NILUS

NIlus and ancient River, known to excel Amongst those four, (which before Adam fell Watered the earthly Paradise) now claims A new alliance with his brother Thames. Martia, so called of Marsius, who to win The praise from great Apollo, lost his skin: Amphrisus, who his name shall ever keep, Since there Apollo kept Admetus Sheep. Nor yet Cremera, by whose firtile side Three hundred and six Fabii at once died. Xantus, and Simois, those too famous floods, So often stained in Greek and Trojan bloods: Nor let Pharsalian Enepeus boast In Caesars triumph, over great Pompies host: Deucalion brag not of Cephisus for'd, Because near it lost mankind he restored: Caister of her Swans, Permessus clear, Proud that the Muses were delighted there. Pactolus, nor Idaspes, famed of old For glittering Channels, paved with pearl and gold. Let none of these compare with aged Nile, Who only breeds the weeping Crocodile. Who drew we hither to the Celebration, Of this your great loud voiced inauguration. Grave and judicious Praetor, Oh make me Your happy Embleame; since as I foresee By reason, that in Egypt falls no rain, There needs must be a dearth of grass and grain; Therefore, by frequent Inundations, I In my great care, that needful want supply: So Magistrates (of which you prime and best We must acknowledge) ought to the distressed: In your known gravity and goodness cast The future to provide for, salve what's passed. My sevenfold Sceptres Hieroglyphic, tells Seven heads, from which (my mighty river swells, Seven liberal arts (by you maintained) express Your Cities magnitude and worthiness. And as you see my Crocodiles I sway, (Monsters, which both by land and water prey) If any such here breed? as some no doubt, In place and Office may be; search them out: And then, what greater honour can you claim, Then such rude beasts Like me to curb and tame? But you're too long detained; I next commend you, Unto those Triumphs that on Land attend you. I Janus, the years Father, in my prime Almost as soon as either light, or time; Hither my servants the four Seasons bring Cold Winter, Autumn, Summer, and the Spring. Eleven Months are my Sons, my Daughter May Makes up the twelfth: her Sisters Night, and Day Acknowledge me their Father: Girls of spleen So opposed, they never will at once be seen. The Hours my Handmaids are, which employed well, Shall make you in your Praetorship excel (As all the rest forenamed:) Behold this Key, With which I o'pe the gates of Land and Sea To the time future; being made by me To all your Trade, commerce, and Traffic free. Proceed and prosper, while the year forepast (As never more to come) I shut up fast; One face still looking back, least good Acts done Might be obscured in dark oblivion: As th'other forward, to see what's to do; Both for Gods Honour, and your Countries to. From Janus this use may it please you gather, You for one year are made the Cities Father; These four succeeding Seasons, I resign Unto your charge; (which I before called mine: To the twelve Months, most aptly may comply Your twelve chief Companies: who can deny My Daughter Day for your employment pressed? The black-browed Night, sequestered for your rest? So spend the Hours to enrich future story, Both for your own grace and the Cities glory. My golden Key make use off, to set wide Those Prison gates, where many a soul hath died, Starved by th'Oppressors cruelty; those Gail For Capital crimes, unpitied, and unbailed, Reserve for public Trial: Justice is bound To cut of Gangreenes, to preserve the found: But none knows better than your self (Grave Lord) What Mercy is; or when to use the Sword.