The Argvment.
That to his friends he nothing sends
But Verses: and this gift
Doth make mens name resound with fame,
And them to heaven up-lift.
Rich plate and Iewels, that do lively showe
The work-mans skill, I frankly would bestowe
Vpon my friends, O Censorine. I would
Give them faire tables garnished with gold,
In-layd with Ivory, on strong trestles set,
Th'high-priz'd rewards of valiant Greeks. Nor yet
Shouldst thou the worst have, if I did abound
With those things that Parrhasius have renown'd,
Or Scophas, to these present times; The one
Cunning in colours, th'other in hard stone,
To make a man, or god: But, this I want:
And of such ornaments thou hast no scant.
Thou verses lov'st: I verses can give well,
And of this gift the worthy praises tell.
No marble Statues with high titles wrought,
By which both breath, and life againe is brought
To noble Captaines after they are dead;
Nor Hanniball, with break-neck speed that fled
(When all his threats upon himselfe return'd)
Nor faith-less Carthage into cinders burn'd,
Doe more his noble acts commit to Fame
(Affrick subdu'd, that gaind a glorious name)
Then the Calabrian Muses. If they faile
To doe good deeds, it nought will thee availe.
Had not the Boyes name long since from us fled,
Whom Mars (when Ilia lost her maiden-head)
Begot, if envious silence could from us
Conceale the acts of worthy Romulus?
From Stygian rivers, Æacus, set free
By powr-full skill of divine Poësie,
Is canoniz'd for ever to remaine
Amongst th'Heroës in th'Elysian Plaine.
Praise-worthy men the Muse forbids to die:
The Muse men blesseth with eternitie.
Great-hearted Hercules is so Ioues guest,
And frolicks with him at his wished feast.
The two Tindarian twins, so, safely keep
The Ships, though tost in billowes of the Deep.
So Mars (his temples circled with vine-bowes)
Grants mens requests, and binds them to their vowes.