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Title: To The Virginian Voyage
Author: Michael Drayton [
More Titles by Drayton]
You brave Heroic minds,
Worthy your Country's Name;
That Honour still pursue,
Go, and subdue,
Whilst loyt'ring Hinds
Lurk here at home, with shame.
Britans, you stay too long,
Quickly aboard bestow you,
And with a merry Gale
Swell your stretch'd Sail,
With Vows as strong,
As the Winds that blow you.
Your Course securely steer,
West and by South forth keep,
Rocks, Lee-shores, nor Sholes,
When EOLUS scowls,
You need not fear,
So absolute the Deep.
And cheerefully at Sea,
Success you still intice,
To get the Pearl and Gold,
And ours to hold,
VIRGINIA,
Earth's only Paradise.
Where Nature hath in store
Fowle, Venison, and Fish,
And the Fruitfull'st Soil,
Without your Toil,
Three Harvests more,
All greater then your Wish.
And the ambitious Vine
Crowns with his purple Mass,
The cedar reaching high
To kiss the Sky
The Cypress, Pine
And useful Sassafras.
To whome, the golden Age
Still Natures laws doth give,
No other Cares that tend,
But Them to defend
From Winters rage,
That long there doth not live.
When as the Lushious smell
Of that delicious Land,
Above the Seas that flows,
The clear Wind throws,
Your Hearts to swell
Approaching the dear Strand.
In kenning of the Shore
(Thanks to God first given,)
O you the happy'st men,
Be Frolic then,
Let Cannons roar,
Frighting the wide Heaven.
And in Regions far
Such Heroes bring ye forth,
As those from whom We came,
And plant Our name,
Under that Star
Not known unto our North.
And as there Plenty grows
Of Lawrell every where,
APOLLO'S Sacred tree,
You may it see,
A Poets Brows
To crown, that may sing there.
Thy Voyages attend,
Industrious HACKLUIT,
Whose Reading shall inflame
Men to seek Fame,
And much commend
To after-Times thy Wit.
[The end]
Michael Drayton's poem: To The Virginian Voyage
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