MEDEA

THus does the daughter of the Colchian King, Her Husband Jason home in Triumph bring, After his mighty Conquest of the Fleece; The Aureum vellus brought from thence to Greece. And wast not a brave prize? for who so dull Cannot conceive the worth of golden wool? The morning's Sun upon their Fleeces shines, Making the fields appear Like richest Mines. One of the first we read of was the Ram, Upon whose back Phrixus and Hell swam The Hellespont: she to her lasting fame (By being drowned there, gave the Sea that name:) But Phrixus safely did to Colchos steer, And on Jove's Altar sacrificed there The golden Beast, whose faithful service done, With the Celestial gods such favour wone; That striving amongst themselves to have him graced, Him first of all the Zodiak signs they placed. And worthily, search the vast earth or deep, No beast to man, so useful as the sheep: How many poor men does it keep in pay, Of several Trades and faculties; else they Might starve for want of livelihood: but their charge bearing By Carding, Spinning, Weaving, Fulling, Shearing. How with her flesh we are satisfied within, Clothed with her Wool without; in whose shorn skin Those reverend antiquities are kept, Which else long since had in oblivion slept: And for the Fleece it self, it is and honour; First Nature, and since Time, hath cast upon her, So great, so eminent, so meriting praise, Even Emperors were it on their Festival days: And none that ever her true virtue knew, But rated her with Ophir, and Peru. These Camels though amongst us rarely seen, Yet frequent where your Lordship oft hath been In your long Travels: may the world persuade The rich Commerce and nobleness of your Trade. Time so contracts us, that we cannot dwell On all in which you Merchant's most excel: Yet honoured Sir, what's in this place denied Shall in Pacatus Status be supplied.