I Sing not of _Angellica_ the faire, (For whom the Palladine of _Fraunce_ fell mad) Nor of sweet _Rosamond_, olde _Cliffords_ heire, (Whose death did make the second _Henry_ sad) But of the fairest Faire _Pecunia_, The famous Queene of rich _America_. Goddesse of Golde, great Empresse of the Earth, O thou that canst doe all Thinges under Heauen: That doost conuert the saddest minde to Mirth; (Of whom the elder Age was quite bereauen) Of thee Ile sing, and in thy Prayse Ile write; You _golden Angels_ helpe me to indite. You, you alone, can make my Muse to speake; And tell a golden Tale, with siluer Tongue: You onely can my pleasing silence breake; And adde some Musique, to a merry Songue: But amongst all the fiue, in Musicks Art, I would not sing the _Counter_-tenor part. The Meane is best, and that I meane to keepe; So shall I keepe my selfe from That I meane: Lest with some Others, I be forc'd to weepe, And cry _Peccaui_, in a dolefull Scæne. But to the matter which I haue in hand, The Lady Regent, both by Sea and Land. When _Saturne_ liu'd, and wore the Kingly Crowne, (And _Ioue_ was yet vnborne, but not vnbred) This Ladies fame was then of no renowne; (For Golde was then, no more esteem'd then Lead) Then Truth and Honesty were onely vs'd, Siluer and Golde were vtterly refus'd. But when the Worlde grew wiser in Conceit, And saw how Men in manners did decline, How Charitie began to loose her heate, And One did at anothers good repine, Then did the Aged, first of all respect her; And vowd from thenceforth, neuer to reiect her. Thus with the Worlde, her beauty did increase; And manie Suters had she to obtaine her: Some sought her in the Wars, and some in peace; But few of youthfull age, could euer game her: Or if they did, she soone was gone againe; And would with them, but little while remaine. For why against the Nature of her Sexe, (That commonlie dispise the feeble Olde) Shee, loues olde men; but young men she reiects; Because to her, their Loue is quicklie colde: Olde men (like Husbands iealous of their Wiues) Lock her vp fast, and keepe her as their Liues. The young man carelesse to maintaine his life, Neglects her Loue (as though he did abhor her) Like one that hardly doeth obtaine a wife, And when he hath her once, he cares not for her: Shee, seeing that the young man doeth despyse her, Leaues the franke heart, and flies vnto the Myser. Hee intertaines her, with a ioyfull hart; And seemes to rue her vndeserued wrong: And from his Pressence, she shall neuer part; Or if shee doo, he thinkes her Absence long: And oftentimes he sends for her againe, Whose life without her, cannot long remaine.