Twice flow’d proud Thames, as at my comming wood, Striking the wondring borderers with feare, And the pale genius of that aged flood Vnto my mother[2009] labouring did appeare, And with a countenance much distracted stood, Threatning the fruit her pained wombe should beare: My speedie birth being added thereunto, Seem’d to foretell that much I came to do. 8. That[2010] was reserued for those worser daies, As the great ebbe vnto so long a flow, When what those ages formerly did raise, This, when I liu’d, did lastly ouerthrow, And that great’st labour of the world did seaze, Only for which immedicable blow Due to that time, me dooming heauen ordain’d, Wherein confusion absolutely raign’d. 9. Vainly yet noted this prodigious signe, Often predictions of most fearefull things, As plagues, or warre, or great men to decline, Rising of commons, or the death of kings: But some strange newes though euer it diuine, Yet forth them not immediatly it brings, Vntill th’effects men afterward did learne, To know that me it chiefly did concerne. 10. Whil’st yet my father by his painfull trade, Whose laboured anuile only was his fee, Whom my great towardnesse strongly did perswade In knowledge to haue educated mee: But death did him vnluckily inuade, Ere he the fruits of his desire could see, Leauing me yong, then little that did know How me the heauens had purpos’d to bestow. 11. Hopelesse as helpelesse most might me suppose, Whose meannesse seem’d their abiect breath to draw: Yet did my breast that glorious fire inclose, Which their dull purblind ignorance not saw, Which still is setled vpon outward showes, The vulgar’s iudgement euer is so raw, Which the vnworthiest sottishly do loue In their owne region properly that moue. 12. Yet me my fortune so could not disguise, But through this cloud were some that did me know, Which then the rest more happie or more wise, Me did relieue when I was driuen low, Which, as the staier, by which I first did rise, When to my height I afterward did grow, Them to requite my bounties were so hie, As made my fame through euery eare to flie. 13. That height and godlike puritie of minde Resteth not still, where titles most adorne With any, nor peculiarly confinde To names, and to be limited doth scorne: Man doth the most degenerate from kinde, Richest and poorest both alike are borne: And to be alwaies pertinently good, Followes not still the greatnes of our blood. 14.