University of Virginia Library

Epigram. 47. Encomion Cornubiæ.

I loue thee Cornwall, and will euer,
And hope to see thee once agen,
For why thine equall knew I neuer,
For honest minds and actiue men:
Where true Religion better thriues:
And God is worshipt with more zeale;
Where men will sooner spend their liues,
To good their King, and Common-weale;
Where vertue is of most esteeme,
And not for feare, but loue, embrac't:
Where each mans conscience doth seeme
To be a Law, and bind as fast:
Where none doth more respect his purse,
Then by his credite he doth set:
Where Words and Bonds haue equall force,
And promise is as good as debt.
Where none enuies anothers state,
Where men speake truth without an oath:
And what is to be wondred at,
Where men are rich, and honest both.
Where's strickt obseruance of the Lawes,
And if there chance some little wrong,
Good neighbours heare and end the cause,
Not trust it to a Lawyers tongue.
Where, as it seemes, by both consents,
The Sea and Land such

Ex piscatione, & [illeg.]

plenty brings,
That Land-lords need not rack their rents,
And Tenants liue like petty Kings.
Where goodnesse soly is regarded,
And vice and vicious men abhor'd:
Where worth in meanest is rewarded:
And to speake briefely in a word:
I thinke not all the world againe,
So neere resembles of Saturnes raigne.