University of Virginia Library

If from old Fame, and peradventure not
Believ'd at all by you, or else forgot,
O'th Amorous Brook ye heard the wonder ever,
Which to pursue the coy and flying River
Of his beloved Arethusa, ran
(O force of Love!) piercing the Ocean,
And the earth's hidden bowels, to that Isle,
Where underneath the huge Etnean Pile,
Upon his back the kicking Gyant lies,
Spitting despightfull flames at hostile Skies,
And leaves it doubtfull to the world that's under,
If heav'n at him, or he at heaven thunder:
That Brook am I. Though what you have been told
Ye may, your eyes ye cannot doubt. Behold!
Leaving my loved Nymph, and thridding back
That well known way where I had made a track
Through the great waters, I in person rise
And view (with tears of gladnesse in mine eyes)
That ancient and that venerable earth
From whose cold entrails I receiv'd my birth,
Not thrall'd and plundred (as of late) but free
And beautifull as it was wont to be.
O my deer mother! O Arcadia, known
By me thy son, though so long absent! owne
Thy deer, and (being improv'd by travell) now
Thy great Alfeo, and as fam'd as thou.
These be the streets once so renown'd, these be
The woods where the old russet honestie
Did live and die: unto this onely nook
O'th iron world, when she her flight had took
From sinfull men, the golden age retir'd.
Here (that which elswhere is in vain desir'd)
Freedome unstrain'd, and from suspicion free,
Flourish'd in peace and sweet securitie.
An unarm'd people had for their defence
A wall of Vertue, and of Innocence,
Stronger then that whose living stones were layd
About great Thebes, whilst he that built it playd.
For when tumultuous war flam'd most in Greece
And other her more warlike Provinees
Arcadia arm'd, to this blest part alone,
This Sanctuary, there was never known
The least Alarum, the least sound to come,
Or of a friends, or of an en'mies Drum.
And so much Corinth, Thebes, Mycene hop't
To triumph o're their foes, as they were propt
By this good people, and their care were held,
Who were the Care of Heav'n, whom heav'n upheld.
A blessed mutuall bulwark they did prove,
Those to these here, and these to those above:
Those fought with weapons, and these fought with Pray'r.
Nor though each here a shepherds habit ware,
And bore the name; yet either in his meen,
Or exercises, was the shepherd seen.
But some would place themselves as spyes to prie
Into the Starres and Elements (the high
Secrets of Heav'n and Nature) others here
Were wholly giv'n to chase the fearfull Deer:
Others, whom glory had inflamed more,
T'encounter with a Bear, or tusked Bore.
Some swift in running, some were terrible
At Barriers, some in wrastling did excell;
One threw a dart, another drew a flight,
Both hit with cunning the intended white.
Some one thing, some another did affect,
(Each as his minde and fancie did direct)
The sacred Muses Most, Virgins of yore
In high esteem, though now despis'd and poor.

But how transported hither where the Po
Falls into Dora, is Arcadia now?
This is the cloyster surely, this the cave
Of ancient Erycina, and that brave
Aspiring Temple yonder is the same
Was consecrated to great Cynthia's name:
How then remov'd? What new-come power can so
Transplant a Land, and all the People? O
Royall Infanta, but a child in age,
Yet ev'n already as a Matron sage!
The vertue of your Name, power of your Blood
Great Catherina (now 'tis understood)
Wrought this; from that great House descended, which
New Kingdoms daily, and new worlds inrich.
Those great effects which we as wonders view,
Are naturall and usuall things with you.
As by that Sun which from the East doth rise,
So many excellent varieties
Are brought into the world, herbs, flow'rs & trees;
So many beasts, fowl, fish, in earth, ayr, seas:
So by the living Sun of your bright eyes
(which in the now more worshipt West did rise)
New Provinces from every Clime about,
New Realms, new Laurels, and new Trophies sprout.
Low as my bottome then I bow to you,
Majestick, Daughter of that Monarch, who
Enjoyes an Empire, so August, so great,
That Phœbus in it doth both rise and set:
And Wife of him, to whose brest, hand, and wit
Heav'n did the wars of Italie commit.
But Alpian rocks are needed now no more,
Bulwarks, nor horrid cliffes to stand before
Fair Italie, securer in your guard
Then in those hils which have her entrance barr'd.
That bulwark so invincible in war,
You make soft Peace's Temple, where from far
Men come to worship her. Long live as one
Yee Royall pair; this fair Conjunction
Presages Christendome again shall boast
Those many Eastern Scepters she hath lost.
This is a field worthy of none but you
(Magnanimous Charles) and a field trodden too
By your brave Ancestors. This Land is great,
Great are your names, great bloud in you is met;
Great your designes, your minds, and your aspects,
Great off-spring too, and deeds the world expects.

But whilst I prophesie, and Fate prepares
Circles of gold to crown your silver hairs,
Disdain not (mighty Souls) this flowry wreath
Gatherd on Pindus by those Maids that breath
Life in dead men. Poor offring (I confesse)
Yet such as, if Devotion it expresse,
Ev'n Heav'n it self disdains not: And if from
Your smiling heav'n a fav'ring gale shall come,
This Lute which from its gentle warbling strings
Sending still Musick to your ears, now sings
Soft Loves, and pleasing Hymeneall Rites,
Shall turn a Trumpet to proclaim your Fights.