Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works

by Michael Drayton

  Their acts which euery day thou viewst,

  And from a lethargy dost keepe

  Old nodding time, else prone to sleepe. 380

  Chorus. Clio O craue of Phœbus to inspire

  Vs, for his Altars with his holiest fire,

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. Melpomine thou melancholly Maid

  Next, to wise Phœbus we inuoke thy ayd,

  In Buskins that dost stride the Stage,

  And in thy deepe distracted rage,

  In blood-shed that dost take delight,

  Thy obiect the most fearfull sight, 390

  That louest the sighes, the shreekes, and sounds

  Of horrors, that arise from wounds.

  Chorus. Sad Muse, O craue of Phœbus to inspire

  Vs for his Altars, with his holiest fire,

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. Comick Thalia then we come to thee,

  Thou mirthfull Mayden, onely that in glee

  And loues deceits, thy pleasure tak’st,

  Of which thy varying Scene that mak’st 400

  And in thy nimble Sock do’st stirre

  Loude laughter through the Theater,

  That with the Peasant mak’st the sport,

  As well as with the better sort.

  Chorus. Thalia craue of Phœbus to inspire

  Vs for his Alters with his holyest fier;

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes

  Giue life, and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. Euterpe next to thee we will proceed,

  That first sound’st out the Musick on the Reed, 410

  With breath and fingers giu’ng life,

  To the shrill Cornet and the Fyfe.

  Teaching euery stop and kaye,

  To those vpon the Pipe that playe,

  Those which Wind-Instruments we call

  Or soft, or lowd, or greate, or small,

  Chorus. Euterpe aske of Phebus to inspire,

  Vs for his Alters with his holyest fire

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes. 420

  Nimphes. Terpsichore that of the Lute and Lyre,

  And Instruments that sound with Cords and wyere,

  That art the Mistres, to commaund

  The touch of the most Curious hand,

  When euery Quauer doth Imbrace

  His like in a true Diapase,

  And euery string his sound doth fill

  Toucht with the Finger or the Quill.

  Chorus. Terpsichore, craue Phebus to inspire

  Vs for his Alters with his holyest fier 430

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. Then Erato wise muse on thee we call,

  In Lynes to vs that do’st demonstrate all,

  Which neatly, with thy staffe and Bowe,

  Do’st measure, and proportion showe;

  Motion and Gesture that dost teach

  That euery height and depth canst reach,

  And do’st demonstrate by thy Art

  What nature else would not Impart. 440

  Chorus. Deare Erato craue Phebus to inspire

  Vs for his Alters with his holyest fire,

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes,

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. To thee then braue Caliope we come

  Thou that maintain’st, the Trumpet, and the Drum;

  The neighing Steed that louest to heare,

  Clashing of Armes doth please thine eare,

  In lofty Lines that do’st rehearse

  Things worthy of a thundring verse, 450

  And at no tyme are heard to straine,

  On ought that suits a Common vayne.

  Chorus. Caliope, craue Phebus to inspire,

  Vs for his Alters with his holyest fier,

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes,

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. Then Polyhymnia most delicious Mayd,

  In Rhetoricks Flowers that art arayd,

  In Tropes and Figures, richly drest,

  The Fyled Phrase that louest best, 460

  That art all Elocution, and

  The first that gau’st to vnderstand

  The force of wordes in order plac’d

  And with a sweet deliuery grac’d.

  Chorus. Sweet Muse perswade our Phœbus to inspire

  Vs for his Altars, with his holiest fire,

  And let his glorious euer shining Rayes

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes.

  Nimphes. Lofty Vrania then we call to thee,

  To whom the Heauens for euer opened be, 470

  Thou th’ Asterismes by name dost call,

  And shewst when they doe rise and fall

  Each Planets force, and dost diuine

  His working, seated in his Signe,

  And how the starry Frame still roules

  Betwixt the fixed stedfast Poles.

  Chorus. Vrania aske of Phœbus to inspire

  Vs for his Altars with his holiest fire,

  And let his glorious euer-shining Rayes

  Giue life and growth to our Elizian Bayes. 480

  THE FOURTH NIMPHALL

  CLORIS and MERTILLA.

  Chaste Cloris doth disclose the shames

  Of the Felician frantique Dames,

  Mertilla striues t’ apease her woe,

  To golden wishes then they goe.

  Mertilla. Why how now Cloris, what, thy head

  Bound with forsaken Willow?

  Is the cold ground become thy bed?

  The grasse become thy Pillow?

  O let not those life-lightning eyes

  In this sad vayle be shrowded,

  Which into mourning puts the Skyes,

  To see them ouer-clowded.

  Cloris. O my Mertilla doe not praise

  These Lampes so dimly burning, 10

  Such sad and sullen lights as these

  Were onely made for mourning:

  Their obiects are the barren Rocks

  With aged Mosse o’r shaded;

  Now whilst the Spring layes forth her Locks

  With blossomes brauely braded.

  Mertilla. O Cloris, Can there be a Spring,

  O my deare Nimph, there may not,

  Wanting thine eyes it forth to bring,

  Without which Nature cannot: 20

  Say what it is that troubleth thee

  Encreast by thy concealing,

  Speake; sorrowes many times we see

  Are lesned by reuealing.

  Cloris. Being of late too vainely bent

  And but at too much leisure;

  Not with our Groves and Downes content,

  But surfetting in pleasure;

  Felicia’s Fields I would goe see,

  Where fame to me reported, 30

  The choyce Nimphes of the world to be

  From meaner beauties sorted;

  Hoping that I from them might draw

  Some graces to delight me,

  But there such monstrous shapes I saw,

  That to this houre affright me.

  Throw the thick Hayre, that thatch’d their Browes,

  Their eyes vpon me stared,

  Like to those raging frantique Froes

  For Bacchus Feasts prepared: 40

  Their Bodies, although straight by kinde,

  Yet they so monstrous make them,

  That for huge Bags blowne vp with wind,

  You very well may take them.

  Their Bowels in their Elbowes are,

  Whereon depend their Panches,

  And their deformed Armes by farre

  Made larger than their Hanches:

  For their
behauiour and their grace,

  Which likewise should haue priz’d them, 50

  Their manners were as beastly base

  As th’ rags that so disguisd them;

  All Anticks, all so impudent,

  So fashon’d out of fashion,

  As blacke Cocytus vp had sent

  Her Fry into this nation,

  Whose monstrousnesse doth so perplex,

  Of Reason and depriues me,

  That for their sakes I loath my sex,

  Which to this sadnesse driues me. 60

  Mertilla. O my deare Cloris be not sad,

  Nor with these Furies danted,

  But let these female fooles be mad,

  With Hellish pride inchanted;

  Let not thy noble thoughts descend

  So low as their affections;

  Whom neither counsell can amend,

  Nor yet the Gods corrections:

  Such mad folks ne’r let vs bemoane,

  But rather scorne their folly, 70

  And since we two are here alone,

  To banish melancholly,

  Leaue we this lowly creeping vayne

  Not worthy admiration,

  And in a braue and lofty strayne,

  Lets exercise our passion,

  With wishes of each others good,

  From our abundant treasures,

  And in this iocund sprightly mood:

  Thus alter we our measures. 80

  Mertilla. O I could wish this place were strewd with Roses,

  And that this Banck were thickly thrumd with Grasse

  As soft as Sleaue, or Sarcenet euer was,

  Whereon my Cloris her sweet selfe reposes.

  Cloris. O that these Dewes Rosewater were for thee,

  These Mists Perfumes that hang vpon these thicks,

  And that the Winds were all Aromaticks,

  Which, if my wish could make them, they should bee.

  Mertilla. O that my Bottle one whole Diamond were,

  So fild with Nectar that a Flye might sup, 90

  And at one draught that thou mightst drinke it vp,

  Yet a Carouse not good enough I feare.

  Cloris. That all the Pearle, the Seas, or Indias haue

  Were well dissolu’d, and thereof made a Lake,

  Thou there in bathing, and I by to take

  Pleasure to see thee cleerer than the Waue.

  Mertilla. O that the Hornes of all the Heards we see,

  Were of fine gold, or else that euery horne

  Were like to that one of the Vnicorne,

  And of all these, not one but were thy Fee. 100

  Cloris. O that their Hooues were Iuory, or some thing,

  Then the pur’st Iuory farre more Christalline,

  Fild with the food wherewith the Gods doe dine,

  To keepe thy Youth in a continuall Spring.

  Mertilla. O that the sweets of all the Flowers that grow,

  The labouring ayre would gather into one,

  In Gardens, Fields, nor Meadowes leauing none,

  And all their Sweetnesse vpon thee would throw.

  Cloris. Nay that those sweet harmonious straines we heare,

  Amongst the liuely Birds melodious Layes, 110

  As they recording sit vpon the Sprayes,

  Were houering still for Musick at thine eare.

  Mertilla. O that thy name were caru’d on euery Tree,

  That as these plants still great, and greater grow,

  Thy name deare Nimph might be enlarged so,

  That euery Groue and Coppis might speake thee.

  Cloris. Nay would thy name vpon their Rynds were set,

  And by the Nimphes so oft and lowdly spoken,

  As that the Ecchoes to that language broken

  Thy happy name might hourely counterfet. 120

  Mertilla. O let the Spring still put sterne winter by,

  And in rich Damaske let her Reuell still,

  As it should doe if I might haue my will,

  That thou mightst still walke on her Tapistry;

  And thus since Fate no longer time alowes

  Vnder this broad and shady Sicamore,

  Where now we sit, as we haue oft before;

  Those yet vnborne shall offer vp their Vowes.

  THE FIFT NIMPHALL

  CLAIA, LELIPA, CLARINAX a Hermit.

  Of Garlands, Anadems, and Wreathes,

  This Nimphall nought but sweetnesse breathes,

  Presents you with delicious Posies,

  And with powerfull Simples closes.

  Claia. See where old Clarinax is set,

  His sundry Simples sorting,

  From whose experience we may get

  What worthy is reporting.

  Then Lelipa let vs draw neere,

  Whilst he his weedes is weathering,

  I see some powerfull Simples there

  That he hath late bin gathering.

  Hail gentle Hermit, Iove thee speed,

  And haue thee in his keeping, 10

  And euer helpe thee at thy need,

  Be thou awake or sleeping.

  Clarinax. Ye payre of most Celestiall lights,

  O Beauties three times burnisht,

  Who could expect such heauenly wights

  With Angels features furnisht;

  What God doth guide you to this place,

  To blesse my homely Bower?

  It cannot be but this high grace

  Proceeds from some high power; 20

  The houres like hand-maids still attend,

  Disposed at your pleasure,

  Ordayned to noe other end

  But to awaite your leasure;

  The Deawes drawne vp into the Aer,

  And by your breathes perfumed,

  In little Clouds doe houer there

  As loath to be consumed:

  The Aer moues not but as you please,

  So much sweet Nimphes it owes you, 30

  The winds doe cast them to their ease,

  And amorously inclose you.

  Lelipa. Be not too lauish of thy praise,

  Thou good Elizian Hermit,

  Lest some to heare such words as these,

  Perhaps may flattery tearme it;

  But of your Simples something say,

  Which may discourse affoord vs,

  We know your knowledge lyes that way,

  With subiects you haue stor’d vs. 40

  Claia. We know for Physick yours you get,

  Which thus you heere are sorting,

  And vpon garlands we are set,

  With Wreathes and Posyes sporting:

  Lelipa. The Chaplet and the Anadem,

  The curled Tresses crowning,

  We looser Nimphes delight in them,

  Not in your Wreathes renowning.

  Clarinax. The Garland long agoe was worne,

  As Time pleased to bestow it, 50

  The Lawrell onely to adorne

  The Conquerer and the Poet.

  The Palme his due, who vncontrould,

  On danger looking grauely,

  When Fate had done the worst it could,

  Who bore his Fortunes brauely.

  Most worthy of the Oken Wreath

  The Ancients him esteemed,

  Who in a Battle had from death

  Some man of worth redeemed. 60

  About his temples Grasse they tye,

  Himselfe that so behaued

  In some strong Seedge by th’ Enemy,

  A City that hath saued.

  A Wreath of Vervaine Herhauts weare,

  Amongst our Garlands named,

  Being sent that dreadfull newes to beare,

  Offensiue warre proclaimed.

  The Signe of Peace who first displayes,

  The Oliue Wreath possesses: 70

  The Louer with the Myrtle Sprayes

  Adornes his crisped Tresses.

  In Loue the sad forsaken wight

  The Willow Garland weareth:

  The
Funerall man befitting night,

  The balefull Cipresse beareth.

  To Pan we dedicate the Pine,

  Whose Slips the Shepherd graceth:

  Againe the Ivie and the Vine

  On his, swolne Bacchus placeth. 80

  Claia. The Boughes and Sprayes, of which you tell,

  By you are rightly named,

  But we with those of pretious smell

  And colours are enflamed;

  The noble Ancients to excite

  Men to doe things worth crowning,

  Not vnperformed left a Rite,

  To heighten their renowning:

  But they that those rewards deuis’d,

  And those braue wights that wore them 90

  By these base times, though poorely priz’d,

  Yet Hermit we adore them.

  The store of euery fruitfull Field

  We Nimphes at will possessing,

  From that variety they yeeld

  Get flowers for euery dressing:

  Of which a Garland Ile compose,

  Then busily attend me.

  These flowers I for that purpose chose,

  But where I misse amend me. 100

  Clarinax. Well Claia on with your intent,

  Lets see how you will weaue it,

  Which done, here for a monument

  I hope with me, you’ll leaue it.

  Claia. Here Damaske Roses, white and red,

  Out of my lap first take I,

  Which still shall runne along the thred,

  My chiefest Flower this make I:

  Amongst these Roses in a row,

  Next place I Pinks in plenty, 110

  These double Daysyes then for show,

  And will not this be dainty.

  The pretty Pansy then Ile tye

  Like Stones some Chaine inchasing,

  And next to them their neere Alye,

  The purple Violet placing.

  The curious choyce, Clove Iuly-flower,

  Whose kinds hight the Carnation

  For sweetnesse of most soueraine power

  Shall helpe my Wreath to fashion. 120

  Whose sundry cullers of one kinde

  First from one Root derived,

  Them in their seuerall sutes Ile binde,

  My Garland so contriued;

  A course of Cowslips then I’ll stick,

  And here and there though sparely

  The pleasant Primrose downe Ile prick

  Like Pearles, which will show rarely:

  Then with these Marygolds Ile make

  My Garland somewhat swelling, 130

  These Honysuckles then Ile take,

  Whose sweets shall helpe their smelling:

  The Lilly and the Flower delice,

  For colour much contenting,

  For that, I them doe only prize,

  They are but pore in senting:

  The Daffadill most dainty is

  To match with these in meetnesse;

  The Columbyne compar’d to this,

  All much alike for sweetnesse. 140