Classic Poem

Late in an evening as I walk'd alone,
I heard the Thames most sadly make her moane:
As shee came weeping from her western Spring,
Shee thus bewaild the learned Shepherd King.
Amintas sad Amintas sits forelorne
And his faire Cloris now's become the Scorne
Of Troynovants ingreate licentious Dames
Noe Merveile thus if poore aflicted Thames
With Salt abortive teares dos wash this Citty
As full of Blood and lies as voyd of pittie
Perfidious Town know thou the power of fate
Thy long felicitie shall find a date
And I may live to see another turn
When thy proud fabrick shall unpittied burn
Then Heaven Just Heaven withold thy raine
And I will leave my channil once againe
As when my holy Albians blood was spilt
Seeing to wash away thy Horrid guilt
Is more impossible than 'tis to change
The Skins of Negros that in Aphrick range
Then when thou tryest in vengfull flames of fire
Thy scorched genious reddy to expire
Thy tong and mouth sable as Salamander
With speaking gainst thy King and Queene such slander
Then not a drop of my coole Cristall Wave
To coole thy Sulpherous Tongue or life to save
But when I have of thee seene all my lust
And all thy pride and Glory Turn'd to dust
Then I Triumphant with my watery traine
Will make this Cittie Quagmires once againe
But O thy Blood and Perjuries repent
Then Heaven I hope in mercie will relent
Thy King restore call home his Queene and mine
Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vaine
Hast thou forgot (Aye me) soe have not I
Those Halcian dayes the Sweete Tranquillity
That we injoyed under his happy Reigne
Which Heaven will once restore to us againe
Unles the dismale line of dissolution
(Which o forbid) bee drawn upon this Nation.
Oft have I born upon my silver Brest
His lovely Cloris like Aurora drest
With youth and beuty with her Princely Spouse
Envied I was by Severn, Humber, Owes
The sacred Dee said shee noe more would boast
Her shewing Conquest on the conquering Coast
Though Edgares Glory from her River springs
When hee in Triumph by eight Captive kings
Was Rowed upon her famous Cristall streame
Those former Honours shewed now like a dreame
Nay the Danube said she would ner'e rehearse
Her being biggest in the Universe
Even Tigris would not brag of Golden sands
But said shee envied more my happy strands
Soe said the Loyer in envie Poe tooke on
Thou shee were Honour'd by a Phaiton
And Ægipts Glory Nillus stately streame
Said her felicities were but a dreame
When on her or'e flowing waves were seene
The Roman Eagles and her black ey'd Queen
And silver Gangers said the sacrifice
The Bamans brought with elivated eyes
Though all theire Carcases by fire calcin'd
Were in her Purifieing Waves refin'd
Though all theire wealth and Treasure in they hurl
And Shee were Lady of the Easterne world
Yet all that Glory shee did count a toye
Compar'd shee said with happy Thames her Joy
Tiber said of Horatias vallure brave
Shee ner'e would speake but I the praise should have:
Cristall Euphrates never did envie
The Glory of noe other floud but I
Though from a Thousant Founts her streame doth springe
Yet did shee never beare soe good a King
Through lofty Babilon her River flowes
And earthly Paradice shee doth inclose
Though brave Symerrimus enlarge her fame
Yet doth shee envie still the English Thame
But now alas they envie me noe more
But with theire Tears my heavy loss deplore
Oft have I borne my sacred Sovereigns Barge
Being richly guilt, most proud of such a charge
My waves would swell to see his Princely face
Each billow loth to give his fellow place
Sometimes they would rise to kiss his Royall hand
And hardly would give back at my command
Billow with billow strive and ruffling Rore
Scorning the blow of either hand or owre
But now insulting on my billowes Ride
The Kingdooms Schourg's and this Citties pride
Which make my Trembling Streame lamenting Rore
And her sad loss with troubled brest deplore
Come kind Caribdis com o com and help's
Sweete lovely Scilla bring thy barking whelps
Then should they need noe Monument nor Tombe
But Ocianus dark and Horrid Womb
Should them involve. but wishes are in vaine
I will Rore out my grieve unto the Maine
Now all the bewty that my Waves adorne
Are Surrey swans that sadly swim forlorne
Nor doe they in the sun their Feathers Prune
As they were wont, nor yet theire Voyces Tune
But in dispares hanging theire head and wing
This Kingdomes Derges they expireing sing
O that it in my power were to refuse
To see this Towne like Cristall Arethuse
Below this curssed Earth would hide my head
And run amongs the Caverns of the Dead
Where my pure wave with Acharon should mix
With Leathe, Phlegethon, Cocitus, Stix:
Then would I wafte them to the Stigian shade
Examples unto Reybels to be made
Ô my sad heart these are but foolish dreames
For they Triumph Upon my Conquered Streames
Yet this I'le doe while Sighs breaths up my Spring
I'le trickle teares for my aflicted King
And looke how fare one drop of Cristall Thames
Doth run, so fare I'le Memorise theire Fames:
Soe shall my griefe imortalise their Names
I hearing these complaints Though time to sleepe:
Satt sadly Down and with her gan to weepe.