The Red-streak as fupreme, whose pulpous fruit
With gold irradiate, and vermilion shines
Tempting, not fatal, as the birth of that
Primæval interdicted plant that won
Fond Eve in hapless hour to taste, and die.
This, of more bounteous influence, infpires
Poetic raptures, and the lowly Muse
Kindles to loftier ftrains; even I perceive
Her facred virtue. See! the numbers flow
Easy, whilft, chear'd with her nectareous juice,
Hers, and my country's praises I exalt.
Hail Herefordian plant, that dost disdain
All other fields! Heaven's sweetest bleffing, hail!
Be thou the copious matter of my song,
And thy choice Nectar; on which always waits
Laughter, and sport, and care-beguiling wit,
And friendship, chief delight of human life.
What should we wish for more? or why, in queft
Of foreign vintage, infincere, and mixt,
Traverse th' extremeft world? why tempt the rage
Of the rough ocean? when our native glebe
Imparts, from bounteous womb, annual recruits
Of wine delectable, that far furmounts
Gallic, or Latin Grapes, or those that fee
The setting fun near Calpe's towering height.
Nor let the Rhodian, nor the Lesbian vines
Vaunt their rich Muft, nor let Tokay contend
For fovereignty; Phanæus felf must bow
To th' Ariconian vales: And fhall we doubt
T'improve our vegetable wealth, or let

The foil lie idle, which, with fit manure,
With largest ufury repay, alone
Impowered to fupply what Nature asks
Frugal, or what nice appetite requires?

The meadows here, with battening ooze enrich'd,
Give spirit to the grass; three cubits high
The jointed herbage shoots; th' unfallow'd glebe
Yearly o'ercomes the granaries with store
Of golden wheat, the ftrength of human life.
Lo, on auxiliary poles, the Hops
Afcending spiral, rang'd in meet array!
Lo, how the arable with barley-grain

Stands thick, o'ershadow'd, to the thirsty hind
Tranfporting profpect! thefe, as modern use
Ordains, infus'd, an auburn drink compose,
Wholesome, of deathless fame. Here, to the fight,
Apples of price, and plenteous fheaves of corn,
Oft interlac'd occur, and both imbibe
Fitting congenial juice; fo rich the foil,

So much does fructuous moisture o'er-abound!
Nor are the hills unamiable, whose tops
To heaven afpire, affording profpect sweet
To human ken; nor at their feet the vales
Defcending gently, where the lowing herd
Chew verdurous pasture; nor the yellow fields
Gaily' enterchang'd, with rich variety
Pleafing; as when an Emerald green, enchas'd
In flamy gold, from the bright mafs acquires
A nobler hue, more delicate to fight.

Next add the Sylvan fhades, and filent groves,

(Haunt

Ch

(Haunt of the Druids) whence the earth is fed
With copious fuel; whence the sturdy oak,
A prince's refuge once, th' eternal guard

Of England's throne, by fweating peasants fell'd,
Stems the vast main, and bears tremendous war
To distant nations, or with fov'ran sway
Awes the divided world to peace and love.
Why should the Chalybes, or Bilboa boast
Their harden'd iron; when our mines produce
As perfect martial ore? can Tmolus' head
Vie with our faffron odors ? or the fleece
Bætic, or fineft Tarentine, compare

With Lemfter's filken wool? where fhall we find
Men more undaunted, for their country's weal
More prodigal of life? in ancient days,

The Roman legions, and great Cæfar, found
Our fathers no mean foes: and Creffy's plains,
And Agincourt, deep-ting'd with blood, confefs
What the Silures vigour unwithstood
Could do in rigid fight; and chiefly what
Brydges' wide-wasting hand, first garter'd Knight,
Puiffant author of great Chandos' stem,

High Chandos, that transmits paternal worth,
Prudence, and ancient prowess, and renown,
This noble offspring. O thrice-happy peer!
That, bleft with hoary vigor, view'ft thyself
Fresh blooming in thy generous fon; whofe lips,
Flowing with nervous eloquence exact,
Charm the wife Senate, and attention win
In deepest councils: Ariconium pleas'd,

Him, as her chosen worthy, first falutes.

Him on th' Iberian, on the Gallic hore,
Him hardy Britons blefs; his faithful hand
Conveys new courage from afar, nor more
The General's conduct, than his care avails.

Thee alfo, glorious branch of Cecil's line,
This country claims; with pride and joy to thee
Thy Alterennis calls: yet the indures

Patient thy abfence, fince thy prudent choice
Has fix'd thee in the Mufes' faireft feat *,
Where + Aldrich reigns, and from his endlefs ftore
Of universal knowledge still supplies

His noble care; he generous thoughts inftils

Of true nobility, their country's love,

(Chief end of life) and forms their ductile minds To human virtues by his genius led,

Thou foon in every art pre-eminent

Shalt grace this ifle, and rife to Burleigh's fame.

Hail high-born peer! and thou, great nurse of arts, And men, from whence confpicuous patriots fpring, Hanmer, and Bromley; thou, to whom with due Refpect Wintonia bows, and joyful owns

Thy mitred offspring; be for ever bleft
With like examples, and to future times
Proficuous, fuch a race of men produce,
As, in the caufe of virtue firm, may fix

* Oxford.

† Dr. Aldrich Dean of Chrift-church.

Her

Her throne inviolate. Hear, ye Gods, this vow
From one, the meaneft in her numerous train;
Though meanest, not least studious of her praife.
Muse, raise thy voice to Beaufort's spotless fame,
To Beaufort, in a long defcent derived
From royal ancestry, of kingly rights
Faithful afferters, in him centering meet
Their glorious virtues, high defert from pride
Disjoin'd, unfhaken honour, and contempt
Of strong allurements. O illuftrious prince !
O thou of ancient faith! exulting, thee,
In her fair lift this happy land inrolls.
Who can refuse a tributary verse

To Weymouth, firmest friend of flighted worth
In evil days? whofe hofpitable gate,

Unbarr'd to all, invites a numerous train

Of daily guests; whofe board, with plenty crown'd,
Revives the feaft-rites old: meanwhile his care
Forgets not the afflicted, but content

In acts of fecret goodness, fhuns the praife,
That fure attends. Permit me, bounteous lord,
To blazon what though hid will beauteous shine,
And with thy name to dignify my fong.

But who is he, that on the winding stream
Of Vaga first drew vital breath, and now
Approv'd in Anna's fecret councils fits,
Weighing the fum of things, with wife forecaft
Solicitous of public good? how large

His mind that comprehends whate'er was known
To old, or prefent time; yet not elate,