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ENCOM. 3. To the great and hopefull CHARLES, Prince of Great Bri∣taine and Ireland, &c. (Book 3)
TOp-spring of Britaines hope, as to the Sphere,
Whence dearest expectation waits, to heare
The voice of her content. To thee I meane,
That on the sluce of Englands Hippocreane
Ascends in good, to grace the land, and streame.
More do admire, then vnderstand the state
Of vertues thine; could them admire, relate
Thy Princely true proportion in all parts:
'Twould vrge those can but meanest part of Arts
Aduancement; offer such true notes to thee,
Would force admir'd, thy good, their loyalty,
Through euery knowing clime; that vnderstands
What Prince, and Subiect meanes. To all those lands
That whilome cal'd Rome Mistresse; Caesars to
Stood seruants-like, vncapt, I giue to kno:
Romes Triumphes can but boast, t'haue beene times preter
Britaines but late begunne, therefore times detter.
Our Thames (then) Tyber equals. Our Swans be
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Knowne publicke sprung from so great Royalty
As then was hers. The difference can but this,
Such was on Tyber; is on Thamesis.
Not Europe-ruling-Caesars, thus had liu'd
Famous'd by infants breath; had they not giu'd
A life to Poesie: Fairest Tombes will breake,
Rust, and consume; not Poesie whilst any speake,
Of any Language spoken. Know great Prince
The wortrthi'st ornaments that Princes, since
They tooke the name, was left, and onely fram'd
By Poesie: and is. Who is there nam'd
That's well accounted worthy, would not vse
Before a dead seene picture, what a Muse
(Well able) can produce? Nesciunt.
Th'one a short time endures, and honours neuer
Them it presents: Th'other continues euer
Whil'st vertue's good: and honours. Being men,
The best of Natures fabricke: Why should then
Pictures be thought so worth? as if he dy'd
That did not leaue his equall. If not try'd
To be in substance; yet in shew 'tis knowne:
Hee ne're was knowne depart, that like his owne
Left no proportion: For some worth (indeed)
Death leaues not life example, I do heed
By accidents. Then, such parts to expresse
Nature and Art, confirmes tru'st tuteresse
From Poesie. All worth and euery action
Re-acts in noting thoughts; thence. Yet giue faction
Of painting euen course: but grant it so
That Poesie stand to publish: Euery showe
Being substanc'd, better's honour'd, vertue's like
To liue thy age, in thee: Then be to seeke
New shelter, leaue her not: still in thy name
Thy worth, and shee shall share great'st pars of fame.
In Arts and Vertues ripe; thy actions show
Now when thy yeares but greene: All hope to know