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COWLEY'S POEMS.
Join Theron boldly to their sacred names;
Theron the next honour claims;
Theron to no man gives place,
Is first in Pisa's and in Virtue's race;
Theron there, and he alone,
Ev'n his own swift forefathers has outgone.
Theron the next honour claims;
Theron to no man gives place,
Is first in Pisa's and in Virtue's race;
Theron there, and he alone,
Ev'n his own swift forefathers has outgone.
They through rough ways, o'er many stops they pass'd,
Till on the fatal bank at last
They Agrigentum built, the beauteous eye
Of fair-fac'd Sicily:
Which does itself i' th' river by
With pride and joy espy.
Then cheerful notes their painted years did sing,
And Wealth was one, and Honour th' other, wing;
Their genuine virtues did more sweet and clear,
In Fortune's graceful dress, appear.
To which, great son of Rhea! say
The firm word which forbids things to decay!
If in Olympus' top, where thou
Sitt'st to behold thy sacred show;
If in Alpheus' silver flight;
If in my verse thou dost delight,
My verse, O Rhea's son! which is
Lofty as that, and smooth as this.
Till on the fatal bank at last
They Agrigentum built, the beauteous eye
Of fair-fac'd Sicily:
Which does itself i' th' river by
With pride and joy espy.
Then cheerful notes their painted years did sing,
And Wealth was one, and Honour th' other, wing;
Their genuine virtues did more sweet and clear,
In Fortune's graceful dress, appear.
To which, great son of Rhea! say
The firm word which forbids things to decay!
If in Olympus' top, where thou
Sitt'st to behold thy sacred show;
If in Alpheus' silver flight;
If in my verse thou dost delight,
My verse, O Rhea's son! which is
Lofty as that, and smooth as this.
For the past sufferings of this noble race
(Since things once past, and fled out of thine hand,
Hearken no more to thy command)
Let present joys fill up their place,
(Since things once past, and fled out of thine hand,
Hearken no more to thy command)
Let present joys fill up their place,
