Classic Poem

Paraineticon

[ PREFIXED TO PALLAS ARMATA, OR MILITARIE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LEARNED, BY SIR THOMAS KELLIE. EDINBURGE, 1627, 4TO .]

Poore Rhene, and canst thou see
Thy natiues' gore thy christall curles deface,
Thy nymphes so bright which bee,
Halfe-blackamores embrace,
And, dull'd with grapes, yet not resente thy case?
Fallen are thy anadeames,
O of such goodlie cities famous flood!
Dimm'd bee thy beautie's beames,
And with thy spoyles and blood
Hell is made rich, prowd the Iberian blood.
And you, faire Europe's queen,
Which hast with lillies deckt your purple seate,
Can you see those haue beene
Sterne cometes to your state,
On neighboures' wracke to grow so hugelie great?
Looke how much Iber gaines,
By as much lessened is your flowrie throne;
O doe not take such paines
On Bartholomewes alone,
But seeke to reacquire your Pampelone.
Braue people, which endwell
The happiest ile that Neptune's armes embrace.
World, which doth yet excell
In what first worlds did grace,
Doe neuer to base seruitude giue place:
Marshalle your wits and armes,
Your courage whett with pittie and disdaine,
Your deeme your allies' harmes;
All lose or re-obtaine,
And either palme or fatall cypresse gaine.
To this great spirit's frame
If moulded were all mindes, all endeuoures,
Could worth thus all inflame,
Then not this ile were oures
Alone, but all betweene sunne's golden boweres.English