_The ancient_ The _Druydes_ imbrew'd, British _Priests_ With Gore, on Altars rude so called of With Sacrifices crown'd, their abode in In hollow Woods bedew'd, woods. Ador'd the Trembling sound. 60 Pindar _Prince of Though wee be All to seeke, the_ Greeke Of PINDAR that Great _Greeke_, lyricks, _of whom_ To Finger it aright, Horace: Pindarum The Soule with power to strike, quisquis studet, His hand retayn'd such Might. &c. Ode 2. lib. 4. Horace _first of Or him that _Rome_ did grace the_ Romans _in Whose Ayres we all imbrace, that kind_. That scarcely found his Peere, Nor giueth PHŒBVS place, For Strokes diuinely cleere. 70 _The_ Irish The _Irish_ I admire, _Harpe_. And still cleaue to that Lyre, As our Musike's Mother, And thinke, till I expire, APOLLO'S such another. As _Britons_, that so long Haue held this Antike Song, And let all our Carpers Forbeare their fame to wrong, Th' are right skilfull Harpers. 80 Southerne, _an_ _Southerne_, I long thee spare, English _Lyrick_. Yet wish thee well to fare, Who me pleased'st greatly, As first, therefore more rare, Handling thy Harpe neatly. To those that with despight Shall terme these Numbers slight, Tell them their Iudgement's blind, Much erring from the right, It is a Noble kind. 90 _An old_ English Nor is 't the Verse doth make, _Rymer_. That giueth, or doth take, 'Tis possible to clyme, To kindle, or to slake, Although in SKELTON'S Ryme. TO THE NEW YEERE Rich Statue, double-faced, With Marble Temples graced, To rayse thy God-head hyer, In flames where Altars shining, Before thy Priests diuining, Doe od'rous Fumes expire. Great IANVS, I thy pleasure, With all the _Thespian_ treasure, Doe seriously pursue; To th' passed yeere returning, 10 As though the old adiourning, Yet bringing in the new. Thy ancient Vigils yeerely, I haue obserued cleerely, Thy Feasts yet smoaking bee; Since all thy store abroad is, Giue something to my Goddesse, As hath been vs'd by thee. Giue her th' _Eoan_ brightnesse, Wing'd with that subtill lightnesse, 20 That doth trans-pierce the Ayre; The Roses of the Morning The rising Heau'n adorning, To mesh with flames of Hayre.