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TO THE Truly Industrious, and Highly Deserving of English-men Captain SAMUEL STURMY. On his Excellent and Elaborate Treatise, Entituled, THE MARINERS MAGAZINE, &c.
IF Earth and Water make one Globe, then he
Must like a Stranger to his Country be,
That's ignorant in Navigation;
And is indeed the out-side of a Man.
For he that's truly Microcosmical,
Owns Noah's Ships, as well as Adam's Fall.
The Sun and Man (they say) beget a Man:
A Mensal-Line appends to David's Span:
Who thinks by Retail-pow'r his Kind to keep,
And merrily expose the Sun to Sleep,
May of a Kingdom soon a Cottage make,
And Fences build to't, without Wall or Stake.
Nature requires no Miracles, but proceeds
In Order, by Fit Causes, as she needs.
And he's the true Philosopher, who views
Earth, Sea, and Sky; not he on Earth doth Muse.
Can any by one Season understand
That this our Earth, Four diff'rent ones command?
Or that Physician reach Anatomy,
Who knows nor Bladder or Emunctory?
Or can the Ablest Theorist deny
That Just Experience's witness'd by the Eye?
Who to such Sophistry their Reason bow,
Lift Fallax up, and set the Truth below.
In Schools, I hold Theorick Knowledge good;
I' th' World, it leads our Senses in a Wood.
The active Soul takes nothing upon Trust,
But proves its Truth: while duller Wights in Rust
And Sloth consume their Time: Their empty Faith
Believes all true, whatever any saith.
Thus Three parts of the World (in Error grown!)
'Gainst Practick-knowledge vouch Opinion.
Had brave Columbus worn so poor a Soul,
Or bold Americus a Brain so Foul,
Or Noble Cabot of that Temper been,
The Indies to this Day had not been seen
By brisk Europeans! Whereas now the Name
Of Worthy Columb, gives the Spaniards Fame;
Americus the Portugals; and Cabot yields
Stout Albion Honour, all its Glories guilds.
Who breaks the Ice in any Great Design,
(And happy Actions unto Judgement joyn)
Deserv's to wear their Countries brighter Bays!
Who Perfects it, merits Immortal Praise.
Then thank our painful Author, thus imparts
Unto the World his choice and dear-bought Arts;
Whereby our ruder Understandings may
Gain Knowledge in the Mathematick way:
No Spot on Earth, no part of Sea or Sky,
But by this Book Men may learn to Survey.
Horologie (an Art so highly priz'd,
And by some Nations almost Idoliz'd!)
Is here so plainly taught, that Vulgar Men
May Dials make, although they scarce know Pen.
Now Hogen-Friar's Skill must be laid by,
It's far out-done by th' Author's Gunnery.
Merchants and Sea-men here their Customs learn,
Their Juster Laws from Tyranny discern.
No Book so comprehnsive in our Tongue
As This. But lest my ruder Lines do wrong,
I will retire, and leave That to its Fate,
Which I fore-see will be most Fortunate.
John Gadbury, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.