University of Virginia Library

To my speciall Freind Mr. Robert Baron upon his ΕΡΟΤΟΠΑΙΓΝΙΟΝ.

Iewell of Nature whom a blessed age
To us hath brought forth ev'n an Albion sage.
Were't not obsurdity with silent quill
To vaile in verse and propose thy Atick skill.
Had a wise Sybill our Euriphilus
But auguriz'd of thy approach to us
Each hand had itched to be buisied
In weaving Chaplets to adorne thy head.
Criticks may now prejudicate, what though?
They shew their envy, neither hurt they you,
Minerva brought thee forth, Eupheme then
The Muses nurse nurst thee the gem of men.
Thou Ovid-like thou from thy infancy
Brought'st this Heroick straine now shewne by thee.
In which high tract thou Mars and Venus clere,
Thou Neptune also dost demonstrate heare.
Thee Mars in field may justly generall,
Thee Neptune may by sea vice admirall
Insert: Thee Venus in her lofty state,
May make her amorous associate.
Now hither may resort most antique sages
Incredulous that these our iron ages
A Phænix should produce, t'is true, and sure
Natures best fabrick now within us indure.
If these but wits first blossomes are, what then
May be expected from thy riper pen.
In this faire roade proceede we thee desire
That as thy youth, we may thine age admire.