Classic Poem

A Letter sent to E. B. from Apthorpe to Howbluryl

Did that Chast Grecian Dame soe long to see
Her Lords return from Ilioms Desteny
And shall not I wish Bedfordshire on fire
That keeps me widowed thus from my desier
Thy conversation: Yes, Let Hector fall
And brave Achilles triumph on the wall
Soe that my Ned Æneas-like may scape
I shall a worse revenge wish for this Rape
And if ther be a Priamus yet left
That dares avow the Justnes of this theft
I bid defiance to him and proclaime
Not Greece but I shall question him the same
And let him know: that Loss seems greater farr
Which doth concern any particuler
They wrapt their quarrell in such generall pett
As did noe less than ten years seige begett
Yet were constraind to use a stratagem
'Fore ever They had Power to Conquer them
I will not borrow Agamemnon's sheild
Nor Ajax Sword was brandisht in that field
For my revenge false Simoes rhetorick
Shall not be usd to Cause your Comming quick
But what sweet Thorp affords, whose bankes begin
To put themselves forth to Enameling
Whilst that the Gentle Stream would gladly trie
The vertue of your hookes Phlebottomy
And Fishes such securety doth sway
That 'bove their Element they Sport and Play
You need noe Plumming Lead, nor quill to float
To wellcome you They'l Leap into your boat
To kiss your hands; and with Ambition swell
Each Perch t'a Yard, each Pickrell to an Ell
Such was (the sea excepted) Formia's shore
For Fragrancy noe guarden can have more
In pleasure prospective it yeilds to none
But what are in the middle Region
Not doth the Roman Tibur; Paris Scene
Or Viens Danuby excell the Neen
If judgd aright and by the slower course
A river be thought better and not worse
Or if Imprisond waters, channelld lie
Twixt bankes that kiss can Challenge soveranty
Heer are noe more Calm-breaking-blasts then make
It's waters differ from a standing Lake
And add unto it's Creatures appetite
Wherby they soon betray themselves and bite
(Such like the Gale did seem when heat began
I saw a Virgin Once send from her Fann.)
Nor shall the Trowling Kemp, or silken Fly
Nor sand-scour'd worme longe claime attentive eye
Sithence from your hand the Line's noe sooner sent
But it drawes Tribut from that-Element
Which if awak't by'ts Course-controwling-wind
At may time, you ready sport may find
In Sewlhey Poole, wher Carpes and other fish
Exchange their silver waters for a dish
The Tyrant Pike through many years grown great
At Last's ore come and proveth dainty meat
Doth Howbery afford this? or canst say
The year's not shortned to thee every day
Thou'st Lost Ther from those bounties are prepard
For thy content, yet are by others shard?
Tis true a Brother and a Sister are
Thinges of Content, yet not soe singuler
Posessors of the whole, but that the Hart
Composd of Angles should alott one part
Or Corner to a Frend, whose hart againe
Requiting Thine, both circuler remaine
And in a True Proportion never jarr
But howld one and the same Diameter
Love being the Center Perioding those Lines
Our Actions draw out and our Faith Confines.