Upon your bridal day, which is not long: Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song." ΙΙΟ So ended she; and all the rest around So forth those joyous birds did pass along, Yet did by signs his glad affection show, And all the fowl which in his flood did dwell And their best service lend, Against their wedding day, which was not long: Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my Whose dreadful name late through all Spain did thunder, And Hercules' two pillars standing near Fair branch of honour, flower of chivalry! 150 That through thy prowess and victorious arms Which some brave muse may sing 160 35 1 sully 2 placed Either by chance, against the course of kind, And oft it falls (ay me, the more to rue!) Apollo great, whose beams the greater world do light, And in our little world do clear our inward sight, Which ever shine, though hid from carth by earthly shade, Whose lights do ever live, but in our darkness fade; Thou god whose youth was decked with spoil of Python's skin 5 (So humble knowledge can throw down the snakish sin); Latona's son, whose birth in pain and travail long Doth teach, to learn the good what travails do belong; In travail of our life (a short but tedious space), While brickle hour-glass runs, guide thou our panting pace: ΙΟ Give us foresightful minds; give us minds to obey What foresight tells; our thoughts upon thy knowledge stay. Let so our fruits grow up that Nature be maintained, But so our hearts keep down, with vice they be not stained. Let this assuréd hold our judgments overtake, That nothing wins the heaven but what doth earth forsake. 16 1 brittle |