Classic Poem

I FIRST was dead, now this glad vantage haue
Thus first to rise and walke about hir graue
In a white sheet, & bearing in this hand
A scourge of steele, in this a flaming brand
Which apparition, frights to quick retyre
All sinfull offrer's off vnhallowed fire
Stopps wide dull nostrills that wou'd here presume
To shedd low rimes, in lamentable rheume:
Restrain's their Pleiades of froth that fall
An extreame vnction after funerall,
Whose shortliu'd lines are lost infinities
Each single word innumerable is
Go shoot at common birds with easie bolts
Runn your rough verses wheele which iumps & iolts
Ore wombs of Aldermen outfac'd in brasse
With here he lies, & iust so old he was:
But this glad monument wherin she sitts
The crowned Queene of witt & worth, admitts
No tongue but such as can the language speake
To melt mens eyes & womens hearts to breake
In generall thaw, & in the whole land flood
Streaming from all that are or great or good.
Ore which all learned fancies high may sitt
Episcopall, vpon an arch of witt.
This my taske, for this abroad I creep
Awhile, & then returne to former sleepe
In graue obscur'd, which ere I will essay
Once more I crie, Be all prophane away!
Hence, paddock poets! you whose greivous qualme
Croaks in harsh t[o]nes, & flings out slime for balme
Leave vaine assaults, This liquid Amber sweet
Defile not with vnwarrantable feet,
A snapping Ioviall tyrant storke is here
In watchfull lines, to keep this water cleare
Theise pure fresh springs (yet world of bitter brine)
This confluence of eyes & hearts is mine.
My In-land sea, wher noise of roring waves
The horrid clamour of the clouds out-braves
(Would I but charge with all my troops) that howre
When they the hurricano downe do powre,
In peales of ratling clapps: so drowning all
Those aerie drumms in this one water-fall.
And wher ioind mourners sighs would fain outspeak
Shrill Tritons shell: the stiffe Norths trumpett breake.
But I compose a brim-full sea of balme
From melting pearle preserv'd in lasting calme
Which to fullfill, behold my beach is crown'd
With thousand Goddesses & Nymphs around
Who when the longing sunn (who may not here)
Water his steeds, nor in his coach draw neare)
Vnbrac'd, his head in Lawrell bound, will supp
Vpon this Nectar, straightways make it vpp.
While some dissolu'd in tears; their forms forsake
And with new Chrystall rocks, a margine make.
Vpon transparent bosome of this deepe
No slimie fish, nor fowle defiling keepe.
But choicest swan n s from Thames & neighbouring Trent
Shall flockmeale come, when youthfull days are spent.
And by my Charms, assuming humane voice
Clapp all their quills together & reioice
To sing their best, their last, & only breath
In trebling faire & sweete Elizabeth
Which name from seas to seas, from hills to hills
Flies in all aiers, & every region fills
While hir now spatious soule is gladly plac'd
Near hirs that late this kingdome rule'd & grac'd
The next throne emptie, for one liuing yet
Beyond sea, far beyond my sea of witt.