On His Majesties Fleet

Cease now the talke of wonders, nothing rare
Of floateing ilandes, castles in the aire,
Of wooden walls, graves walkeing, flieing steedes,
Or Trojan horse. The present truth exceeds
Those ancient fables ; floating iles great store,
Sent from the British He, now guard her shore,
And castles strong without foundation stande
More safe on waters pavement then on lande.
Now wooden walles defend our walles of rocke;
These walles are cittyes too ; tooke from the block ,
Arise those christned frames, which are the health
And moddle of a vaster Commonwealth ;
Beyond the Kentish stratagem now ghosts
Of trees not greene doe walk about our coasts,
Which humane art hath made move quick, by death
Inur'd to motion, taught to feed on breath.
Now winged steeds with bridles plac'd behinde,
Leaving no print, accompany the winde,
Their bowells greate with sonns of Mars doth groane
To be delivered into action.
Ride on, Arts liveing creatures, flie and swell
Your wings like angry swans, while wee that dwell
On shore, with prayer and fame [?] encrease the gale
Which Heaven shall breath into each pregnant saile,
Powre out the language of a chastning Jove
That speakes in thunder here, like him above.
Cannot your Lion roare and act her king ?
Is shee with all her Whelpes not swift to bringe
Her pray into her den ? Is not your Rose
Worth lilies three, or any flower that growes ?
Your Honour (which is admirall) maintaine;
She leades you forth, come home to her againe.
For sea and fish, if tempests rise, bee free [?].
Give them to what they love, that troublers bee [?].