Of an Island

¹

There was an island, rich by Nature’s grace;
In all the world it was the sweetest place,
Surrounded with the seas, whose waves don’t miss²
To do her homage, and her feet do kiss.³
Each wave did seem⁴ by turn to⁵ bow down low,                   5
And proud to touch her as they overflow.⁶
Armies of waves in troops high tides brought⁷ on,
Whose wat’ry arms did⁸ glister like⁹ the sun,
And on their backs burthens of ships did¹⁰ bear,
Placing them in her havens with great care.¹¹                         10
Not mercenary, for no pay they’d have,¹²
Yet¹³ as her guard did¹⁴ watch to keep her safe,
And in a ring they circled¹⁵ her about,
Strong as a wall, to keep her foes without.¹⁶
The winds did serve her, and on clouds did¹⁷ ride,                 15
Blowing their trumpets loud on every side;
Serving¹⁸ as scouts, they searched¹⁹ in every lane,
And galloped²⁰ in the forests,²¹ fields, and plain.
While she did please the gods, she did live safe,²²
And they all kind of pleasures to her gave.²³                            20
For all this place was²⁴ fertile, rich, and fair;
Both woods and hills and dales in prospects were.²⁵
Birds pleasure took,²⁶ and with delight did²⁷ sing;
In praises of this isle the woods did²⁸ ring.
Trees thrived with joy, for she their roots well fed,²⁹             25
And,³⁰ tall with pride, their tops did³¹ overspread,
Danced³² with the winds when they did³³ sing and blow,
Played³⁴ like a wanton kid, or a³⁵ swift roe.
Their several branches several birds did³⁶ bear,
Which hopped and skipped,³⁷ and always merry were;³⁸     30
Their leaves did³⁹ wave, and, rushing, make a noise,
And⁴⁰ many ways strived to express⁴¹ their joys.
All⁴² flowers there looked⁴³ fresh and gay with mirth,
Whilst they were⁴⁴ danced upon the lap of Earth.
Th’isle was their mother,⁴⁵ they her children sweet,               35
Born from her loins, got by Apollo great,
Who dressed and pruned them often with great care,⁴⁶
And washed their leaves with dew to make them fair,⁴⁷
Which being done,⁴⁸ he wiped⁴⁹ those drops away
With webs of heat,⁵⁰ which he weaves every day,                   40
Paint⁵¹⁵² them with several colors intermixed,
Veiled⁵³ them with shadows every leaf betwixt.
Their heads he dress’d, their hairy leaves spread out,⁵⁴
Wreathed round their crowns his golden beams about,⁵⁵
For he this isle esteemed⁵⁶ above the rest;                                45
Of all his wives he had, he loved⁵⁷ her best.
Daily he did present her with some gift:⁵⁸
Twelve ells of light, to make her smocks⁵⁹ for shift,
Which, every time he came, he put⁶⁰ on clean,⁶¹
And changèd oft, that she may lovely seem.⁶²                          50
And when he from her went,⁶³ the world to see,
He left⁶⁴ his sister⁶⁵ for her⁶⁶ company,
Whose name is Cynthia⁶⁷—though pale, yet clear,
Which makes her always in dark clouds appear.
Besides, he left⁶⁸ his stars to wait, for fear⁶⁹                             55
His isle too sad should be⁷⁰ when he’s not there,
And from his bounty clothed⁷¹ them all with light,
Which makes them twinkle in a frosty night.
He never brought⁷² hot beams to do her harm,
Nor let⁷³ her take a cold, but lapped⁷⁴ her warm;                    60
He⁷⁵ mantles rich of equal heat o’erspread,⁷⁶
And covered⁷⁷ her with color crimson red.
He gave⁷⁸ another o’er her head to lie—
The colour is a pure bright azure sky—
And with soft air did⁷⁹ line them all within,                              65
Like⁸⁰ furs in winter, in summer satin thin.
With silver clouds he fringèd⁸¹ them about,
And⁸² spangled meteors glist’ring hung⁸³ without.
Thus gave her⁸⁴ change, lest she⁸⁵ should weary grow,
Or think them old, and so away them throw.                           70
Nature adorned⁸⁶ this island all throughout
With landscapes, riv’lets, prospects round about;⁸⁷
There hills⁸⁸ o’ertopped⁸⁹ the dales, which level be,⁹⁰
Covered⁹¹ with cattle feeding eagerly.⁹²
Grass grew⁹³ up even to the belly high,                                     75
Where beasts that chew their cud lay pleasantly,⁹⁴
Whisking their tails about, the flies to beat,
Or else to cool them from the sultry heat.
Nature, willing to th’gods her love⁹⁵ to show,
Sent plenty in, like Nile’s great overflow,                                  80
And temperate seasons gave,⁹⁶ and equal lights:
Warm⁹⁷ sunshine days, and dewy moonshine nights.
And in this pleasant island, peace did dwell;
No noise of war or sad tale could it tell.

1. Of an Island.] A Description of an Island. 1664, 1668
2. don’t miss] not miss’d 1664, 1668
3. do kiss.] they Kiss’d; 1664; they kiss’d: 1668
4. Each wave did seem] Where every Wave 1653
5. to] do 1653
6. as they overflow.] when as they did Flow; 1664; when as they did flow. 1668
7. brought] bring 1653
8. did] do 1653
9. like] as 1664, 1668
10. did] do 1653
11. Placing them in her havens with great care.] And in her Havens places them with care; 1653
12. for no pay they’d have,] They no will have, 1653
13. Yet] But 1664, 1668
14. did] they 1653
15. circled] circle 1653
16. without.] still out. 1653
17. The winds did serve her, and on clouds did] So Windes do serve, and on the Cloudes do 1653
18. Serving] And serve 1653
19. they searched] do search 1653
20. galloped] gallop 1653
21. forests,] Forrest, 1653
22. While she did please the gods, she did live safe,] And while shee please the Gods, in safety lives, 1653
23. And they all kind of pleasures to her gave.] They to delight her, all fine Pleasures gives. 1653
24. was] is 1653
25. prospects were.] Propsects are. 1653
26. took,] take, 1653
27. did] do 1653
28. did] do 1653
29. thrived with joy, for she their roots well fed,] thrive with joy, this Isle their Roots do feed, 1653
30. And,] Grow 1653
31. did] they 1653
32. Danced] Dance 1653
33. did] do 1653
34. Played] Play 1653
35. a] the 1653
36. did] do 1653
37. hopped and skipped,] hop, and Skip, 1653
38. were;] are. 1653
39. did] do 1653
40. And] Thus 1653
41. strived to express] do strive t’expresse 1653
42. All] And 1653
43. looked] look 1653
44. were] are 1653
45. Th’isle was their mother,] Their Mother the Island, 1653; Th’Isle their Mother was; 1668
46. Who dressed and pruned them often with great care,] Who takes great care to dresse, and prune them oft, 1653
47. And washed their leaves with dew to make them fair,] And with cleare Dew he washes their Leaves soft. 1653
48. Which being done,] When he hath done, 1653
49. wiped] wipes 1653
50. A marginal note reads, “Sunbeams”.
51. Paint] Paints 1653
52. A marginal note reads, “There would be no colors, if no light.”
53. Veiled] Veiles 1653
54. dress’d, their hairy leaves spread out,] dresses, spreads their hairy leaves, 1653
55. Wreathed round their crowns his golden beams about,] And round their Crownes his golden Beames he wreaths. 1653
56. esteemed] esteemes 1653
57. he had, he loved] we find he loves 1653
58. Daily he did present her with some gift:] Presents her daily with some fine new Gift, 1653
59. A marginal note in 1653 reads, “These smocks are the days.” In 1664 and 1668 it reads, “Those smocks are the days.”
60. came, he put] comes, he puts 1653
61. clean,] Fair, 1664; fair, 1668
62. And changèd oft, that she may lovely seem.] And changes oft, that shee may lovely seem. 1653; That Lovely she and Handsome might appear, 1664; That Lovely she, and Handsome might appear. 1668
63. from her went,] goeth from her, 1653
64. left] leaves 1653
65. A marginal note in 1653 reads, “The moon.” This note does not appear in 1664 or 1668.
66. for her] her for 1664; her, for 1668
67. Whose name is Cynthia] Cynthia she is, 1653
68. left] leaves 1653
69. for fear] on her, 1664, 1668
70. His isle too sad should be] Lest she should Grieve too much, 1664; Lest she should grieve too much, 1668
71. clothed] cloaths 1653
72. brought] brings 1653
73. let] lets 1653
74. lapped] laps 1653
75. He] With 1653
76. o’erspread,] doth spread, 1653
77. covered] covers 1653
78. gave] gives 1653
79. did] doth 1653
80. Like] As 1653
81. fringèd] fringes 1653
82. And] Where 1653
83. hung] hang 1653
84. gave her] gives her 1653; gave he 1664, 1668
85. she] he 1668
86. adorned] adornes 1653
87. riv’lets, prospects round about;] Prospects, and Rills that run about. 1653
88. There hills] Hills 1664, 1668
89. o’ertopped] o’re top 1653; over-top’d 1664, 1668
90. be,] were, 1664, 1668
91. Covered] And cover’d all 1664, 1668
92. eagerly.] there; 1664; there. 1668
93. Grass grew] Where Grasse growes 1653
94. lay pleasantly,] in Pleasure lye. 1653
95. willing to th’gods her love] her Love to th’ Gods willing 1664, 1668
96. And temperate seasons gave,] Gave temperate Seasons, 1653
97. Warm] The 1653