Poems and Dramas of Fulke Greville :: :: University of Virginia Library

Virgula diuina, Sorcerers call a rod,
Gather'd with vowes, and Magicke sacrifice;
Which borne about, by influence doth nod,
Vnto the siluer, where it hidden lyes;
Which makes poore men to these blacke arts deuout,
Rich onely in the wealth which hope findes out.

139

Nobilitie, this pretious treasure is,
Laid vp in secret mysteries of State,
Kings creature, subiections gilded blisse,
Where grace, not merit, seemes to gouerne fate.
Mankinde I thinke to be this rod diuine,
For to the greatest euer they incline.

Eloquence, that is but wisdome speaking well,
(The Poets faigne) did make the sauage tame;
Of eares and hearts chain'd vnto tongues they tell;
I thinke Nobilitie to be the same:
For be they fooles, or speake they without wit,
We hold them wise, we fooles be-wonder it.

Inuisible there is an Art to goe,
(They say that studie Natures secret works)
And art there is to make things greater show;
In Noblenesse I thinke this secret lurks,
For place a Coronet on whom you will,
You straight see all great in him, but his Ill.