The first and riper world of men and skill, Yields to our later time for three inventions, Miraculously we write, we sail, we kill, As neither ancient scroll nor story mentions. Print.  The first hath opened learning, old concealed And obscure arts restored to the light. Loadstone.  The second hidden countries hath revealed, And sends Christ’s Gospel to each living wight.  These we commend, but oh! what needeth more. Guns.  To teach Death more skill than he had before.

J. BASTARD.

* * * * *

KINGS.

  Kings are the Gods’ vicegerents on the earth
  The Gods have power, Kings from that power have might,
  Kings should excell in virtue and in birth;
  Gods punish wrongs, and Kings should maintain right,
  They be the suns from which we borrow light. 
  And they as Kings, should still in justice strive
  With Gods, from whom their beings they derive.

DRAYTON.

* * * * *

COMPANY.

  Remain upright yet some will quarrel pike,
  And common bruit will deem them all alike. 
  For look, how your companions you elect
  For good or ill, so shall you be suspect.

T. HUDSON.

* * * * *

POESIE.

  All art is learned by art, this art alone
  It is a heavenly gift, no flesh nor bone
  Can praise the honey we from Pind distil,
  Except with holy fire his breast we fill. 
  From that spring flows, that men of special chose
  Consum’d in learning and perfect in prose;
  For to make verse in vain does travel take,
  When as a prentice fairer words will make.

KING OF SCOTS.

* * * * *

TWELVE FOUL FAULTS.

  A wise man living like a drone, an old man not devout,
  Youth disobedient, rich men that are charity without,
  A shameless woman, vicious lords, a poor man proudly stout,
  Contentious Christians, pastors that their functions do neglect,
  A wicked king, no discipline, no laws men to direct,
  Are twelve the foulest faults that most commonwealths infect.

W. WARNER.

* * * * *

RIVERS.

  Fair Danubie is praised for being wide.
    Nilus commended for the seven-fold head;
  Euphrates for the swiftness of the tide,
    And for the garden whence his course is led,
    And banks of Rhine with vines o’erspread. 
  Take Loire and Po, yet all may not compare
  With English Thames for buildings rare.