In midst of which by rarer Engeny,
Then Mars and Venus hang in Lemnian net :
The Land and Sea embracing louingly,
Making one perfect Globe, in th'ayre were set.
Whose interveyning qualities agree
To breede and beare what moue, or resting be.
Thrice happy Vnion when these Greater things
Accord in perfect Loue and Amitie:
Whose peace an vniuersall blessing brings,
Causing in lesser states sweet harmonie:
And euer blesséd be his powerfull hand,
By whom this Order doth supported stand.
Now Rose-cheek't Morning, kindest Friend of Arts,
Learnings best Mistresse, my presuming Muse
Of all the Earths diffuséd, sundry parts
Thy Neighbour cónfine Kingdomes first doth chuse,
That when her faultie boldnesse shee doth see,
If blush she doe not, she may learne of thee.
THE worlds true Mother-Land, mans Nurcery,
Great Asia, object of diuiner view,
Saluted first by Heau'ns all-seeing eye,
Soonest by it departing, bid t' adiew.
The West yet wrapt in Darknesse shin'd in Light, That since inlightened, lyes inwrapt in Night.
China her farthest Region in the East,
By Portugals to vs discouered late,
Is with much Pleasure, and rich Plentie blest,
With People, and with Princes fortunate:
Yet most procuring wonder doe excell
The Cities where her Prince and People dwell.
The skill of Printing and Artillery,
Rarest inuentions which these days have seene,
(If we beleeue the Fame which thence doth flye)
Here in the ancient'st times haue practis'd beene:
And sure that People is or should be wise,
Which say We see with one, They with both eyes.
Bord'ring on China Northward lies Cathay,
Rul'd by her Emperour, the mighty Cham,
To whom great Tartarie doth tribute pay :
Great Tartary whose farre distended name,
Twixt auncient India, and the Icy Sea,
Possesseth all to Westerne Muscouy.
The nation sprung from Sires of Scythian race,
Not satisfi'ed with Ob, nor Volga's floud,
People anew some new vnpeopled place,
In guilded sculs carowsing luke-warme bloud,
More happy yet in spoiling States well built,
Then in erecting where their force hath spilt.
As those hayle vollies which the Whirle-winds cast Of leaden drops, from some darke molten showres, Beat downe the fruit, and all the fields lay wast: Led by great Tamberlaine those storming Powres Forc'd Asia's Tyrant, with his prostrate troope, Vnder their fearefull Armes to bend and stoope.
Southward from China, doe confining lie
The Easterne Indies, whose rich golden sands
Vnder conduct of greedy tyranny,
Oft felt the violence of warlike bands,
Which hoping to proue rich with forreyne spoyle
Forsooke the sweetnesse of their natiue soyle.
First Bacchus did this Country ouer-runne,
And set vp trophees in the conquer'd East :
Oh would he had gone on as he begunne,
And neuer turnéd to subdue the West!
Might Indus bancks haue bore his branching Vines, Nor Europes streams bin stain'd with sweeter wines.
Great Alexander next with powerfull might,
Without resistance, did these parts subdue,
Whils't the Inhabitants not vs'd to fight,
Away before his Armie trembling flew.
Since subject vnto him, whose spacious minde,
Not Gangé, nor once farthest Gades confinde.
Their state most slauish, Fortune miserable,
Their life is painefull, and vnpleasing to them,
They others making strong, are made vnable,
And wealth which blesseth few, did first vndoe them,
Which is no more then hath beene seene of old,
They most vnhappy who haue heapt most gold.
Their neighbour Persia tride this long before,
Greatly presuming on her mightie treasure:
But fill'd with much, and euer crauing more,
Did surfet, and grow sicke with too-much pleasure:
For whose disease the Fates did thinke it good
The Prince of Macedon should let her bloud.
Cyrus with Natures rarest graces blest,
The type of vertue, paragon of Honour,
Pluckt from Assyria's proud Imperiall crest,
A Monarchs Diadem, and plac't it on her :
Which they who follow'd, but with ill successe,
Vnhappy soon did lose, or leaue much lesse.
Yet since those losses, somewhat have regain'd These sometimes onely éxpert carpet Knights, That late in Champion Field their vertue train'd, Countries farre of remote, now oft affrights:
Their mighty Sophy to that strength is growne, That fear'd of others, he yet feareth none.
The west of Asia, once Earths Paradice,
Since subiect to the Turks most slauish yoke,
Hath seene her Cedars reaching to the Skyes,
Layd low by his fierce sacrilegious stroke :
Her glorious Kingdomes of illustrous fame,
Being swallow'd in the deluge of that name.
Downe from Armenia's ruder Mountaine tops,
This violent impetuous Torrent fell,
Whose stronger source impatient of stops,
Orewhelméd all th' Inhabitants that dwell
Betwixt the greater Sea, nere Trebizond,
And that which washeth rich Arabian's strond.
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