A Description of New England/To his friend Captain Smith, vpon his description of New England

by George Wither

To his friend Cap: Smith, vpon his
description of New England.

SIr; your Relations I haue read: which shewe,
Ther's reason I should honour them and you:
And if their meaning I haue vnderstood,
I dare to censure, thus: Your Proiect's good;
And may (if follow'd) doubtlesse quit the paine,
With honour, pleasure and a trebble gaine;
Beside the benefit that shall arise
To make more happie our Posterities.

For would we daigne to spare, though ‘twere no more
Then what o’re-filles, and surfets vs in store,
To order Nature’s fruitfulnesse a while
In that rude Garden, you New England stile;
With present good, ther’s hope in after-daies
Thence to repaire what Time and Pride decaies
In this rich kingdome. And the spatious West
Beeing still more with English blood possest,
The Proud Iberians shall not rule those Seas,
To checke our ships from sayling where they please;
Nor future times make any forraine power
Become so great to force a bound to Our.
Much good my minde fore-tels would follow hence
With little labour, and with lesse expence.
Thriue therefore thy Designe, who ere enuie:
England may ioy in England’s Colony,
Virginia seeke her Virgine sisters good,
Be blessed in such happie neighbourhood:
Or, what-soere Fate pleaseth to permit,
Be thou still honor’d for first moouing it.

George Wither, 
è societate Lincol.