G R eat Grandame Wales from whom those Ancestors
Descended, from whom I (poore I) descend,
I owe so much to my Progenitors ,
And to thee, for them that vntill mine end
Thy name , and fame , Ile honor and defend:
Sith Ioy doth passage to thy speech deny
(For that thy Prince thine honor doth commend)
Lest that thy silence might be tane awrie,
Mine Artlesse Pen shall thy Tongue's want supply.

Did Curtius more for Rome , then I for thee,
That willingly (to saue thee from annoy
Of dire dislike , for ingratuitee )
Do take vpon me to expresse thy ioy,
And so my Muse in boundlesse Seas destroie?
Yet, lo, deere Grandame , how myne active Loue ,
My little All doth (more then all ) imploy
For thee, that thou by me thy Prince maist moue
To loue thee for the ioy he makes thee proue.

O then most gracious Sonne vnto that Sire ,
Whose grace doth glorifie both Sire , & Sonne ,
Of thy great grace I (prostrate) thee desire
To cast thine Eye on mine intention ,
Rather, then on my Muse's action.
The Burden's waighty which shee vndergoes
And shee is Weake , and Dull in motion;
Then let thy lively Soule hir Soule inclose,
And giue hir youth and Spright , that aged groes.

As when a yongling lieth by the syde
Of some old Sire , his age doth vertue draw
From his deere youth , that makes Age longer bide:
So mine invention old, cold, rude, and raw,
(Not able to disgest ought in hir maw)
May by the quicke hereditary heate
Of thy yong Muse (that yciest thoughts can thaw)
In Wales , my Countrie's name, performe this feate.
And welcome thee to thy long empty Seate .

But ├┤! I feele, but with the thought of thee,
My frozen thoughts to melt, as with a Sunne ,
Whose comfort Brutes Remayne doth long to see:
And through my Nerues I feele the warme bloud runne
From hart , to braines , to heat invention.
Mount, Muse , vpon the winges of high desire;
Runn, Numbers , now my swiftest thoughts outrunne,
That prostrate on my face (while you aspire)
I may salute thie Prince ( Wales ) and his Sire .

Welcome ten-thouzand times, ye sacred Paire ,
Great Atlas , and Alcides of this Land ,
Vpon whose shoulders (safe from all impaire)
The Common-wealth thereof doth fixed stand,
Which dext'rously your Vertue doth command
Deere Prince , the weale of Wales , the Brittains blisse,
By me (thine owne) Wales lets thee vnderstand,
That she desires thy princely feete to kisse,
And praies, as for her Heau'n on Earth , for this.

Then come, sweete Prince , thy Principalitie
Doth long to beare thee on her blisful Brest
There shalt thou see the Hart of Loyalty
(Loue-sicke) for want of thee in great vnrest;
Then come (Deere sweete ) and to thine owne giue rest
For, as an hungrie Stomacke bites the more
The neerer meate is to the same addrest:
So is thy People's longing made more sore
To hold thee now they haue thee, then before.

There shalt thou finde Brute's venerable Stocke
To loue thee, as the Creame of their best bloud
For, all about thee wil they thronging flocke
To tender thee their Eies , to doe thee good,
Such is the nature of their loving moode ,
As when a Father , fallen in decay,
Doth see his Sonne , that giues him Cloth and foode ,
Crown'd as a King, Ioy makes his hart her Pray;
So will they ioy to see their Ioy to sway.

From Owen Thewdor , who from Camber came,
(From Camber Sonne of Brute who came from Troy )
Art thou descended; and thy Bellsire's name
Was Thewdor , let vs ( Brittaines ) then enjoy
Our owne in thee, in thee, our onely Ioy .
We haue bin long afflicted, and opprest
By those that sought our whole Race to destroy;
Then sith we are in thee so highly blest,
Lett's haue our owne , thy selfe, to giue vs rest .

O come, and comfort vs, our Ioy , our Peace ,
Let vs haue thee , then haue we all , in thee ,
All that, that tends to Peace and ioyes increase;
And in thy presence we shall blessed be;
For thou art blest, then in thee, blest are wee ,
Sith blest thou art with all that Heau'n doth cast
Vpon the Heau'n of Earthe's felicitee
Our bloud in thee craues part of it, at last,
In recompence of all our sorrowes past.

What shall oppunge this, our bloud doth convince;
Nature hath made thee ours , and we are thine ,
We are thy people , and thou art our Prince ;
Betwixt vs Loue will haue nor Thyne , nor Myne .
But the Word Oures she doth to vs Assigne:
Our Land , our Prince , our People , and our Lawes ,
Our State , our Common-weale , our Hand, Seale, Signe ,
All ours, & nought but ours, (deere Prince ) because
Both Prince and People clos'd are in this clause .

Then come All ours , blesse all ours with our Eies
Plac'd in the Head , begotten by our Head ,
Which was begotten by our bloud likewise:
Come, rule thou vs in that Head's place, & steede,
Till thou that Head , in his place, shalt succeede.
Here shalt thou see, cas'd in poore Coates of freeze ,
Rich Spirits of Troians , which on glory feede,
Who, for they are , and rightly came of these ,
Each with the nature of the Stocke agrees.

Our greatest braverie lies all within
(Where greatest Harts do loue the same to haue)
We say, to braue an abiect sprite , is sinne;
But, to be braue in Sp'rite is passing braue:
We scorne a double-gilt base-mettled Slaue ,
For we are harted-whole, true Iovialists ,
Making our glorie goe beyond our Graue ,
So to dissolue Oblivion's foggy mists ,
And blind the Eies of squint-Ei d Satyrists .

For, be it that we know no Complement ,
Other then such as our deere Ancients knew,
That's plaine, and simple, like our harts 's intent;
Yet, if we pleas'd, we could be fash'ond new;
Lou'd we not more our Fathers to ensue:
We want nor wit , nor sp'rit , nor wealth (perchance)
Swift-flying Fash'on swiftlie to pursue,
In guize , in gate , and courtly dalliance ,
At Tilt , each way, with Loue , or Murses lance.

Witnesse our Owen Thewdor , who could giue
True demonstration how to court a Queene:
Who from the seede of Ioue did grace receiue
To beare him selfe in her Eie best-beseene,
And made her thoughts a demy- God him weene:
He so could draw the motion of her eie
By motions seemely, which, in him were seene,
That he alone best pleas'd her fantazie ,
As beeing full of best-grac'd Maiestie .

Now, from the Court , descend we to the Campe:
And from those elder times , to these of ours :
There finde we (no lesse currant for the stampe )
W ILLIAMS (world's wonder for his natiue powers )
Out-daring Death in many sanguine showres:
The singing Bullets made his soule reioice,
As Musicke that the hearing most alures;
And, if the Canons bas'd it with their voice,
He seem'd as ravisht with an Heav'nly noise.

And when the Fo-men's Muskets spight did spitt
Then would he spitt, in sport, at them the while:
The Blowes his courage gaue, were plac'd by witt ,
For Witt and Courage dwelt still in his Stile ,
While Cowardize , and Folly made them vile
Whose glory lay all in their Ladies ' Lappe,
And when he came to Court , at them would smile
Yea, smoothlie iest at their soft-silken Happe ,
Yet could, like Mars , take there sometimes a Napp .

Runne over all the Stories Tymes affoord,
Or prie vpon them with the sharpest sight,
We shall not finde one did more with his Sword
Then this braue Brittaine and true Troian-Knight ,
Who putt Achilles in his Tent to flight
By such an over-dareing Enterprize ,
As all that heare it, not beleeue it might,
But that these Tymes haue seene it with their Eies ,
And that the fame thereof to Heaven flies.

Quite through & through Death's grizely Iawes hee ran,
And made a way through Horror's vgli'st Hell ,
Yea, danted Death , more like some God, then Man
Vntill the Prince , and Death he did compell
To flie for life, which his sword sought to quell:
O Skinck , how blessed wert thou in his loue
That drue thee on, through Death to Glorie's well
From whence the life of Fame doth flowing move
To all that for her sake such Dangers prove!

Should I recount the pettie Miracles
By him performed, in his martiall course,
My words would scarse be held for Oracles
Suffizeth me the World (that knew his force)
Well knew his Hart was Witt , and Valour's Source,
And they that most envie our Brittish fame
Must needs thus much of him confesse (perforce)
That whatsoever from this Brittaine came
Was Witt and Spright , or savor'd of the same:

But, should I instance in particuler ,
What Truth doth warrant for the Brittaines glory;
I could (perhaps) runne vp their Race as farre
As Ioue , and finde them famoused in story .
But, for in me it may be thought vaineglorie,
Sith being one, my selfe I seeme to praise,
I will desist, although my soule be sory
I should desist from that which many waies,
Might Camber crowne with everlasting Baies .

Then come, sweet Prince , take thou vs to thy charge
And we, the while will take the charge of thee:
Thou shalt thine office easily discharge,
For we will more then most obedient bee,
Which, to his comfort, thy dread Sire shall see:
For, when obedience flowes from ardent loue
It is perform'd with all alacritee;
Which thou in vs (we hope) shalt shortly proue,
For with thy becke thou shalt vs stay, or moue.

If thou wilt come to vs, thou well shalt see
Weele spare no paine , that may effect thy pleasure ,
For each one will be busie as a Bee ,
To yeeld thee honied ioie , by waight and measure
And shunne (as Hell ) the cause of thy displeasure
Weele plant our Mountaines with the rarest Trees .
That may be culled from Pomona's Treasure,
And all our hedge-roes shall be ranckt with these,
To please thine eie with what with taste agrees.

Weele root vp all our roughes , our heaths our furs
And, in their place, make grasse , & cowslips gro:
We will remoue what thy dislike incurs,
And with the Mountaines fill the Vales below,
If by Man's powre , and paine they may be so:
Nought shall offend thee, be it what it will,
(Be it but mortall) if we it may know;
For weele bring downe the prowdest He or Hill
That thou shalt doome to be scarse good, or ill.

Then liue with vs (deere Prince ) and we will make
Our wildest Wasts Iett -coulored Garden-Plots
So Flora will her flowred Meades forsake,
To set flowres there, in many curious knots ,
To please thee and (our other selues) the Scots
Weele turne our Villages to Citties faire,
And share them twixt the Scots , and vs, by lots
Whereto both one, and other may repaire
To interchange Commodities , or Aire .

Weele cleeue the Mountaines Neptune to let in,
That Ships may floate, where now our Sheepe do feed
And, whatso-ere industrious hands may win
Shall not be lost , that may thy pleasure breede
Or richer make our intermixed Seede
And whereas now two Townes doe scarse appeere
Within the largest Prospect , then, with speede
They shall be built, as if one Towne they were
That we may be to each as neere, as deere.

Those pleasant Plots where erst the Romaines built
Faire Citties for their Legions to liue in,
Whose gorgeous Architecture was oreguilt
That by the civil Sword haue ruin'd bin.
( " Which Ruines are the Monuments of sinne " )
These will we now repaire, faire as before.
That Scots , and Brittaines may mixt liue therein:
Caerleon , where king Arthure liu'd of yore,
Shall be rebuilt, and double gilt once more.

And all along her gaudy gallant Streetes
Weele go in Triumph, singing once a day
God , and our Prince's praises ( sweete of sweetes )
Vpon our Harpes , like Angels , all the way
For that our Prince is pleasd with vs to stay:
What ist that loiall thankefull Harts can doe
But we will doe, nay, do much more then thay?
Thus doe we Brittaines our Prince kindly woo
To rule vs ere misrule doth vs vndoo.

If prowde we be (as Pride perhaps will say)
How can wee choose, now we haue such a Prince?
Yet shall we prowder be him to obey,
Then prowde of our dominion, long since,
When with our Swordes we did the Land convince
Wee were a People free, and freely fought
For glorie, freedome , and preheminence
But now our totall glory shall be sought
In this, that we will serue thee as we ought.

Beleeue not Envy ( Prince ) that vs pursues
(Because shee knowes our Race is halfe divine)
That will (perhaps) say we our selues misuse,
And to contention over-much incline;
This may be put on any mortall line
By Envie's malice; but thou shalt perceaue
Our vice is Wit , and Courage -masculine,
With constant kindnesse mixt; which Brute did leaue
To Camber , from whom, we did it receiue.

Nor may it be harmonious to thine Eares
To heare our stocke deprau'd by Iniurie ,
For, thy deer'st bloud (as to the World appeares)
Is solid thereby with odious obloquie ,
Then stop their mouthes that breath such blasphemie
Let not our plainenesse be their common-place
To make them sport, in bitter foolery ;
For we hold plainenesse to be no disgrace,
How ere false-harted Fiends may deeme it base.

I doe confesse wee open-harted are,
Scorning Italian-hollow-hartednesse :
Where we dislike , there shew the same we dare
And where we loue we loue for nothing lesse
Then that which tasts of base unworthinesse .
Troy had no Sinon , though the Greekes had store,
Nor can her Ofspring their crosse fortunes blesse
With creeping to a Devill , or adore
A senslesse Blocke , though double-gilt or more.

We like Civilitie when it is dide,
In coulor which will take no hue but one,
That's Blacke , which still will like it selfe abide,
As well in raging stormes , as shining Sunne
Till it doth change by dissolution;
We hate, as Hell , the fowle bi-formed face ,
Because it alters its creation.
And thinke, that glorie hath her greatest grace
In vniformitie , and keeping place .

We are whole- chested , and our Breastes doe hold
A single Hart , that is as good, as great;
And that doth make vs in our actions bold:
For Innocence with feare doth never sweate
How ill so ere the World doth her intreate:
Our Kith, Kinne , and Aliance , with our friends
We by the measure of kinde nature meate,
If so, we needs must loue thee, for these ends ,
And for our happinesse on thee depends.

O could I tune my Tongue vnto thine Eare ,
That so my Words might musicke seeme to it,
That so thou might st alone the Burden beare
Which it requires, as it is requisit!
Then, should my Note be noted to be fit:
I speake for those , whose Tongues are strange to thee,
In thine owne Tongue if my words be vnfit,
That blame be mine; but if Wales better be
By my disgrace , I hold that grace to me.

And better shall it be if my weake lines
Shall draw thee but one furlong thetherward
For as, when in the Morne, Sol farre-off shines,
Yet cheeres vs with approaching hetherward
(But makes vs heavie going from-vs-ward)
So Wales will much reioice, when thy sweete face
Doth (though farre off) with favour her regard:
Thine only countenance shall giue her grace,
And make her deeme her selfe in blessed case;
But ten times blest if shee might thee embrace!

None otherwise then as a widow poore
Vext with oppressions, and adversity,
If some great Prince doo match with hir therfore,
To shield hir so from woes , and iniurie ,
Shee'l kisse his feete in loue's humility:
So shee (that like a widow long hath liv'd
Without a Prince ) our Principalitie ,
Will kisse thy feete , and be (halfe dead) reviv'd,
If such an honyed Husband she had wiv'd.

Shee, good old Ladie , then (with youth renew'd)
Would foote it finely in blith Roundelaies .
No Bellamoure should then be better hu'd ,
For hir Hart's mirth in hir face bloud would raise,
That would deserue thy Loue , thy grace , thy praise .
And, as inspired with a courtly Spright ,
Vpon the soddaine, would spend Nights , & daies .
(As Dido entertain'd the Troian Knight)
In all that should or thee , or thine delight.

Thou shalt perceave, though she be far from Courts ,
Clos'd in a Cantone of this blessed Land
Yet shee hath in hir Trayne some of all sorts
Of either Sex whereof some vnderstand
The Dialect of Court , and Court's command;
To whom shee giues most royall Maintenance
For pettie Kingdoms some Squires haue in hand,
Who will the glory of thy Court advance,
Sith they themselues keepe Demi- Courts perchance.

Then come, sweet Prince, Wales woeth thee by me
(By me hir sorrie Tongs-man ) to be pleas'd
To liue with hir, that so, shee may by thee
Bee rul'd in loue, and ruled so, be eas'd
Of what in former times hath hir displeas'd
The Sheepe their Owner's keeping most approue;
For, he will cure them, when they are diseas'd,
With Loue's right hand; But Hirelings ( Truth doth prove)
Doo keepe the Flocke for Lucre more then Loue .