Page:The muses threnodie (Adamson, 1638).djvu/86

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The sixth muse
And view from far th'ambitions of this age,
Turning the helmes of states, and in their rage
Make shipwrake of the same on shelfs and sands,
Running be lawles lawes and hard commands,
And often drown themselves in flouds of woes,
As many shipwraks of this kinde well showes.
We passe our time upon the forked mountain,
And drink the cristall waters of the fountain.
Dig'd by the winged horse; we sing the trees
The cornes, and flocks, and labours of the bees;
Of sheepheard lads, and lasses homelie love,
And some time straine our oaten pipe above
That mean: we sing of Hero and Leander
Yea Mars, all cled in steel; and Alexander.
But Cynthius us pulling by the ear
Did warning give, to keep a lower air,
But keep what air we will, who can well say
That he himself preserve from shipwrake may?
In stormie seas, while as the ship doth reele
Of publick state, the meanest boy may feele
Shipwrack, as well as he the helme who guides,
When seas do rage with winds and contrare tides.
Which: ah too true I found, upon an ore[1]
Not long ago, while as I swim'd to shore,
Witnesse my drenshed cloaths, as you did see,
Which I to Neptune gave in votarie
And signe of safetie. Answered Master Gall,
Monsier, your table hung on Neptunes wall
Did all your losse so livelie point to me,
That I did mourne, poore soul, when I did see.

But

  1. He speaketh of Gowries conspiracie.