The Works of Sir John Suckling in prose and verse/To my Friend Will. Davenant, upon his Poem of 'Madagascar'

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For other versions of this work, see To my Friend Will. Davenant; upon his Poem of Madagascar.
3700677The Works of Sir John Suckling in prose and verse — To my Friend Will. Davenant, upon his Poem of 'Madagascar'John Suckling

TO MY FRIEND WILL. DAVENANT, UPON HIS POEM OF 'MADAGASCAR'

What mighty princes poets are! those things
The great ones stick at, and our very kings
Lay down, they venture on; and with great ease
Discover, conquer what and where they please.
Some phlegmatic sea-captain would have staid5
For money now, or victuals; not have weigh'd
Anchor without 'em; thou, Will, dost not stay
So much as for a wind, but go'st away,
Land'st, view'st the country; fight'st, put'st all to rout,
Before another could be putting out!10
And now the news in town is, Dav'nant's come
From Madagascar, fraught with laurel home:
And welcome, Will, for the first time; but prithee
In thy next voyage bring the gold too with thee.