Auxilio divino
To RICHARD DRAKE Esquier, in praise of Sir FRANCIS DRAKE Knight.
Throughe scorchinge heate, throughe coulde, in stormes, and
tempests force,
By ragged rocks, by shelfes, & sandes: this Knighte did keepe
his course.
By gapinge gulfes hee pass'd, by monsters of the flood,
By pirattes, theeves, and cruell foes, that long'd to spill his
blood.
That wonder greate to scape: but, GOD was on his side,
And throughe them all, in spite of all, his shaken shippe did
guide.
And, to requite his paines: By helpe of power devine.
His happe, at lengthe did aunswere hope, to finde the goulden
mine.
Let GRAECIA then forbeare, to praise her JASON boulde?
Who throughe the watchfull dragons pass'd, to win the fleece of
goulde.
Since by MEDEAS helpe, they weare inchaunted all,
And JASON without perrilles, pass'de: the conqueste therfore
small?
But, hee, of whome I write, this noble minded DRAKE,
Did bringe away his goulden fleece, when thousand eies did
wake.
Wherefore, yee woorthie wightes, that seeke for forreine
landes:
Yf that you can, come alwaise home, by GANGES goulden sandes.
And you, that live at home, and can not brooke the flood,
Geve praise to them, that passe the waves, to doe their countrie
good.
Before which sorte, as chiefe: in tempeste, and in calme,
Sir FRANCIS DRAKE, by due deserte, may weare the goulden
palme.