To the Christian Readers.

READERS, for that in my book of Satirical Essays I have been deemed over-cynical, to show that I am not wholly inclined to that vein, but, indeed, especially out of the love which in duty I owe to those incomparable Princes, I have in honour of their royal solemnities published these short Epithalamias. By which you may perceive, however the world think of me, I am not of such a churlish constitution, but I can afford virtue her deserved honour, and have as well an affable look to encourage honesty, as a stern frown to cast on villainy. If the times would suffer me, I could be as pleasing as others; and perhaps ere long I will make you amends for my former rigour. Meanwhile I commit this unto your censures, and bid you farewell.

G. W.

EPITHALAMION.

BRIGHT northern star, and fair Minerva's

peer,

Sweet lady of this day, Great Britain's dear.
Lo, thy poor vassal that was erst so rude
With his most rustic Satyrs to intrude,
Once more like a poor sylvan now draws near,
And in thy sacred presence dares appear.
Oh, let not that sweet bow, thy brow, be bent
To scare him with a shaft of discontent :
One look with anger, nay, thy gentlest frown,
Is twice enough to cast a greater down.
My will is ever, never to offend
These that are good; and what I here intend
Your worth compels me to. For lately grieved
More than can be expressed or well believed
Minding for ever to abandon sport,
And live exiled from places of resort;
Careless of all, I yielding to security,

ΙΟ

Thought to shut up my Muse in dark obs

curity:

And in content the better to repose,

A lonely grove upon a mountain chose,

20

East from Caer Winn, midway 'twixt Arle and

Dis,

Two springs where Britain's true Arcadia is.

1. 1. So 1612. Later eds. 'great Minerva's peer.'

1. 12.

L 22.

These,' 1612, '20, 22. 1633, Those.'
So 1612. Later eds. 'True springs.'

But ere I entered my intended course,
Great Æolus began to offer force.

The boisterous king was grown so mad with

rage,

That all the earth was but his fury's stage;
Fire, air, earth, sea, were intermixed in one ;
Yet fire, through water, earth and air shone.
The sea, as if she meant to whelm them under,
Beat on the cliffs, and raged more loud than
thunder:

30 And whilst the vales she with salt waves did

fill,

The air shower'd floods that drench'd our high

est hill;

And the proud trees, that would no duty know,

Lay overturned, twenties in a row.

Yea, every man for fear fell to devotion,

Lest the whole isle should have been drench'd

in th' ocean.

40

Which I, perceiving, conjured up my Muse,
The spirit whose good help I sometimes use,
And though I meant to break her rest no more,
I was then fain her aid for to implore;
And by her help indeed I came to know
Why both the air and seas were troubled so;
For having urged her that she would unfold
What cause she knew, thus much at last she
told.

34- So 1612, '20, '22. 1633, 'twenty.

He here remembers and describes the late winter, which was so exceeding tempestuous and windy.

Of late, quoth she, there is by powers divine
A match concluded, 'twixt great Thame and
Rhine;

50

Two famous rivers, equal both to Nile:
The one, the pride of Europe's greatest isle ;
Th' other, disdaining to be closely pent,
Washes a great part of the Continent,
Yet with abundance doth the wants supply
Of the still-thirsting sea, that's never dry.
And now these, being not alone endear'd
To mighty Neptune and his watery herd,
But also to the great and dreadful Jove
With all his sacred companies above,
Both have assented by their loves' inviting,
To grace with their own presence this uniting.
Jove called a summons, to the world's great

wonder,

The reason 'Twas that we heard of late, which we thought

of the tem

pestuous

winter.

thunder.

60

A thousand legions he intends to send them,
Of cherubins and angels to attend them:
And those strong winds that did such bluster-

ing keep

Were but the Tritons sounding in the deep,
To warn each river, petty stream, and spring
Their aid unto their sovereign to bring.

The floods and showers that came so plenteous

down,

And lay entrench'd in every field and town,
Were but retainers to the nobler sort

That owe their homage at the watery court: 70

Or else the streams, not pleased with their own

store,

To grace the Thames, their mistress, borrowed

more,

Exacting from their neighbouring dales and hills,

But by consent all, nought against their wills.
Yet now, since in this stir are brought to
ground

Many fair buildings, many hundreds drown'd,
And daily found of broken ships great store,
That lie dismembered upon every shore,
With divers other mischiefs known to all,

This is the cause that those great harms be-
fall.

80

Whilst other things in readiness did make,
Hell's hateful hags from out their prisons The cause of

brake,

And spiting at this hopeful match, began

To wreak their wrath on air, earth, sea, and

man.

Some, having shapes of Romish shavelings got,
Spew'd out their venom, and began to plot
Which way to thwart it; others made their way
With much distraction thorough land and sea
Extremely raging. But almighty Jove
Perceives their hate and envy from above; 90
He'll check their fury, and in irons chain'd
Their liberty abus'd shall be restrain'd:

1. 73. from, 1622, '33. 1612, '20 give 'for.'

all such dangers as fell out during the distem

perature of the air.