The Voyage of a Ship, under which the Fortune of a Young Lady is Expressed

1

A ship of youth in the2 world’s sea was sent;
Balanced with self-conceit and pride it went.
And large sails of ambition set thereon,3
Hung to4 a tall mast of good opinion.
And on the waves of plenty did it5 ride,                               5
With winds of praise and beauty’s flowing tide.
Unto the land of riches it was bound,
To see if golden fame might there be found,
And thus it swam in a sweet calm of peace;6
No boisterous storm of war did on it seize.7                       10
But when that she had passed nineteen degrees,8
The land of happiness she no longer sees,9
For then rebellious clouds foul10 black did grow,
And showers of blood into those11 seas did throw,
And12 vapors of sad sighs full thick did rise                        15
From grief of13 hearts, which in the bottom lies.
Then fears like to14 the northern winds blew high,
And stars of hopes were clouded in the sky.
Down went the sun15 of all prosperity,
Reeled in the16 troubled seas of misery.                               20
On sorrow’s billows high this ship was tossed;
The card of mirth and mark of joy was lost.
The point of comfort could not be found out;
Her sides did beat upon the sands of doubt.
Prudence was pilot, and17 with much ado                           25
A haven of great France she got into.
Glad was this ship that she18 safe harbor got,19
Then on the river of Loire she straight swam up.20
For on this river she21 no tempest feared,22
But directly her course to Paris steered,23                           30
And in that place she did some time24 remain
To mend this torn and tattered25 bark again.
New sails she made, and all her tacklings fit,
Trimmed26 herself fine and gay, respect to get.
At last27 a noble lord this ship did buy,                                 35
Who was resolved with it28 to live and die.

  1. The Voyage of a Ship, under which the Fortune of a Young Lady is Expressed] Similizing a young Lady to a Ship. 1653
  2. in the] into th’ 1664, 1668
  3. And large sails of ambition set thereon,] Large Sails there hung of high Ambition, 1664; Large Sails there hung, of high Ambition, 1668
  4. Hung to] To 1664, 1668
  5. did it] it did 1668
  6. thus it swam in a sweet calm of peace;] in a Calme of Peace she swims along, 1653
  7. boisterous storm of war did on it seize.] Stormes of War at that time thought upon. 1653
  8. that she had passed nineteen degrees,] nineteen Degrees it had but past, 1664; Nineteen Degrees it had but past, 1668
  9. The land of happiness she no longer sees,] Its Sight the Land of Happiness had lost; 1664; It’s Sight the Land of Happiness had lost: 1668
  10. foul] all 1664, 1668
  11. those] these 1664, 1668
  12. And] The 1664, 1668
  13. grief of] grieved 1653
  14. Then fears like to] Fears like unto 1664; Fears, like unto 1668
  15. Down went the sun] The Sun went downe 1653
  16. Reeled in the] And Reel’d i’th’ 1664; And reel’d i’ th’ 1668
  17. and] she 1653
  18. that she] of its 1664, 1668
  19. got,] there, 1664, 1668
  20. Then on the river of Loire she straight swam up.] And then did Swim up the River of Loire: 1664; And then did swim up the River of Loire: 1668
  21. she] it 1664, 1668
  22. feared,] feares, 1653
  23. But directly her course to Paris steered,] Directly to faire Paris this Barque steers. 1653; But directly its Course to Paris steer’d, 1664; But directly its course to Paris steer’d; 1668
  24. And in that place she did some time] Where it some time intended to 1664, 1668
  25. this torn and tattered] her totter’d, and torne 1653; this Torn and Totter’d 1664
  26. Trimmed] Made 1653
  27. At last] Where there 1653
  28. Who was resolved with it] And with this Ship he meanes 1653