Iehouah thee hath giuen,
Each place doth seeme (where thou remein'st) a heauen.
The Royall bloud of Emperours and Kings,
Of Potent Conquerours, and Famous Knights
Successiuely from these two Princes springs:
Who well may claime these titles as their rights:
The Patrons Christendome to vnion brings,
Whose vnity remoted Lands vnites,
And well in time (I hope) this sacred worke,
Will hunt from Christian Lands the faithlesse Turke.
Of Potent Conquerours, and Famous Knights
Successiuely from these two Princes springs:
Who well may claime these titles as their rights:
The Patrons Christendome to vnion brings,
Whose vnity remoted Lands vnites,
And well in time (I hope) this sacred worke,
Will hunt from Christian Lands the faithlesse Turke.
Since first the framing of the worlds vast Roome,
A fitter, better match was not combinde;
So old in wisdome, young in beauties bloome,
And both so good and graciously inclinde.
And from this day, vntill the day of doome;
I doubt succceding ages shall not finde;
Such wisdome, beauty, grace, compact to gther,
As is innate in them, in both in eyther.
A fitter, better match was not combinde;
So old in wisdome, young in beauties bloome,
And both so good and graciously inclinde.
And from this day, vntill the day of doome;
I doubt succceding ages shall not finde;
Such wisdome, beauty, grace, compact to gther,
As is innate in them, in both in eyther.
None (but the Diuell and his infernall crue)
At this beloued heau'nly match repines,
None (but such fiends, which hell on earth doth spue)
Which wish Eclips of their illustrious shines,
The Gods themselues with rare inuentions new,
With inspiration mans deuice refines;
And with their presence vndertakes these taskes,
Deuises, motions, Reuels, playes, and Maskes.
At this beloued heau'nly match repines,
None (but such fiends, which hell on earth doth spue)
Which wish Eclips of their illustrious shines,
The Gods themselues with rare inuentions new,
With inspiration mans deuice refines;
And with their presence vndertakes these taskes,
Deuises, motions, Reuels, playes, and Maskes.
122
Tha thund'rers
Bride hath left her heauenly bed,
And with her presence this great wedding graces;
Himen in Saffron Robes inuelloped:
Ioynes and accords these Louers lou'd embraces:
Yea all the Gods downe to the Earth are fled,
And mongst our ioyes their pleasures enterlaces.
Immortals joynes with mortals in their mirth,
And makes the Court their Paradice on earth.
And with her presence this great wedding graces;
Himen in Saffron Robes inuelloped:
Ioynes and accords these Louers lou'd embraces:
Yea all the Gods downe to the Earth are fled,
And mongst our ioyes their pleasures enterlaces.
Immortals joynes with mortals in their mirth,
And makes the Court their Paradice on earth.
Maiestick Joue hath lost his spangled Throane
To dance Leuoltoes at this Bridall feast:
Infusing Iouiall glee in euery one,
The high, the low, the greatest and the least.
Sad mindes to sable melancholy prone,
Great Ioue their vitall parts hath so possest:
That all are wrapt in sportfull extasies,
With showts and Clamors ecchoing in the skyes.
To dance Leuoltoes at this Bridall feast:
Infusing Iouiall glee in euery one,
The high, the low, the greatest and the least.
Sad mindes to sable melancholy prone,
Great Ioue their vitall parts hath so possest:
That all are wrapt in sportfull extasies,
With showts and Clamors ecchoing in the skyes.
Apollo from the two topt
Muses Hill
Eight of the Sisters nine hath brought from thence
(Leauing Melpomene alone there still
To muse on sad and tragicall euents)
The rest all stretching their all matchlesse skill
To serue this Royall Princesse, and this Prince.
Thus Sol descended from his Radient shrine,
Brings Poesie and Musicke downe diuine.
Eight of the Sisters nine hath brought from thence
(Leauing Melpomene alone there still
To muse on sad and tragicall euents)
The rest all stretching their all matchlesse skill
To serue this Royall Princesse, and this Prince.
Thus Sol descended from his Radient shrine,
Brings Poesie and Musicke downe diuine.
The wrathfull God of
War in burnish'd Armes
Layes by his angry all confounding mood:
And in the Lists strikes vp sweet Loues Alarmes,
Where friendly warres drawes no vnfriendly bloud,
Where honours fire the noble spirit warmes
To vndertake such actions at are good.
Thus mighty Mars these tryumphs doth encrease At Tilt.
With peacefull warre, and sweet contentions peace.
Layes by his angry all confounding mood:
And in the Lists strikes vp sweet Loues Alarmes,
Where friendly warres drawes no vnfriendly bloud,
Where honours fire the noble spirit warmes
To vndertake such actions at are good.
Thus mighty Mars these tryumphs doth encrease At Tilt.
With peacefull warre, and sweet contentions peace.
The Queene of
Loue these Royall sports attend,
And at this Banquet deignes to be a guest:
Her whole endeauours she doth wholly bend,
She may in Loues delights outstrip the best:
For whosoe're doth Hymens Lawes pretend
If Uenus be but absent from the feast,
They may perhaps be merry in some sort,
But 'tis but painted mirth and ayrie sport.
And at this Banquet deignes to be a guest:
Her whole endeauours she doth wholly bend,
She may in Loues delights outstrip the best:
For whosoe're doth Hymens Lawes pretend
If Uenus be but absent from the feast,
They may perhaps be merry in some sort,
But 'tis but painted mirth and ayrie sport.
Bright Mæias Sonne the God of tricks and sleights,
Hath op'd the treasure of his subtill wit:
And as a Seruant on this Wedding waits
With Masques, with Reuels, and with tryumphs fit,
His rare inuentions and his quaint conceits,
(Twixt Heauen aloft, and Hels infernall pit)
He in imaginary showes affords
In shape, forme, method, and applausefull words.
Hath op'd the treasure of his subtill wit:
And as a Seruant on this Wedding waits
With Masques, with Reuels, and with tryumphs fit,
His rare inuentions and his quaint conceits,
(Twixt Heauen aloft, and Hels infernall pit)
He in imaginary showes affords
In shape, forme, method, and applausefull words.
Old sullen
Saturne hid his moody head,
In dusky shades, of blacke Cimerian night:
And wauering Luna closely couch'd to bed,
Her various change she knew would not delight
The loyall mindes where constancie is bred,
Where Proteus thoughts are put to shamefull flight.
These two by Joues command were straightly bound
To stay at home (as better lost then found)
In dusky shades, of blacke Cimerian night:
And wauering Luna closely couch'd to bed,
Her various change she knew would not delight
The loyall mindes where constancie is bred,
Where Proteus thoughts are put to shamefull flight.
These two by Joues command were straightly bound
To stay at home (as better lost then found)
Cupid descended from the Chrystall skyes
And leaues behind his golden feathered darts:
In steed of whom, he makes faire Ladies eyes
The piercing weapons of true louing hearts.
And he amongst these high Solemnities,
His awfull presence freely he imparts,
To all in generall with mirthfull cheere,
All sport's the better if loues God be there.
And leaues behind his golden feathered darts:
In steed of whom, he makes faire Ladies eyes
The piercing weapons of true louing hearts.
And he amongst these high Solemnities,
His awfull presence freely he imparts,
To all in generall with mirthfull cheere,
All sport's the better if loues God be there.
The off-spring of the high celestiall Ioue,
His braine-bred Daughter, and his thigh-borne Sonne
One with aduice of wisdome she wed her loue,
And t'other bounteously made plenty runne:
Where wine in streames gainst one another stroue,
Where many a Caske was banckrout and vndone,
Depriu'd the treasure of the fruitfull vines:
By Bacchus bounty, that great God of Wines.
His braine-bred Daughter, and his thigh-borne Sonne
One with aduice of wisdome she wed her loue,
And t'other bounteously made plenty runne:
Where wine in streames gainst one another stroue,
Where many a Caske was banckrout and vndone,
Depriu'd the treasure of the fruitfull vines:
By Bacchus bounty, that great God of Wines.
Thus Ioue and Iuno, Jmps of aged Ops
With wise Minerua, Mars and Mercury:
Resplendent Sol with musicks straines and stops
Faire Venus Queene of Loues alacrity,
Loues God with shafts betipt with golden tops
And Bacchus showring sweet humidity.
Gods, Goddesses, the Graces and the Muses.
To grace these tryumphs all their cunnings vses.
With wise Minerua, Mars and Mercury:
Resplendent Sol with musicks straines and stops
Faire Venus Queene of Loues alacrity,
Loues God with shafts betipt with golden tops
And Bacchus showring sweet humidity.
Gods, Goddesses, the Graces and the Muses.
To grace these tryumphs all their cunnings vses.
123
Amongst the rest was all recording Fame
Insculping noble deeds in brazen leaues:
That meagre Enuy cannot wrong that name,
Where braue Heroick acts the minde vpheaues:
Fames goldē trump will through the world proclame
Whom Fortune, Fate, nor Death nor time bereaues.
Thus like a Scribe, Fame waited to Record
The Nuptialls of this Lady and this Lord,
Insculping noble deeds in brazen leaues:
That meagre Enuy cannot wrong that name,
Where braue Heroick acts the minde vpheaues:
Fames goldē trump will through the world proclame
Whom Fortune, Fate, nor Death nor time bereaues.
Thus like a Scribe, Fame waited to Record
The Nuptialls of this Lady and this Lord,
All making-marring time that turneth neuer
To these proceedings still hath beene auspicious,
And in his Progresse will I hope, perseuer,
To make their dayes and houres to be delicious.
Thus Fame, and time, affoords their best indeauour
Vnto this royall match to be propitious:
Time in all pleasure through their liues will passe
Whilst Fame records their Fames in leaues of Brasse.
To these proceedings still hath beene auspicious,
And in his Progresse will I hope, perseuer,
To make their dayes and houres to be delicious.
Thus Fame, and time, affoords their best indeauour
Vnto this royall match to be propitious:
Time in all pleasure through their liues will passe
Whilst Fame records their Fames in leaues of Brasse.
Yon Sonnes of Judas and Achitophel,
Whose damn'd delights are treasons, bloud, & death:
Th'almighties power your haughty prides will quell,
And make you vassals, vessels of his wrath,
Let all that wish these Princes worse then well,
Be iudg'd and doom'd to euerlasting Scath,
For 'tis apparent, and experience prooues,
No hate preuailes, where great Iehouah loues.
Whose damn'd delights are treasons, bloud, & death:
Th'almighties power your haughty prides will quell,
And make you vassals, vessels of his wrath,
Let all that wish these Princes worse then well,
Be iudg'd and doom'd to euerlasting Scath,
For 'tis apparent, and experience prooues,
No hate preuailes, where great Iehouah loues.
To whose Omnipotent Eternall power,
I doe commit this blest beloued paire:
Oh let thy graces daily on them showre,
Let each of them be thine adopted Heire:
Raise them at last to thy Celestiall Bowre,
And seate them both in lasting glories Chaire.
In fine, their earthly dayes be long and blest:
And after bettred in eternall rest.
I doe commit this blest beloued paire:
Oh let thy graces daily on them showre,
Let each of them be thine adopted Heire:
Raise them at last to thy Celestiall Bowre,
And seate them both in lasting glories Chaire.
In fine, their earthly dayes be long and blest:
And after bettred in eternall rest.
By this happy martiage, great Britaine, France, Denmarke, Germny, & the most part of Christendome are vnited eyther in affinty or consanguinity.
That which God loues most, the Diuell hates most: and I am sure that none but the blacke crew are offended with these Royal Nuptials.
A tragicall mourneful Muse who hath beene here already, but I hope now she is lame of the Gout, that she will keepe home for euer.
The Moone who doth neuer continue at a stay, and therefore she absented her selfe from those delights which I hope will bee permanent.
Minerua whom the Poets faine to bee the Goddesse of Wisedome, Borne and bred in the braine ofIupiter.
Bacchus whom his Father Ioue saued from Abortiue birth from his mother Semel, and sowed him vp in his Thigh till the time of his birth was come to a period. Ouid Lib. 3.
A Sonnet to the Jmperious Maiestick mirrour of King Iames, great Britaines Monarch.
Great Phœbus spreads his Rayes on good & ill,Dame Tellus feeds the Lyon and the Rat,
The smallest Sayles God Æols breath doth fill:
And Ttetis Harbors both the Whale and Sprat.
But as the Sunne doth quicken dying Plants,
So thy illustrious shine doth glad all hearts:
And as the Earth supplyes our needfull wants,
So doth thy bounty guerdon good desarts.
And like the ayrie Æols pleasant gales,
Thou filst with Ioy the Sailes of rich and pore,
And as the Sea doth harbour Sprats and Whales,
So thou to high and low yeelds harbour store.
Thus Sea, Ayre, Earth, and Titans fiery face,
Are Elementall Seruants to thy Grace.
To Life.
Since that on earth thou wondrous wandring gest,Arithmeticians neuer number can
The seuerall Lodgings thou hast tane in man,
In Fish, in Fowle, in tame or bruitish beast:
Since all by thee from greatest to the least,
Are squar'd (and well compar'd) vnto a span,
Oh fleeting Life take this my counsell than,
Hold long possession in thy royall breast:
Dwell euer with the King, the Queene, the Prince,
The gracious Princesse, and her Princely Spouse,
In each of these thou hast a lasting house:
Which Fate, nor Death, nor Time, cannot conuince.
And when to change thy Lodging thou art driuen,
Thy selfe and they exalted be to Heauen.
To Death.
To thee, whose auaritious greedy mood,Doth play at sweepe stake with all liuing things
And like a Hors leech Quaffes the seuerall blood,
Of Subiects, Abiects, Emperours and Kings:
That high and low, and all must feele thy stings,
The Lord, the Lowne, the Caitiffe and the Keasar,
A beggers death as much contentment brings
To thee, as did the fall of Julius Cæsær.
Then since the good and bad are all as one,
And Larkes to thee, no better are then Kites,
Take then the bad, and let the good alone,
Feed on base wretches, leaue the worthy wights,
With thee the wicked euermore will stay,
But from thee, Fæme will take the good away.
To Eternity.
Thou that beyond all things dost goe as farre,That no Cosmographers could e're suruay.
Whose glory (brighter then great Phebus Carre)
Doth shine, where night doth ne're eclipse the day:
To thee I consecrate these Princes acts.
In thee alone let all their beings be:
Let all the measures of their famous tracts,
In thee begin, but neuer end like thee.
And when thy Seruant Time, giues Life to Death,
And Death surrenders all their liues to Fame:
Oh then inspire them with celestiall breath,
With Saints and Martyrs to applaud thy name.
Thus vnto thee, (as thine owne proper rights)
Iohn Taylor.
FINIS.
| All the workes of Iohn Taylor the Water-Poet | |