THE LADY OF THE SEA BY WILLIAM CAMDEN (1551-1623) AN ELIZABETHAN'S PRAISE OF BRITAINE BRITAIN is known to be the most flourishing and excellent, most renowned and famous isle of the whole world. So rich in commodities, so beautiful in situation, so resplendent in all glory, that if the most Omnipotent had fashioned the world round like a ring, as he did like a globe, it might have been most worthily the only gemme therein. For the air is most temperate and wholesome, fitted in the middest of the temperate zone, subject to no storms and tempests as the more southern and northern are, but stored with infinite delicate fowl. For water, it is walled and garded by the ocean, most commodious for traffick to all parts of the world, and watered with pleasant fishful and navigable rivers, which yield safe havens and roads, and furnished with shipping and sailers, that it may rightly be termed the "Lady of the Sea." That may say nothing of healthful baths, and of mears stored both with fish and fowl; the earth fertill of all kind of grain, manured with good husbandry, rich in mineral of coals, tinne, lead, copper, not I without gold and silver; abundant in pasture, replenished with cattel both tame and wilde (for it hath more parkes than all Europe besides), plentifully wooded, provided with all compleat provisions of war, beautified with many populous cities, fair borroughs, good towns and well-built villages, strong munitions, magnificent palaces of the prince, stately houses of the nobility, frequent hospitals, beautiful churches, fair colledges, as well in other places as in the two Universities, which are comparable to all the rest in Christendome, not only in antiquity, but also in learning, buildings, and endowments. As for government ecclesiastical and civil, which is the very soul of a kingdom, I need to say nothing, when as I write to home-born and not to strangers. But to praise Britain according as the dignity thereof requires, is a matter which may exercise, if not tire, the happiest wit furnished with the greatest variety of learning; and some have already busied their brains and pens herein, with no small labour and travel: let, therefore, these few lines. in this behalf suffice, out of an ancient writer : "Britain, thou art a glorious isle, extolled and renowned among all nations; the navies of Tharsis cannot be compared to thy shipping, bringing in all precious commodities of the world: the sea is thy wall, and strong fortifications do secure thy ports; chivalry, clergy and merchandise do flourish in thee. The Pisans, Genoeses and Venetians do bring thee saphires, emeralds, and carbuncles from the East Asia serveth thee with silke and purple, Africa with cinnamon and balm, Spain with gold, and Germany with silver. Thy weaver, Flanders, doth drape cloth for thee of thine own wooll; Thy Gascoigne doth send thee wine; buck and doe are plentiful in thy forrests; droves of cattel and flocks of sheep are upon thy hills. All the perfection of the goodliest land is in thee. Thou hast all the fowl of the ayr. In plenty of fish thou dost surpass all regions. And albeit thou art not stretched out with large limits, yet bordering nations clothed with thy fleeces do wonder at thee for thy blessed plenty. Thy swords have been turned into plough-shares: peace and religion flourisheth in thee, so that thou art a mirrour to all Christian kingdomes." Adde hereunto, if you please, these few lines out of a far more ancient panegyrist in the time of Constantine the Great. "O happy Britain, and more blissful than all other regions! Nature hath enriched thee with all the commodities of heaven and earth, wherein there is neither extreme cold in winter, nor scorching heat in summer; wherein there is such abundant plenty of corn as may suffice both for bread and wine; wherein are woods without wild beasts, and the fields without noysom serpents; but infinite numbers of milch cattel, and sheep weighed down with rich fleeces; and, that which is most comfortable, long days and-lightsome nights." LOVE THOU THY LAND BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON Love thou thy land, with love far-brought But pamper not a hasty time, Nor feed with crude imaginings The herd, wild hearts and feeble wings, That every sophister can lime. Deliver not the tasks of might To weakness, neither hide the ray From those, not blind, who wait for day, Tho' sitting girt with doubtful light. Make knowledge circle with the winds; But let her herald, Reverence, fly Before her to whatever sky Bear seed of men and growth of minds. Watch what main-currents draw the years: Cut Prejudice against the grain : But gentle words are always gain : Regard the weakness of thy peers : |