THE STORME.
To Mr. Christopher Brooke.
Thou which art I, ('tis nothing to be soe)
Thou which art still thy selfe, by these shalt know
Part of our passage; And, a hand, or eye
By Hilliard drawne, is worth an history,
5By a worse painter made; and (without pride)
When by thy judgment they are dignifi'd,
My lines are such: 'Tis the preheminence
Of friendship onely to'impute excellence.
England to whom we'owe, what we be, and have,
10Sad that her sonnes did seeke a forraine grave
(For, Fates, or Fortunes drifts none can soothsay,
Honour and misery have one face and way.)
From out her pregnant intrailes sigh'd a winde
Which at th'ayres middle marble roome did finde
15Such strong resistance, that it selfe it threw
Downeward againe; and so when it did view
How in the port, our fleet deare time did leese,
Withering like prisoners, which lye but for fees,
Mildly it kist our sailes, and, fresh and sweet,
20As to a stomack sterv'd, whose insides meete,
Meate comes, it came; and swole our sailes, when wee
So joyd, as Sara'her swelling joy'd to see.
But 'twas but so kinde, as our countrimen,
Which bring friends one dayes way, and leave them then.
25Then like two mighty Kings, which dwelling farre
Asunder, meet against a third to warre,
The South and West winds joyn'd, and, as they blew,
Waves like a rowling trench before them threw.
Sooner then you read this line, did the gale,
30Like shot, not fear'd till felt, our sailes assaile;
And what at first was call'd a gust, the same
Hath now a stormes, anon a tempests name.
Ionas, I pitty thee, and curse those men,
Who when the storm rag'd most, did wake thee then;
35Sleepe is paines easiest salue, and doth fullfill
All offices of death, except to kill.
But when I wakt, I saw, that I saw not;
I, and the Sunne, which should teach mee'had forgot
East, West, Day, Night, and I could onely say,
40If'the world had lasted, now it had beene day.
Thousands our noyses were, yet wee'mongst all
Could none by his right name, but thunder call:
Lightning was all our light, and it rain'd more
Then if the Sunne had drunke the sea before.
45Some coffin'd in their cabbins lye,'equally
Griev'd that they are not dead, and yet must dye;
And as sin-burd'ned soules from graves will creepe,
At the last day, some forth their cabbins peepe:
And tremblingly'aske what newes, and doe heare so,
50Like jealous husbands, what they would not know.
Some sitting on the hatches, would seeme there,
With hideous gazing to feare away feare.
Then note they the ships sicknesses, the Mast
Shak'd with this ague, and the Hold and Wast
55With a salt dropsie clog'd, and all our tacklings
Snapping, like too-high-stretched treble strings.
And from our totterd sailes, ragges drop downe so,
As from one hang'd in chaines, a yeare agoe.
Even our Ordinance plac'd for our defence,
60Strive to breake loose, and scape away from thence.
Pumping hath tir'd our men, and what's the gaine?
Seas into seas throwne, we suck in againe;
Hearing hath deaf'd our saylers; and if they
Knew how to heare, there's none knowes what to say.
65Compar'd to these stormes, death is but a qualme,
Hell somewhat lightsome, and the'Bermuda calme.
Darknesse, lights elder brother, his birth-right
Claims o'r this world, and to heaven hath chas'd light.
All things are one, and that one none can be,
70Since all formes, uniforme deformity
Doth cover, so that wee, except God say
Another Fiat, shall have no more day.
So violent, yet long these furies bee,
That though thine absence sterve me,'I wish not thee.
The Storme. To Mr. Christopher Brooke. 1633 (1635-69 add from the Iland voyage with the Earle of Essex): The Storme, A Storme or Storme; A25, B, Cy, D, H49, HN, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, Q, S, TCD, W: some add To Mr. C: B: or a longer note to the same effect as 1635-69: to Sr Basil Brooke JC, S
2 these 1633 and most MSS.: this 1635-69, O'F, S
4 an 1633: a 1635-69
7 such: Ed: such. 1633-69
11 soothsay, 1650-54: spelt Southsay 1633-39: gainsay 1669
12 and way. 1633, 1669: one way. 1635-54
18 lye] laie Q
19 fresh W: fresh, 1633-69
20 As W: As, 1633-69
23 'twas 1650-69: 'twas, 1633-39
30 fear'd] fear'd, 1633
37 not; Ed: not. 1633-69
38 I, and the Sunne, 1633-69 and most MSS.: yea, and the Sunne, Q
39 Day, Night, D, W: day, night, 1633-69
could onely say 1633-69: could but say Cy, HN, JC, L74, Q, N, S, TCD, W: could then but say O'F: could say H49, Lec: should say D
40 lasted, now 1633, 1669: lasted, yet 1635-54: Lasted yet, O'F
42 his] this 1669
44 before.] before; 1633
46 dye; Ed: dye. 1633-69
47 graves 1669, A25, B, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, TCD, W: grave 1633-54, Cy
49 tremblingly 1633, A25, D, H49, HN, L74, Lec, N, TCD, W: trembling 1635-69, Cy, JC, O'F, P, S
50 Like 1633, D, H49, HN, JC, L74, Lec, N, TCD, W: As 1635-69
53 Then] There 1669
54 this] an 1635-69
56 too-high-stretched 1633, A25, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, P, S, TCD, W (MS. spelling generally to and stretcht): too-too-high-stretch'd 1635-54: to too-high-stretch'd 1669, B, O'F
59 Even our Ordinance 1633 and MSS.: Yea even our Ordinance 1635-69
60 Strive 1633, D, H49, HN, JC, L74, Lec, S, TCD, W: Strives 1635-69, Chambers: Striv'd A25, B, Cy
66 Hell] Hell's S
lightsome] light B, Cy
and the'Bermuda 1633, D, H49, L74, Lec, N, TCD, W: and the Bermudas B, Cy, HN, P, S, Q: the Bermudas 1635-54, O'F: the Bermuda's 1669
67 elder A25, Cy, D, H49, HN, JC, L74, N, O'F, P, Q, S, TCD, W: eldest 1633-69, B, Lec
68 Claims 1635-69 and MSS.: Claim'd 1633 this 1633, D, H49, HN, L74, Lec, N, TCD: the 1635-69, A25, B, Cy, O'F, P, Q, S