Her props are well-advised magistrates,
That carefully attend her person still.
The honest franklin and the husbandman,
Lays down his sacks of corn at London's feet,
And brings such presents as the country yields.
The pleasant Thames, a sweet and dainty nymph,
For London's good conveys with gentle stream,
And safe and easy passage, what she can,
And keeps her leaping fishes in her lap.
The soldier and the sailor, frankly both,
For London's aid are all in readiness,
To venture and to fight by land and sea.
And this thrice reverend honourable dame,
Science, the sap of every commonwealth,
Surnam’d mechanical or liberal,
Is vow'd to honour London with her skill;
And London, by these friends so happy made,
First thanks her God, the author of her peace,
And next with humble gesture, as becomes,
In meek and lowly manner doth she yield
Herself, her wealth, with heart and willingness,
Unto the person of her gracious queen,
Elizabeth, renowned through the world,
Stall'd and anointed by the highest power,
The God of kings, that with his holy hand
Hath long defended her and her England.
This now remains, right honourable lord,
That carefully you do attend and keep
This lovely lady, rich and beautiful,
The jewel wherewithal your sovereign queen
Hath put your honour lovingly in trust,
That you may add to London's dignity,
And London's dignity may add to yours,
That worthily you may be counted one,
Among the number of a many moe
Careful lieutenants, careful magistrates,
For London's welfare and her worthiness.
Spoken by the Children in the Pageant, viz.
New Troy I hight, whom Lud my lord surnam'd,
London the glory of the western side;
Throughout the world is lovely London fam'd,
So far as any sea comes in with tide :
Whose peace and calm, under her royal queen,
Hath long been such as like was never seen.
Then let me live to carol of her name,
That she may ever live and never die,
Her sacred shrine set in the house of fame,
Consecrate to eternal memory:
My peerless mistress, sovereign of my peace,
Long may she joy with honour's great increase.
The country and the Thames afford their aid, H
And careful magistrates their care attend ;
All English hearts are glad and well apaid, I
In readiness their London to defend.
apaid] See note vol. i. p. 91. ́ ́
Defend them, Lord, and these fair nymphs likewise, That ever they may do this sacrifice.
The greatest treasure that a prince can have
Doth lovely London offer to her queen,
Such loyalty as like was never seen,
And such as any English heart can crave.
THE COUNTRY.
For London's aid the country gives supply
Of needful things, and store of every grain: 1 London, give thanks to him that sits on high,
(Had never town less cause for to complain,) And love and serve the sovereign of thy peace, Under whose reign thou hast this rich increase.
With silver glide my pleasant streams do run,
Where leaping fishes play betwixt the shores:
This gracious good hath God and kind begun..
For London's use with help of sails and oars.
London, rejoice and give thy God the praise,
For her whose highness lengths thy happy days.
Armour of safe defence the soldier hath :
So lovely London carefully attends
To keep her sacred sovereign from scath,
That all this English land so well defends.
And so far London bids her soldiers go,
As well may serve to shield this land from woe.
The sailor that in cold and quaking tide
The wrathful storms of winter's rage doth bide,
With streamers stretcht prepares his merry
For country's wealth to set his men awark;
That queen and country easily may see
The seaman serves his prince in his degree.
SCIENCE.
For London's safety and her happiness,
The soldier and the sailor may you see,
All well prepar'd and put in readiness
To do such service as may fitting be;
And Art with them do join, and they with me:
London, then joy and let all ages know
What duty to thy sovereign thou dost owe.
Thus with the morning sun and evening star These holy lights shall burn, the cheerful flame With sweetest odour shall perfume as far
As India stands, in honour of her name,
Whose trophy we adore with sacred rites,
With sweetest incense, and with endless lights.
So long as sun doth lend the world his light,
Or any grass doth grow upon the ground,
With holy flame our torches shall burn bright,
And fame shall bruit with golden trumpet's sound
The honour of her sacred regiment,
That claims this honourable monument.
THE THIRD NYMPH.
Our holy lights shall burn continually,
To signify our duties to her state,
Whose excellent and princely majesty
Approves itself to be most fortunate.
THE FOURTH NYMPH.
Virtue shall witness of her worthiness,
And fame shall register her princely deeds;
The world shall still pray for her happiness,
From whom our peace and quietness proceeds.
Verses written under the Arms of England.
Gallia victa dedit flores, invicta leones
Anglia, jus belli in flore, leone suum;
O sic, O semper ferat Anglia læta triumphos,
Inclyta Gallorum flore, leone suo.
DONNE BY GEORGE Peele, MAISTER OF ARTES IN OXFORD.
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