 | The Works of Michael Drayton |  |
UPON THE FRONTISPICE.
Through a Triumphant Arch, see Albion plas't,In Happy site, in Neptunes armes embras't,
In Power and Plenty, on hir Cleevy Throne
Circled with Natures Ghirlands, being alone
Stil'd th'Oceans Island. On the Columnes beene
(As Trophies raiz'd) what Princes Time hath seene
Ambitious of her. In hir yonger years,
Vast Earth-bred Giants woo'd her: but, who bears
In Golden field the Lion passantred,
Æneas Nephew (Brute) them conquered.
Next, Laureat Cæsar, as a Philtre, brings,
On's shield, his Grandame
Object not, that it should be the Eagle, because it is now borne by the Emperors; and that some Heralds ignorantly publish it, as J. Cæsars Coat, Double headed. They move me not; for plainly the Eagle was single at that time (unles you call it Οιωνων Βασιληα διδυμον, as Pindar doth Joves Eagle) and but newly us'd among the Romans (first by Marius) as their Standard, not otherwise, untill afterward Constantine made it respect the two Empires: and since, it hath beene borne on a Shield. I tooke Venus proper to him, for that the stamp of hir face (she being his Ancestor Æneas his mother) in his Coins is frequent; and can so maintaine it here fitter, then many of those invented Coats (without colour of reason) attributed to the old Heroes. As for matter of Armory, Venus being a Goddesse may be as good Bearing, if not better then Atalanta, which, by expresse Authority of Euripides, was borne, in the Theban warre by Parthenopœus.
Withstood. At length, the Roman, by long sute,
Gain'd her (most Part) from th'ancient race of Brute.
Divors't from Him, the Saxon sable Horse,
Borne by sterne Hengist, wins her: but, through force
Garding the Norman Leopards bath'd in Gules,
She chang'd hir Love to Him, whose Line yet rules.
| The Works of Michael Drayton | |