Moft Illuftrious and Moft Hopefull
PRINCE, CHARLES, PRINCE

the way:

Who are my Works Creator, and alone
The Flame of it, and the Expanfion.

And look how all those heavenly Lamps acquire
Light from the Sun, that inexhaufted Fire:
So all my Morne, and Evening Stars from You
Have their Existence, and their Influence too.
Full'is my Book of Glories; but all These
By You become Immortall Subftances.

Sing of Brooks, of Bloffomes, Birds, and

Bowers:

Of April, May, of June, and July-
Flowers.

I fing of May-poles, Hock-carts, Waffails, Wakes,
Of Bride-grooms, Brides, and of their Bridall-cakes.
I write of Youth, of Love, and have Acceffe
By thefe, to fing of cleanly-Wantonnesse.
I fing of Dewes, of Raines, and piece by piece
Of Balme, of Oyle, of Spice, and Amber-Greece.
I fing of Times tranf-fhifting; and I write
How Rofes first came Red, and Lillies White.
I write of Groves, of Twilights, and I fing
The Court of Mab, and of the Fairie-King.
I write of Hell; I fing, and ever fhall,
Of Heaven, and hope to have it after all.

B

W

To his Mufe.

Hither, mad Maiden, wilt thou roame ? Farre fafer 'twere to stay at home; Where thou mayft fit, and piping please

The poore and private Cottages.
Since Coats and Hamlets beft agree
With this thy meaner Minstralfie.
There with the Reed, thou mayst expresse
The Shepherds Fleecie happineffe :
And with thy Eclogues intermixe
Some smooth and harmleffe Beucolicks.
There on a Hillock thou mayft fing
Unto a handfome Shephardling;
Or to a Girle (that keeps the Neat)
With breath more fweet then Violet.
There, there, perhaps, fuch Lines as These

May take the simple Villages.

But for the Court, the Country wit

Is despicable unto it.

Stay then at home, and doe not goe
Or flie abroad to feeke for woe.
Contempts in Courts and Cities dwell;

No Critick haunts the Poore mans Cell :
Where thou mayst hear thine own Lines read

By no one tongue, there, censured.

That man's unwife will search for Ill,

And may prevent it, fitting still.