The Works of Abraham Cowley/Volume 1/Ode: Sitting and drinking in the Chair made out of the Relicks of Sir Francis Drake's Ship
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ODE.
SITTING AND DRINKING IN THE CHAIR MADE
OUT OF THE RELICKS OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE's
SHIP.
OUT OF THE RELICKS OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE's
SHIP.
Cheer up, my mates, the wind does fairly blow,
Clap on more sail, and never spare;
Farewell all lands, for now we are
In the wide sea of drink, and merrily we go.
Bless me, 't is hot! another bowl of wine,
And we shall cut the burning Line:
Hey, boys! she scuds away, and by my head I know
We round the world are sailing now.
What dull men are those that tarry at home.
When abroad they might wantonly roam,
And gain such experience, and spy too
Such countries and wonders, as I do!
But pr'ythee, good pilot, take heed what you do,
And fail not to touch at Peru!
With gold there the vessel we 'll store,
And never, and never be poor,
No, never be poor any more.
Clap on more sail, and never spare;
Farewell all lands, for now we are
In the wide sea of drink, and merrily we go.
Bless me, 't is hot! another bowl of wine,
And we shall cut the burning Line:
Hey, boys! she scuds away, and by my head I know
We round the world are sailing now.
What dull men are those that tarry at home.
When abroad they might wantonly roam,
And gain such experience, and spy too
Such countries and wonders, as I do!
But pr'ythee, good pilot, take heed what you do,
And fail not to touch at Peru!
With gold there the vessel we 'll store,
And never, and never be poor,
No, never be poor any more.
What do I mean? What thoughts do me misguide?
As well upon a staff may witches ride
Their fancy'd journeys in the air,
As I sail round the ocean in this chair!
'Iis true; but yet this chair which here you see,
For all its quiet now, and gravity,
Has wander'd and has travell'd more
Than ever beast, or fish, or bird, or ever tree, before:
In every air and every sea 't has been,
'T has compass'd all the earth, and all the heavens 't has seen.
Let not the Pope's itself with this compare,
This is the only universal chair.
As well upon a staff may witches ride
Their fancy'd journeys in the air,
As I sail round the ocean in this chair!
'Iis true; but yet this chair which here you see,
For all its quiet now, and gravity,
Has wander'd and has travell'd more
Than ever beast, or fish, or bird, or ever tree, before:
In every air and every sea 't has been,
'T has compass'd all the earth, and all the heavens 't has seen.
Let not the Pope's itself with this compare,
This is the only universal chair.
The pious wanderer's fleet, sav'd from the flame
(Which still the relicks did of Troy pursue,
And took them for its due),
A squadron of immortal nymphs became:
Still with their arms they row about the seas,
And still make new and greater voyages:
Nor has the first poetick ship of Greece
(Though now a star she so triumphant show,
And guide her sailing successors below,
Bright as her ancient freight the shining fleece)
Yet to this day a quiet harbour found;
The tide of heaven still carries her around.
Only Drake's sacred vessel (which before
Had done and had seen more
Than those have done or seen,
Ev'n since they Goddesses and this a Star has been),
As a reward for all her labour past,
Is made the seat of rest at last.
Let the case now quite alter'd be,
And, as thou went'st abroad the world to see,
Let the world now come to see thee!
The world will do 't; for curiosity
Does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make;
And I myself, who now love quiet too,
As much almost as any chair can do,
Would yet a journey take,
An old wheel of that chariot to see,
Which Phaeton so rashly brake:
Yet what could that say more than these remains of Drake?
Great relick! thou too, in this port of ease,
Hast still one way of making voyages;
The breath of Fame, like an auspicious gale
(The great trade-wind which ne'er does fail)
Shall drive thee round the world, and thou shalt run
As long around it as the sun.
The streights of Time too narrow are for thee;
Launch forth into an undiscover'd sea,
And steer the endless course of vast Eternity!
Take for thy sail this verse, and for thy pilot me!
(Which still the relicks did of Troy pursue,
And took them for its due),
A squadron of immortal nymphs became:
Still with their arms they row about the seas,
And still make new and greater voyages:
Nor has the first poetick ship of Greece
(Though now a star she so triumphant show,
And guide her sailing successors below,
Bright as her ancient freight the shining fleece)
Yet to this day a quiet harbour found;
The tide of heaven still carries her around.
Only Drake's sacred vessel (which before
Had done and had seen more
Than those have done or seen,
Ev'n since they Goddesses and this a Star has been),
As a reward for all her labour past,
Is made the seat of rest at last.
Let the case now quite alter'd be,
And, as thou went'st abroad the world to see,
Let the world now come to see thee!
The world will do 't; for curiosity
Does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make;
And I myself, who now love quiet too,
As much almost as any chair can do,
Would yet a journey take,
An old wheel of that chariot to see,
Which Phaeton so rashly brake:
Yet what could that say more than these remains of Drake?
Great relick! thou too, in this port of ease,
Hast still one way of making voyages;
The breath of Fame, like an auspicious gale
(The great trade-wind which ne'er does fail)
Shall drive thee round the world, and thou shalt run
As long around it as the sun.
The streights of Time too narrow are for thee;
Launch forth into an undiscover'd sea,
And steer the endless course of vast Eternity!
Take for thy sail this verse, and for thy pilot me!