 | Nugae antiquae |  |
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VERSES OF THE LANTERNE.
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And would a guift of price to him present;
Hyding a jewel ritch in hollow cane,
No guift was seene, a great guift yet was tane:
And thus, dyvinely taught, he gat his wishes,
Giving to mother earth well hastned kisses.
Excellent prince! and our Apollo rising,
Accept a present sent in like disguising:
And though it com in fayned name unknowne,
Yet love unfayned may therein be showne.
Silver is closed in steele, in darkness light,
Only the crowne apparent stands in sight.
In argent sheild are sacred storyes showne,
Storyes to your great ancestor well knowne,
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Grav'd there this godly monument of art.
This storie at his fingers ends he knew,
For with his fingers ends the same he drew.
Eke other fancies lurk in this our present,
The use and sence whereof is not unpleasant.
Four mettalls ages four resemble doe,
Of which the golden age God send to you!
Of steele, I wish small use and little lasting,
Of brass, gold, silver, plenty never wasting.
The sunn, moone, starrs, and those celestial fiers
Foretell the heavens shall prosper your desiers:
And as the snuffers quench the light and snuff,
Soe may you quench those take your acts in snuff.
The candel, the emblem of a virtuous king,
Doth wast his life to others light to bring.
To your fair queen, and sweet babes I presume
To liken the sweet savor and perfume.
She, send sweet breathed love into your brest,
She, blest with fruitful issue, make you blest.
Lastly, lett heavnly crownes theis crownes succeede,
Sent sure to both, to neither sent with speed.
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