The heroical lover, or, Antheon and Fidelta a poem / written by Thomas Bancroft.

Upon M^r. Bancrofts POEM, THE HEROICAL LOVER.

VVHo're bound to th' true Atlantis, cannot faile, If by your Kinsmans & your Charts they saile:

'Tis by these means we really descry What's in Sir Francis but Sciograpy. Your neighbour hills in joyful ecchoes tell 'Tis Haddon where those happy Parents dwell That nurst Sir Antheon; and time will discover Th' illustrious Rose (Sir) your Heroick Lover. There, there live sweetly wedded Great and Good, The brave Supporters of illustrious blood, Whose waiters shew you by their courteous eye The King and Queen of hospitality. From this brave Paire Sir Antheon tooke his Armes Proofe 'gainst Aselgia's and Sordezza's charmes; Whose generous temper, extract with his birth, Shall scorne and discipline those sonnes of earth, Whose brutish valour wine and sloth would rust, But for caprichioes, rapine, pride, and lust; Whilst injur'd vertue, honour, longing stand To see their triumph purchas'd by his hand. Your Lovers (might I venture at your skill)

Are that, Melentus; this, a Claracil: Or if I miss in one, I have descry'd At least th' Propheticke of the reall Bride. For our Atlantis truly doth afford A race of young Fidelta's, but one Lord, The brave Sir Antheon, whose illustrious fame Eutopia shall translate b'y another name To stately Belvoir, where his gallant story Shall out-doe all that Fame has yet of glory. Me thinkes I see approch a glorious dawn, When all the ferall birds and beasts withdrawn To the darke cavernes of eternall night, From this blest region forc't to take their flight, Shall give admission to the Prince of day In a triumphant chariot drawn this way, Welcom'd with thousand Graces, waited on To faire Fidelta and Sir Antheon. Our floting Delos fixt, then men shall say Haddon's Atlantis, Belvoir Eutopia;

And then your Muse, crown'd with deserved Bayes, Shall sing of Epithl'mes and Halcyon dayes.

Anth. Harwood.