ssie Oakes could weeld,
To rayse the pyles of _Thebes_. 50

And diuersly though Strung,
So anciently We sung,
To it, that Now scarce knowne,
If first it did belong
To _Greece_, or if our Owne.

_The ancient_ The _Druydes_ imbrew'd,
British _Priests_ With Gore, on Altars rude
so called of With Sacrifices crown'd,
their abode in In hollow Woods bedew'd,
woods. Ador'd the Trembling sound. 60

Pindar _Prince of Though wee be All to seeke,
the_ Greeke Of PINDAR that Great _Greeke_,
lyricks, _of whom_ To Finger it aright,
Horace: Pindarum The Soule with power to strike,
quisquis studet, His hand retayn'd such Might.
&c. Ode 2. lib. 4.
Horace _first of Or him that _Rome_ did grace
the_ Romans _in Whose Ayres we all imbrace,
that kind_. That scarcely found his Peere,
Nor giueth PHOEBVS place,
For Strokes diuinely cleere. 70

_The_ Irish The _Irish_ I admire,
_Harpe_. And still cleaue to that Lyre,
As our Musike's Mother,
And thinke, till I expire,
APOLLO'S such another.

As _Britons_, that so long
Haue held this Antike Song,
And let all our Carpers
Forbeare their fame to wrong,
Th' are right skilfull Harpers. 80

Southerne, _an_ _Southerne_, I long thee spare,
English _Lyrick_. Yet wish thee well to fare,
Who me pleased'st greatly,
As first, therefore more rare,
Handling thy Harpe neatly.

To those that with despight
Shall terme these Numbers slight,
Tell them their Iudgement's blind,
Much erring from the right,
It is a Noble kind. 90

_An old_ English Nor is 't the Verse doth make,
_Rymer_. That giueth, or doth take,
'Tis possible to clyme,
To kindle, or to slake,
Although in SKELTON'S Ryme.

TO THE NEW YEERE

Rich Statue, double-fac