Classic Poem

The Seventh Couple.

Master R OBERT C AREY ,

Master W ILLIAM G RESHAM

By this the trump call'd Carey to the tilt,
Fair bird, fair cygnet of our silver swan;
When, like a lord in pomp and princely show
And like a champion fitted for the war,
And not unlike the son of such a sire,
Under a plume of murrey and of white,
That like a palm-tree beautifully spread,
On mighty horse of Naples mounted fair,
And horse at hand and men and pages pight,
All with a Burning Heart greets he her grace,
Whose gracious countenance he his heaven esteems,
And to her sacred person it presents,
As who would say, " My heart and life is hers,
To whom my loyalty this heart prefers. "
And at the summons out his foeman flies,
Gresham, the heir of golden Gresham's land,
That beautified New Troy with Royal Change,
Badge of his honour and magnificence:
Silver and sable, such his colours were,
And ready was his horse, and readier he,
To bound, and well behave him in her eye,
Upon whose looks his life and honour stood.
Then horse and man conspired to meet amain;
Along the tilt Carey and Gresham go,
Swift as the swallow, or that Greekish nymph
That seem'd to overfly the ears of corn:
And break they do, they miss not, as I ween,
And all was done in honour of their queen.