PRESENTER

SEE lovely Lords, and you my Lord behold How Time hath turned his restless wheel about And made the silver moon: & heavens bright eye Gallop the Zodiac and end the year Whose revolution now begets a new The days that have created and confirmed A worthy Governor for Londons good, To underbear under his Sovereigns sway Unpartial Justice beam, and weaved a Web For your content, and her command in all, You Citizens of this Metapolis Whose honour and whose oath to gratulate Lordings behold what Emblem I present. Astraea daughter of the immortal Jove, Great Jove defender of this ancient town, Descended of the Trojan Brutus line: Offspring of that courageous conquering king. Whose pure renown, hath pierced the world's large ears, In golden scrolls, rolling about the heavens Celestial sacred Nymph, that tends her flock With watchful eyes, and keep this fount in peace: Guarded with Graces, and with gracious trains, Virtues divine, and gifts incomparable. Nor lets blind superstitious ignorance, Corrupt so pure a spring: Oh happy times That do beget such calm and quiet days, Where sheep & shepherd breath in such content. Honour attends his throne, in his bright eyes Sits Majesty: Virtue, and Steadfastness Possess his heart, sweet mercy sways his sword. Her champion armed with resolution, Sits at her feet to chastise Malecontents, That threat his honours wrack. And Time & Kind Produce his years to make them numberless While Fortune for his service and his sake, With golden hands does strengthen and enrich The Web that they for fair Astraea weave. Long may she live, long may she govern us In peace triumphant, fortunate in wars Our fair Astraea, our Pandora fair, Our fair Eliza, or Zabeta fair. Sweet Cynthia's darling, beauteous Cypria's peer As deer to England and true English hearts, As Pompey to the Citizens of Room: As merciful as Caesar in his might. As mighty as the Macedonian king, Or Trojan Hector, terror to the Gree es. Goddess live long, whose honours we advance, Srengthen thy neighbours, propagate thine own: Guide well thy helm, lay thine anointed hand To built the temple of triumphant Truth, That while thy subjects draw their peace from ̄ thee, Thy friends with aid of arms may succoured be.