Lo, then Olympus' king, the thundering Jove, Raught hence this gracious nymph Astræa fair; Now once again he sends her from above,

Descended through the sweet transparent air: And here she sits in beauty fresh and sheen, Shadowing the person of a peerless queen.

AGLAIA.

A peerless queen, a royal princely dame,
Enroll'd in register of eternal fame.

THALIA.

The Graces throw their balm about her sacred head, Whose government her realm's true happiness hath

bred.

CHARITY.

That happiness continue in her land,

Great Israel's God, spring of all heavenly peace, And let thine angels in her rescue stand;

With her life's wane done England's joys decrease: O let her princely days never have fine,* Whose virtues are immortal and divine!

НОРЕ.

Such virtues as her throne do beautify,

And make her honours mount, and scale the sky.

FAITH.

Where hope of her eternal bliss doth rest,
Conceived in her sweet and sacred breast.

* fine] i.e. end.

HONOUR.

With radiant beams, reflecting on the earth,
Even from the snowy brows of Albion,
Beyond the utmost verge of Christendom,
As bright as is the burning lamp of heaven,
Shineth my mistress' honour, in whose fame
The heathen carols sing, and all admire,
From icy Tanais to the sevenfold Nile,
Her glory, that commands this western isle.
CHAMPION.

lance:

In whose defence my colours I advance,
And girt me with my sword, and shake my
These British lions, rampant in this field,
That never learn'd in battle's rage to yield,
Breathe terror to the proud aspiring foe,
Ranging the world, commanding where they go;
Therefore in vain this misproud malcontent
Threatens her state, whose harms the heavens prevent.
Sit safe, sweet nymph, among thy harmless sheep,
Thy sacred person angels have in keep.

1st MALCONTENT.

What meaneth this? I strive, and cannot strike; She is preserv'd by miracle belike:

If so, then wherefore threaten we in vain

That Queen whose cause the gracious heavens maintain?

2nd MALCONTENT.

No marvel then, although we faint and quail,

For mighty is the truth, and will prevail.

In the hinder part of the pageant did sit a child, representing Nature, holding in her hand a distaff, and spinning a web, which passed through the hand of Fortune, and was wheeled up by Time, who spake as followeth, eidt z pada】

Thus while my wheel with ever-turning gyres,
gyres, ̧‹‹
At heaven's high hest serves earthly men's desires,
I wind the Web that kind so well begins,
While Fortune doth enrich what Nature spins.

A speech on the water, delivered in the morning, at my Lord Mayor's going to Westminster.

List, gentle Lords, and bubbling stream be still,
And whistling winds your angry murmur cease;
Let Thetis' nymph unfold the goddess' hest:
Behold, embark'd thus bravely as you see,
Laden with treasure, and with precious ore,
From where in Tellus' veins the parching sun
Doth gold and glittering minerals create,
Are come these strangers lovingly inflam'd,
To gratulate to you, my lovely Lord,

This gladsome day wherein your honours spring:
And by the bar that thwarts this silver stream,
Even to the beauteous verge of Troy-novant,

That decks this Thamesis on either side,
Thus far these friends have pierc'd, and all by me
Salute your honour and your company,
Thrice-worthy Prætor of this ancient town.

The mortar of these walls, temper'd in peace,
Yet holds the building sure, as are the sprigs
Woven from the spreading root in knotty box.
Labour, fair Lord, as other mayors of yore,
To beautify this city with deserts.

So wish these friendly strangers, man by man.*
Pass with advisement to receive thy oath;
Keep it inviolate for thy sovereign's hope,
Virtue's pure mirror, London's great mistress;
Unsheath the sword committed to thy sway,
With merciful regard of every cause.
So go in peace, happy by sea and land,
Guided by grace, and heaven's immortal hand.

*So wish, &c.] Qy.;

"So with these friendly strangers, man by man,
Pass," &c.