The complaint of Thames 1647 when the best of Kings was imprisoned by the worst of Rebels at Holmbie

Late in an evening as I walk'd alone,

I heard the Thames most sadly make her moane.

As shee came weeping from her western spring,

Shee thus bewaild the learned shepherds king.

Amintas sad Amintas sits forelorne 5

And his faire Cloris now's become the scorne

Of Troynovants in greate licentious Dames

Noe merveile then of poore aflicted Thames

With salt abortive teares dos wash this Citty

As full of Blood and lies as voyd of pittie 10

Perfidious Town know thou the power of fate

Thy long felicitie shall find a date

And I may live to see another turn

When thy proud fabricck shall u\n/pittied burn

Then Heaven Just Heaven withhold thy raine 15

And I will leave my channill once againe

As when my holy Albians blood was spilt

Seeing to wash away thy Horrid guilt

Is more impossible then tis to change

The skins of Negros that in Aphrick range 20

Then when thou fryest in vengfull flames of fire

Thy scorched genious reddy to expire

Thy Tongue and mouth sable as Salamander

With speaking gainst thy King and Queene such slander

Then not a drop of my coole Cristall Wave 25

To coole thy sulpherous Tongue or life to save

But when I have of thee seene all my lust

And all thy pride and Glory Turn'd to dust

Then I Triumphant with my watery traine

Will make this Cittie Quagmires once againe 30

But o thy Blood and Perjuries repent

Then Heaven I hope in mercie will relent

Thy King restore call whom\e/ his Queene againe

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vaine

Hast thou forgot (aye me) soe have not I 35

Those Halcion dayes the sweete Tranquillity

That wee enjoyed under his happy Reigne

Which Heaven will once restore to us againe

Unles the dismale line of dissolution

(Which ô forbid) bee drawn upon this Nation. 40

Oft have I born upon my Silver Brest

His lovely Cloris like Aurora drest

With youth and beuty with her Princely Spouse

Envied I was by severn Humber Owes

The sacred Dea said shee noe more would boast 45

Her shewing Conquest on the conquering Coast

Though Edgares Glory from her River Springs

When hee in Triumph by eight Captive kings

Was Rowed upon her famous Crist\i/all streame

Those former Honours shewed now like a dreame 50

Nay the Danube said shee would ner’e rehearse

Her being biggest in the Universe

Even Tagus would not brag of Golden sands

But said shee envied more my happy strands

Soe said the Loyer in envie Poe tooke on 55

Though shee were Honour'd by a Phaiton

And Ægipts Glory Nillus stately streame

Said her felicities were but a dreame

When on her or'e flowing waves were seene

The Roman Eagles and her black ey'd Queen 60

And silver Gangers said the sacrifice

The Banians brought with elivated eyes

Though all theire Carcases by fire calcin'd

Were in her Purifieing Waves refin'd

Though all theire wealth and Treasure in they hurl'd 65

And shee were Lady of the Eastern World

Yet all that Glory shee did count a toye

Compar'd shee said with happy Thames her Joy

Tiber said of Horatias vallure brave

Shee ner'e would speake but I the praise should have 70

Cristall euphratus never did envie

The Glory of noe other flowde but I

Though from a Thousand Founts her streame doth spring

Yet did shee never beare soe good a king

Through lofty Babilon her River flowes 75

And earthly Paradice shee doth inclose

Though brave Symerrimus enlarge her fame

Yet doth shee envie still the English Thame

But now alas they envie me noe more

But with theire Teares my heavy loss deplore 80

Oft have I born my sacred soveraings Barge

Being Richly guilt most proud of such a charge

My waves would swell to see his Princely face

Each billow loth to give his fellow place

Sometimes they would rise to kis his Royall hand 85

And hardly would give back at my command

Billow with billow strive and ruffling Rore

Scorning the blow of either hand or owre

But now insulting on my billowes Ride

The Kingdooms schourg’s and this Citties pride 90

Which make my Trembling streame lamenting Rore

And her sad loss with troubled brest deplore

Com kind Carib'd is Com and ô com and help's

Sweete lovely Scilla bring thy barking whelps

Then should they need noe Monument nor Tombe 95

But ocianus darke and Horrid Womb

Should them involve but wishes are invaine

I will Rore out my griefe unto the Maine

Now all the bewty that my Waves adorne

Are snowey swans that sadly swim forelorne 100

Nor doe they in the sun theire Feathers Prune

As they were wont, nor yet theire voices Tune

But in dispaires hanging theire head and wing

This Kingdomes Derges they expireing sing

Ô That itt in my Power were to refuse 105

To see this Towne like Cristall Arethuse

Below this curssed Earth twould hide my head

And run amongst the Caverns of the Dead

Where my pure Wave with Acharon should mix

With Leathe, Phlegethon, Cocîtus, Stix; 110

Then would I waste them to the Stigian shade

Examples unto Reybels to be made

Ô my sad heart these are but foolish dreames

For they Triumph upon my Conquer'd streames

Yet this I'le doe while sighs breaths up my spring 115

I'le trickle teares for my aflicted King

And looke how fare one drop of Cristall Thames

Doth run, so fare I'le Memorise theire Fames:

Soe shall my griefe imortalise them Names.

I hearing these complaints Though time to sleepe: 120

Satt sadly Down and with her gan to weepe.