In thee the sovran gods their mighty power, Mighty Cervantes, to the world declared. Nature, the first of all, for thee prepared Of her immortal gifts a lavish store: Jove did his lightning on his servant pour, The living word that moves the rocky wall: That thou in purity of style mightst all With ease excel, Diana gave her dower: Mercury taught thee histories to weave: The strength Mars gave thee that doth nerve thine arm: Cupid and Venus all their loves bestowed: 'Twas from Apollo that thou didst receive Concerted song: from the Nine Sisters charm And wisdom: shepherds from the woodland god. BY LÓPEZ MALDONADO. SONNET. Out from the sea they issue and return Unto its bosom when their course is o'er, As to the All-Mother they return once more, The children who have left her long forlorn. She is not lesser made whene'er they go, Nor prouder when their presence they restore; For she remaineth whole from shore to shore, And with her waters aye her pools o'erflow. Thou art the sea, oh Galatea fair! The rivers are thy praises, the reward Whereby thou winnest immortality. The more thou givest to us, thou canst spare The more; though all before thy feet have poured Their tribute, yet thou canst not greater be. GALATEA. BOOK I. What time unto my sad and mournful cry, Unto the ill-tuned music of my lyre, The hill and mead, the plain and stream reply In bitter echo of my vain desire, Then take thou, wind, that heedless hastenest by, The plaints which from my breast, chilled with love's fire, Issue in my despite, asking in vain Succour from stream and hill, from mead and plain. The stream is swollen by the tears which flow Forth from my wearied eyes: the flowery mead Blooms with the brambles and the thorns that grow Into my soul: the lofty hill doth heed Nowise my sorrows; and the plain below Of hearing is awearied: in my need No solace, e'er so small, to assuage my ill I find in stream or plain, in mead or hill.