To the Virginian Voyage

You brave heroique Minds,Worthy your countries name,That honour still pursue,Goe, and subdue,Whilst loyt'ring HindsLurke here at home, with shame.

Britans, you stay too long,Quickly aboord bestow you,And with a merry GaleSwell your stretch'd sayle,With vowes as strong,As the Winds that blow you.

Your Course securely steere,West and by South forth keepe,Rocks, Lee-shores, nor Sholes,When Eolus scowles,You need not feare,So absolute the Deepe.

And cheerfully at Sea,Successe you still intice,To get the Pearle and Gold,And ours to hold,Virginia,Earth's onely Paradise.

Where nature hath in storeFowle, Venison, and Fish,And the fruitfull'st Soyle,Without your Toyle,Three Harvests more,All greater than your wish.

And the ambitious VineCrownes with his purple Masse,The Cedar reaching hieTo kisse the Sky,The Cypresse, PineAnd use-full Sassafras.

To whose, the golden AgeStill Natures lawes doth give,No other Cares that tend,But Them to defendFrom Winters age,That long there doth not live.

When as the Lushious smellOf that delicious Land,Above the Seas that flowes,The cleere Wind throwes,Your Hearts to swellApproching the deare Strand.

In kenning of the Shore,(Thanks to God first given,)O you, the happy'st men,Be Frolike then,Let Cannons roare,Frighting the wide Heaven.

And in Regions farreSuch Heroes bring yee foorth,As those from whom We came,And plant Our name,Under that StarreNot knowne unto our North.

And as there Plenty growesOf Lawrell every where,Apollo's Sacred tree,You it may see,A Poets BrowesTo crowne, that may sing there.

Thy Voyage attend,IndustriousWhose Reading shall inflameMen to seeke Fame,And much commendTo after-times thy Wit.