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THE EPISTLE
Which (being Eternall) we are render'd so.
And though your high-fixt Light passe infinite farr
Th'aduicefull Guide, of my still-trembling Starr;
Yet heare what my dischardg'd Peece must foretell,
Standing your Poore, and Perdue Sentinell.
Kings may perhaps wish, euen your Beggars Voice
To their Eternities; how skorn'd a choice
Soeuer, now it lies; And (dead I) may
Extend your life to lights extreamest Raie.
If not; your Homer yet, past doubt shall make,
Immortall, like himselfe, your Bounties stake
Put in my hands, to propagate your Fame,
Such virtue reigns in such vnited Name.
Retire to him then, for aduice, and skill
To know, things call'd worst, Best; and Best most ill.
[1]Which knowne; truths best chuse; and retire to still.
And as our English Generall, (whose Name
Shall equall interest finde in T'House of Fame,
With all Earths great'st Commanders) in Retreate
To Belgian Gant, stood all Spaines Armies heate,
By Parma led; though but one thousand strong:
Three miles together thrusting through the throng
Of Th'Enimies Horse, (still pouring on their Fall
Twixt him & home) & thunderd through them al:
The Gallick Monsiour standing on the wall,
And wondring at his dreadfull Discipline;
Fir'd with a Valor, that spit spirit Diuine:
In fiue Battaillons randging all his Men;
And though your high-fixt Light passe infinite farr
Th'aduicefull Guide, of my still-trembling Starr;
Yet heare what my dischardg'd Peece must foretell,
Standing your Poore, and Perdue Sentinell.
Kings may perhaps wish, euen your Beggars Voice
To their Eternities; how skorn'd a choice
Soeuer, now it lies; And (dead I) may
Extend your life to lights extreamest Raie.
If not; your Homer yet, past doubt shall make,
Immortall, like himselfe, your Bounties stake
Put in my hands, to propagate your Fame,
Such virtue reigns in such vnited Name.
Retire to him then, for aduice, and skill
To know, things call'd worst, Best; and Best most ill.
[1]Which knowne; truths best chuse; and retire to still.
And as our English Generall, (whose Name
Shall equall interest finde in T'House of Fame,
With all Earths great'st Commanders) in Retreate
To Belgian Gant, stood all Spaines Armies heate,
By Parma led; though but one thousand strong:
Three miles together thrusting through the throng
Of Th'Enimies Horse, (still pouring on their Fall
Twixt him & home) & thunderd through them al:
The Gallick Monsiour standing on the wall,
And wondring at his dreadfull Discipline;
Fir'd with a Valor, that spit spirit Diuine:
In fiue Battaillons randging all his Men;
Bristl'd
- ↑ A simile illustrating the most renownd seruice of Generall Norris in his Retreate before Gant, neuer before made sacred to Memorie.
