Upon the Kerne, and wildest Irishry Whose strength is above strength, And conquers all things; yea itself, at length. VIII. Who ever sipped at Bathyre river, And is not rapt With entheate rage to publish their bright tracts? But this more apt When him alone we sing; Now must we fly our aim, our swan's on wing. IX. Who (see) already hath o'erflown The Hebrid Isles, and known From thence is gone To utmost Thule; whence he backs the seas And over Grampius mountain. To Loumond lake, and Tweed's black-springing fountain. X. Haste, haste, sweet singer! nor to Tine, Humber, or Ouse decline; But overland to Trent: There cool thy plumes, And up again, in skies and air to vent Their reeking fumes; Till thou at Thames alight, From whose proud bosom thou began'st thy flight. XI. Thames, proud of thee and of his fate In entertaining late The choice of Europe's pride, The nimble French, The Dutch, whom wealth (not hatred) doth divide, The Danes that drench Their cares in wine: with sure Though slower Spain, and Italy mature. XII. All which, when they but hear a strain To hold them here; Yet, looking in thy face, they shall begin And (in the place) envỳ So black a bird so bright a quality. XIII. But should they know (as I) that this Who warbleth Pancharis Were Cycnus, once high flying Though now, by Love transformed and daily dying, (Which makes him sing With more delight and grace); Or thought they Leda's white adult'rer's place. XIV. Among the stars should be resigned To dim and drown In heaven the sign of old Eridanus: But these are mysteries Concealed from all but clear prophetic eyes. XV. It is enough, their grief shall know At their return, nor Po Iberus, Tagus, Rhine Scheldt, nor the Maas Slow Arar, nor swift Rhone, the Loire, nor Seine, With all the race Of Europe's waters can Set out a like, or second to our Swan. |