The Fifteenth Song

The guests heere to the Bride-house hie.
The goodly Vale of Al'sbury
Sets her sonne (Tame) forth, braue as May,
Vpon the ioyfull Wedding day:
Who, deckt vp, tow'rds his Bride is gone.
So louely Isis comming on,
At Oxford all the Muses meet her,
And with a Prothalamion greet her.
The Nymphs are in the Bridall Bowres,
Some strowing sweets, some sorting flowres:
Where lustie Charwell himselfe raises,
And sings of Riuers, and their praises.
Then Tames his way tow'rd Windsore tends.
Thus, with the Song, the Mariage ends.

NOw Fame had through this Ile divulg'd, in euery eare,
The long-expected day of Mariage to be neere,
That Isis, Cotswolds heire, long woo'd was lastly wonne,
And instantly should wed with Tame, old Chiltern's sonne.
And now that Wood-mans wife, the mother of the Flood,
The rich and goodly Vale of Alsbury, that stood
So much vpon her Tame, was busied in her Bowres,
Preparing for her sonne, as many sutes of Flowres,
As Cotswold for the Bride, his Isis, lately made;
Who for the louely Tame, her Bridegroome, onely staid.
Whilst euery crystall Flood is to this business prest,
The cause of their great speed and many thus request;
O! whither goe yee Floods? what suddaine wind doth blowe,
Then other of your kind, that you so fast should flowe?
What busines is in hand, that spurres you thus away?
Faire Windrush let me heare, I pray thee Charwell say:
They suddainly reply, What lets you should not see
That for this Nuptiall feast wee all prepared bee?
Therefore this idle chat our eares doth but offend:
Our leysure serues not now these trifles to attend.
But whilst things are in hand, old Chiltern (for his life)
From prodigall expense can no way keepe his wife;
Who feedes her Tame with Marle, in Cordiall-wise prepar'd,
And thinks all idly spent, that now she onely spar'd
In setting forth her sonne: nor can shee thinke it well,
Vnlesse her lauish charge doe Cotswold's farre excell.
For, Alsbury's a Vale that walloweth in her wealth,
And (by her wholesome ayre continually in health)
Is lustie, frim, and fat, and holds her youthfull strength.
Besides her fruitfull earth, her mightie breadth and length,
Doth Chiltern fitly match: which mountainously hie,
And beeing very long, so likewise shee doth lie;
From the Bedfordian fields, where first she doth begin,
To fashion like a Vale, to th'place where Tame doth win
His Isis wished Bed; her soyle throughout so sure,
For goodnesse of her Gleabe, and for her Pasture pure,
That as her Graine and Grasse, so shee her Sheepe doth breed,
For burthen and for boane all other that exceed:
And shee, which thus in wealth aboundantly doth flowe,
Now cares not on her Child what cost shee doe bestowe.
Which when wise Chiltern saw (the world who long had try'd,
And now at last had layd all garish pompe aside;
Whose hoare and chalkie head discry'd him to be old,
His Beechen woods bereft that kept him from the cold)
Would faine perswade the Vale to hold a steddy rate;
And with his curious Wife, thus wisely doth debate:
Quoth hee, you might allow what needeth, to the most:
But where as lesse will serue, what meanes this idle cost?
Too much, a surfet breeds, and may our Child annoy:
These fat and lushious meats doe but our stomacks cloy.
The modest comly meane, in all things likes the wise,
Apparrell often shewes vs womanish precise.
And what will Cotswold thinke when he shall heare of this?
Hee'll rather blame your waste, then praise your cost iwiss.
But, women wilfull be, and shee her will must haue,
Nor cares how Chiltern chides, so that her Tame be braue.
Alone which tow'rds his Loue shee easely doth convay:
For the Oxonian Ouze was lately sent away
From Buckingham, where first he finds his nimbler feet;
Tow'rds Whittlewood then takes: where, past the noblest Street,
Hee to the Forrest giues his farewell, and doth keepe
His course directly downe into the German Deepe,
To publish that great day in mightie Neptunes Hall,
That all the Sea-gods there might keep it festiuall.
As wee haue told how Tame holds on his euen course,
Returne we to report, how Isis from her sourse
Comes tripping with delight, downe from her daintier Springs;
And in her princely traine, t'attend her Marriage, brings
Cleere Churnet, Colne, and Leech, which first she did retaine,
With Windrush: and with her (all out-rage to restraine
Which well might offred be to Isis as shee went)
Came Yenload with a guard of Satyres, which were sent
From Whichwood, to await the bright and God-like Dame.
So, Bernwood did bequeath his Satyres to the Tame,
For Sticklers in those stirres that at the Feast should bee.
These preparations great when Charwell comes to see,
To Oxford got before, to entertaine the Flood,
Apollo's ayde he begs, with all his sacred brood,
To that most learned place to welcome her repaire.
Who in her comming on, was wext so wondrous faire,
That meeting, strife arose betwixt them, whether they
Her beauty should extoll, or shee admire their Bay.
On whom their seuerall gifts (to amplifie her dowre)
The Muses there bestowe; which euer haue the power
Immortall her to make. And as shee past along,
Those modest Thespian Maids thus to their Isis song;
Yee Daughters of the Hills, come downe from euery side,
And due attendance giue vpon the louely Bride:
Goe strewe the paths with flowers by which shee is to passe.
For be yee thus assur'd, in Albion neuer was
A beautie (yet) like hers: where haue yee euer seene
So absolute a Nymph in all things, for a Queene?
Giue instantly in charge the day b• wondrous faire,
That no disorderd blast attempt her braided haire.
Goe, see her State prepar'd, and euery thing be fit,
The Bride-chamber adorn'd with all beseeming it.
And for the princely Groome, who euer yet could name
A Flood that is so fit for Isis as the Tame?
Yee both so louely are, that knowledge scarce can tell,
For feature whether hee, or beautie shee excell:
That rauished with ioy each other to behold,
When as your crystall wasts you closely doe enfold,
Betwixt your beautious selues you shall beget a Sonne,
That when your liues shall end, in him shall be begunne.
The pleasant Surryan shores shall in that Flood delight,
And Kent esteeme her selfe most happy in his sight.
The Shire that London loues, shall onely him prefer,
And giue full many a gift to hold him neer to her.
The Skeld, the goodly Mose, the rich and Viny Rheine,
Shall come to meet the Thames in Neptunes watry Plaine.
And all the Belgian Streames and neighboring Floods of Gaul,
Of him shall stand in awe, his tributaries all.
As of fayre Isis thus, the learned Virgins spake,
A shrill and suddaine brute this Pr•thalamion brake;
That White-horse, for the loue she bare to her Ally,
And honored sister Vale, the bountious Alsbury,
Sent Presents to the Tame by Ock her onely Flood,
Which for his Mother Vale, so much on greatnesse stood.
From Oxford, Isis hasts more speedily, to see
That Riuer like his birth might entertained bee:
For, that ambitious Vale, still striuing to commaund,
And vsing for her place continually to stand,
Proud White-horse to perswade, much busines there hath been
T'acknowledge that great Vale of Eusham for her Queen.
And but that Eusham is so opulent and great,
That thereby shee herselfe holds in the soueraigne seat,
This White-horse all the Vales of Britaine would or'e beare,
And absolutely sit in the imperiall Chaire;
And boasts as goodly Heards, and numerous Flocks to seed;
To haue as soft a Gleabe, as good increase of seed;
As pure and fresh an ayre vpon her face to flowe,
As Eusham for her life: and from her Steed doth showe,
Her lustie rising Downes, as faire a prospect take
As that imperious Wold: which her great Queene doth make
So wondrously admyr'd, and her so farre extend.
But, to the Mariage, hence, industrious Muse descend.
The Naïads, and the Nymphs extreamly ouer-ioy'd,
And on the winding banks all busily imploy'd,
Vpon this ioyfull day, some dainty Chaplets twine:
Some others chosen out, with fingers neat and fine,
Braue Anadems doe make: some Bauldricks vp do bind:
Some, Garlands: and to some, the Nosegaies were assign'd;
As best their skill did serue. But, for that Tame should be
Still man-like as him selfe, therefore they will that he
Should not be drest with Flowers, to Gardens that belong
(His Bride that better fitte) but onely such as sprong
From the replenisht Meads, and fruitfull Pastures neere.
To sort which Flowers, some sit; some making Garlands were;
The Primrose placing first, because that in the Spring
It is the first appeares, then onely florishing;
The azur'd Hare-bell next, with them, they neatly mixt:
T'allay whose lushious smell, they Woodbind plac't betwixt.
Amongst those things of sent, there prick they in the Lilly:
And neere to that againe, her sister Daffadilly.
To sort these Flowers to showe, with th'other that were sweet,
The Cowslip then they couch, and th'Oxslip, for her meet:
The Columbine amongst they sparingly doe set,
The yellow King-cup, wrought in many a curious fret,
And now and then among, of Eglantine a spray,
By which againe a course of Lady-smocks they lay:
The Crow-flower, and there-by the Clouer-flower they stick,
The Daysie, ouerall those sundry sweets so thick,
As Nature doth her selfe; to imitate her right:
Who seems in that her pearle so greatly to delight,
That euery Plaine therewith she powdreth to beholde:
The crimsin Darnell Flower, the Blew-bottle, and Gold:
Which though esteem'd but weeds; yet for their dainty hewes,
And for their sent not ill, they for this purpose chuse.
Thus hauing told you how the Bridegroome Tame was drest,
Ile shew you, how the Bride, faire Isis, they invest;
Sitting to be attyr'd vnder her Bower of State,
Which scornes a meaner sort, then fits a Princely rate.
In Anadems for whom they curiously dispose
The Red, the dainty White, the goodly Damask Rose,
For the rich Ruby, Pearle, and Amatist, men place
In Kings Emperiall Crownes, the circle that enchase.
The braue Carnation then, with sweet and soueraigne power
(So of his colour call'd, although a Iuly-flower)
With th'other of his kinde, the speckled and the pale:
Then th'odoriferous Pink, that sends forth such a gale
Of sweetnes; yet in sents, as various as in sorts.
The purple Violet then, the Pansie there supports:
The Mary-gold aboue t'adorne the arched Bar:
The dubble Daysie, Thrift, the Button-batcheler,
Sweet William, Sops in wine, the Campion: and to these,
Some Lauander they put, with Rosemary and Bayes:
Sweet Marjoram, with her like, sweet Basill rare for smell,
With many a flower, whose name were now too long to tell:
And rarely with the rest, the goodly Fower-delice.
Thus for the nuptiall houre, all fitted point-deuice,
Whilst some still busied are in decking of the Bride,
Some others were again as seriously imploy'd
In strewing of those hearbs, at Bridalls vs'd that be;
Which euery where they throwe with bountious hands and free.
The healthfull Balme and Mint, from their full laps doe fly,
The sent-full Camomill, the verdurous Costmary.
They hot Muscado oft with milder Maudlin cast:
Strong Tansey, Fennell coole, they prodigally waste:
Cleere Isop, and therewith the comfortable Thyme,
Germander with the rest, each thing then in her prime;
As well of wholesome hearbs, as euery pleasant flower,
Which Nature here produc't, to fit this happy houre.
Amongst these strewing kinds, some other wilde that growe,
As Burnet, all abroad, and Meadow-wort they throwe.
Thus all things falling out to euery ones desire,
The ceremonies done that Mariage doth require,
The Bride and Bridegroome set, and serv'd with sundry cates,
And euery other plac't, as fitted their estates;
Amongst this confluence great, wise Charwell here was thought
The first to cheare the guests: who throughly had been taught
In all that could pertaine to Court-ship, long agon,
As comming from his Sire, the fruitfull Helidon,
He trauelleth to Tames; where passing by those Townes
Of that rich Country neere, whereas the mirthfull clownes,
With Taber and the pipe, on holydayes doe vse,
Vpon the May-pole Greene, to trample out their shooes:
And hauing in his eares the deepe and solemne rings,
Which sound him all the way, vnto the learned Springs,
Where he, his Soueraigne Ouze most happily doth meet,
And him, the thrice-three maids, Apollos ofspring, greet
With all their sacred gifts: thus, expert being growne
In musicke; and besides, a curious Maker knowne:
This Charwell (as I said) the first these Floods among,
For silence hauing call'd, thus to th'assembly song;
Stand fast ye higher Hills: low vallies easily lie:
And Forrests that to both you equally apply
(But for the greater part, both wilde and barren be)
Retire ye to your wastes; and Riuers only we,
Oft meeting let vs mixe: and with delightfull grace,
Let euery beautious Nymph, her best lov'd Flood imbrace,
An Alien be he borne, or neer to her owne Spring,
So from his natiue Fount he brauely flourishing,
Along the flowry Fields, licentiously do straine,
Greeting each curled groue, and circling euery Plaine;
Or hasting to his fall, his sholy grauell scowr's,
And with his Crystall front, then courts the climing Towres.
Let all the world be Iudge, what Mountaine hath a name,
Like that from whose proud foot, their springs some Flood of Fame:
And in the Earth's suruay, what seat like that is set,
Whose Streets some ample Streame, aboundantly doth wet?
Where is there Hauen found, or Harbour, like that Road,
Int'which some goodly Flood, his burthen doth vnload?
By whose rank swelling Streame, the far-fetcht forraine fraught,
May vp to In-land Townes conueniently be brought.
Of any part of Earth, we be the most renown'd;
That countries very oft, nay, Empires oft we bound.
As Rubicon, much fam'd, both for his Fount and Fall,
The ancient limit held, twixt Italy and Gaule.
Europe and Asia keep on Tanais either side.
Such honor haue we Floods, the World (euen) to diuide.
Nay: Kingdoms thus we proue are christened oft by vs;
Iberia takes her name of Crystall Iberus.
Such reuerence to our kinde the wiser Ancients gaue,
As they suppos'd each Flood a Deity to haue:
But with our fame at home returne we to proceed.
In Britanne here we find, our Seuerne, and our Tweed,
The tripartited Ile doe generally diuide,
To England, Scotland, Wales, as each doth keep her side.
Trent cuts the Land in two, so equally, as tho
Nature it pointed-out, to our great Brute to show
How to his mightie Sonnes the Iland he might share.
A thousand of this kinde, and neerer, I will spare;
Where if the state of Floods, at large I list to show,
I proudly could report how Pactolus doth throwe
Vp graines of perfect gold; and of great Ganges tell,
Which when full India's showers inforceth him to swell,
Gilds with his glistering sands the ouer-pampered shore:
How wealthy Tagus first by tumbling down his ore,
The rude and slothfull Moores of old Iberia taught,
To search into those hills, from which such wealth he brought.
Beyond these if I pleas'd, I to your praise could bring,
In sacred Tempe, how (about the hoofe-plow'd Spring)
The Heliconian Maides, vpon that hallowed ground,
Recounting heauenly Hymnes eternally are crown'd.
And as the earth doth vs in her owne bowels nourish;
So euery thing, that growes by vs, doth thriue and flourish.
To godly vertuous men, we wisely likened are:
To be so in themselues, that do not only care;
But by a sacred power, which goodnesse doth awaite,
Doe make those vertuous too, that them associate.
By this, the wedding ends, and brake vp all the Showe:
And Tames, got, borne, and bred, immediately doth flowe,
To Windsor-ward amaine (that with a wondring eye,
The Forrest might behold his awfull Emperie)
And soon becometh great, with waters wext so rank,
That with his wealth he seemes to retch his widned Bank:
Till happily a•tayn'd his Grandsire Chilterns grounds,
Who with his Beechen wreaths this king of Riuers crownes.
Amongst his holts and hils, as on his way he makes,
At Reading once arriu'd, cleere Kennet ouertakes:
Her Lord the stately Tames, which that great flood againe,
With many signes of ioy doth kindly entertaine.
Then Loddon next comes in, contributing her store;
As still we see, The much runnes euer to the more.
Set out with all this pompe, when this Emperiall Streame,
Himselfe establisht sees, amidst his watry Realme,
His much-lov'd Henly leaues, and proudly doth pursue
His Wood nymph Windsors feate, her louely site to view.
Whose most delightful face when once the Riuer sees,
Which shewes her selfe attir'd in tall and stately trees,
He in such earnest loue with amorous gestures wooes,
That looking still at her, his way was like to loose;
And wandring in and out so wildly seems to goe,
As headlong he himselfe into her lap would throw.
Him with the like desire the Forrest doth imbrace,
And with her presence striues her Tames asmuch to grace.
No Forrest, of them all, so fit as she doth stand.
When Princes, for their sports, her pleasures will command,
No Wood-nymph as her selfe such troupes hath euer seene,
Nor can such Quarries boast as haue in Windsor beene.
Nor any euer had so many solemne dayes;
So braue assemblies viewd, nor took so rich assaies.
Then, hand in hand, her Tames the Forrest softly brings,
To that supreamest place of the great English Kings,
The Garters Royall seate, from him who did aduance
That Princely Order first, our first that conquered France;
The Temple of Saint George, wheras his honored Knights,
Vpon his hallowed day, obserue their ancient rites:
Where Eaton is at hand to nurse that learned brood,
To keepe the Muses still neere to this Princely Flood;
That nothing there may want, to beawtifie that seate,
With euery pleasure stor'd: And here my Song compleate.