Poem written in 1606 in praise of new sea wall built by Edward Stradling at Aberthaw |
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TO SIR EDWARD STRADLING, KNIGHT, ON THE SEAWALL AT ABERTHAW,
CONSTRUCTED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE FOR THE CONTAINMENT OF THE SEVERN,
A HERCULEAN LABOR COMPLETED WITHIN FIVE MONTHS. 1606
Why does Memphis display its pyramids, Babylon its luxuries, and the great City the work of its amphitheaters? These wonders tend only to show. There are things less praiseworthy but more worth the undertaking. I hold Hercules’ labors more worthy of praise, because they scarce lack public utility. Such is this labor of yours, done with your funding, genius, art, and labor. The praise is for you, your posterity is to possess its use. What greater than to prescribe laws for Neptune, and impose new limits on his floods? Behold, this soil used to be salt, there is a crop were there was a sea, where the fish sported in this field, the sheep goes a-straying. |
AD DOMINUM EDWARDUM STRADLINGUM EQUITUM DE AGGERE MARINO APUD ABERTHAWE,
AD SABRINAM COERCENDUM SUMPTIBUS PRIVATIS
Quorsum pyramides Memphis, Babylonia sumptus Ostentat, magnum urbs amphitheatron opus? Ad pompam et fastum haec solum miracula tendunt. Sunt laudanda minus, suscipienda magis. Herculeos duco plus dignos laude labores, Publica enim magni haud utilitate carent. Talis et hic tuus est sumptu, ingenio, arte, labore. Laus tibi, posteritas fructum habitura tua est. Quid quam Neptuno leges praescribere maius, Fluctibus et metas imposuisse novas? Ecce solum hic, fuit ante salum, seges est ubi pontus, Piscis in hoc campo luserat, errat ovis. |
Poem written in 1607 after the destruction of the sea wall in the flood of Jaunuary 1606/7 |
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TO SIR EDWARD STRADLING, KNIGHT, ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE FLOODING OF THE SEVERN
(THE DAY AFTER THE POET BEGAN HIS JOURNEY TO LONDON, IN WHICH THAT SEAWALL RECENTLY BUILT AT ABERTHAW WAS OVERCOME AND WHOLLY TORN APART.
JANUARY 20, 1606
In vain he accuses Neptune who sails the water, there is a certain error amidst the uncertain tides. Mortals pointlessly strive to restrict the outlaw waters with laws (which are not bound by law). I had thought that limits had been imposed on the Ocean, with no shifting boundary, and laws understood by the goddess Vesta. But no fixed rule applies in fluid matters, and quickly the driven wave swelled by with swollen blasts of wind. With the peace broken which he had once ratified, that oath-breaker Glaucus went a-running to his old hostile tricks. What had been salt-water before, he made to be salt-water everywhere: he flowed over the fields and the wave challenged pious Ceres. When I returned, finding what I had left firm to be rent asunder, and that all my hope and sleepless effort, your expenses, and the farmers’ crops were ruined, I ponder such words as these in my troubled breast: Neptune, there is no faith in your government. Boldly you protect the things that are yours, and by force you snatch those that belong to others. |
AD DOMINUM EDWARDUM STRADLINGUM EQUITEM DE AESTU SABRINAE INCREDIBILI
(POSTRIDIE SUSCEPTI ITENERIS LONDINUM VERSUS) QUO AGGER ILLE NOVITIUS AD ABERTHAW SUPERATUS EST ET PENITUS DISRUPTUS.
20 IANUARII, 1606
Neptunum incusat frustra qui navigat aequor, Certus in incertis fluctibus error inest. Legibus incassum exleges constringere certant Mortales (quae non lege tenentur) aquas. Credideram positas, non fluxo limite, metas Oceani, et Vestae cognita iura deae. Fixa sed in fluidis non constat regula rebus, Mota cito tumidis flatibus unda tumet. Paceque foedifragus rupta, quam sanxerat olim Glaucus, ad hostiles currit, ut ante, dolos. Quodque salum fuit, usque salum facit esse: per agros Fluctuat, et Cererem provocat unda piam. Ut redii, lacerata videns quae firma reliqui, Quodque omnis periit spesque laborque mihi. Insomnis, sumptusque tibi, fructusque colonis, Talia sollicito pectore verba roto: Nulla fides regni tecum, Neptune.Tueris Audax quae tua sunt, vique aliena rapis. |
More poems inspired by the flood |
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ON HIS BEING A GUEST AT AST ON THE SEVERN, WHILE THE FLOOD WAS MAKING ITS ASSAULT. TO HIS FRIEND WILLIAM POWELL, JURISCONSULT
As often as I think in mind about the crossing at Ast, while there the flood enforced a delay on the journey I had undertaken, alas, I seem to renew my past sorrows, and to see before my eyes the injuries suffered by my homeland. Even now the shouting people assault my ears, the little boy with his father, the daughter and her protective mother. But it is pleasant to remember the pleasant hospitality and the excellent beds, of which I don’t care to change an iota. The comradeship, spiced with the salt of the swollen sea, protracted a bland meal. |
DE HOSPITIO AD AST SABRINAE, DILUVIO URGENTE. AD GUILIELMUM POWELLUM IURISCONSULTUM AMICUM
Traiectum quoties Astensem mente revolvo, Diluvies coeptum hic dum remoratur iter, Hei mihi, praeteritos videor renovare dolores, Et patriae ante oculos cernere damna meae. Auribus insistunt et iamnum vociferantes Cum patre filiolus, filia et alma parens. Dulce sed hospitium et lectos meminisse superbos, Qui ne unum vellent flectere iota iuvat. Suave sodalitium tumidi salsedine ponti Conditum, coenam protulit insipidam. |
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ANOTHER POEM ON THE FLOOD. TO WILLIAM STRADLING, KINSMAN AND FRIEND
When lately I came to the city as a visitor, rescued from the new flood (scarce without loss of life), from all sides my friends flocked together, eager to hear of the novelty, and asked me what news I had to tell. I said, "I have seen fish and men hanging from trees, while the cow, sheep, and horse swam in the sea. Where wagons used to roll, there the skiff flies along with sails unfurled, and goes and returns by unaccustomed routes." This is a novel subject for historians, and likewise for poets, they can write true things which will scarce gain credence. |
ALIUD DE DILIUVIO. AD GUILIELMUM STRADLINGUM COGNATUM ET AMICUM
Nuper ut e ruri veni peregrinus in urbem, Diluvio ereptus, vix sine clade, novo, Undique concurrunt avidi novitatis amici, Et rogitant mihi si quid sit in ore novi. Pendentes (inquam) arboribus pisces hominesque "Vidi ego, dum ponto bos natat, agnus, equus. Plaustra ubi currebant, passis ibi cymbula velis Evolat, insuetis itque reditque vis." Historicis nova materies, eademque poetis, Scribere vera queant vix habitura fidem. |
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ON THE SEA. A PROBLEM
Though all rivers run into the sea, the sea is insatiable. Does this not reek of avarice? |
DE PONTO. PROBLEMA
Omnia cum currant in pontum flumina, pontus Non satur est. Nunquid spirat avaritiam? |
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ON THE PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD-OF FLOODING OF THE SEVERN. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND BISHOP OF LLANDAFF, MY DEAREST BROTHER
Because we live profanely, without order or law, as outlaws we are sunken in the waters. God has rescued us from the flames, but our love for Him is not inflamed, nor burns the brighter. We are worthy of perishing in the sea’s gelid floods, some of us have hearts cold towards God. |
DE INAUDITO ANTEHAC SABRINAE AESTU. AD REVERENDISSIMUS ET MIHI AMICISSIMUS FRATREM EPISCOPUM LANDAVENSEM
Ordine quod nullo, quod nulla lege profani Vivimus, exleges mergimur inter aquas. Eripuit Deus e flammis nos, * noster in illum Non inflammatur, non magis ardet amor. Digni qui gelidis pelagi pereamus ab undis, Sunt quibus in nostrum frigida corda Deum. * - Nonis Novembris 1605. |
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TO ELIZABETH KENN, A PRETTY AND WELL-BORN GIRL, THE SOLE HEIR OF HER FAMILY, WHO WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY ESCAPED THE FLOOD BY THE INTERVENTION OF A RUSTIC
When Nereus saw you playing on the shore, fair girl, captivated by your beauty, this outlaw ran into the fields, the dikes broken, and followed your feet as you fled. You fled quickly, more quickly he pursued. You came into the savage’s embraces, his desired prey. In vain you called out. But he, having no pity on a tender girl, planted a thousand kisses on your lips. The Dryades, hating your abductor, bade Faunus of the woodlands to come out of forest to bring you aid. With divine auspices, he quickly rescued your darling self out of a shrub in the tumid flood, and gave you to your own. |
AD ELISABETHAM KENN PULCHRAM ET GENEROSAM PUELLAM, FAMILIAE SOLAM HAEREDEM, DILUVIO (INVERVENIENTE RUSTICO) DIFFICILLIME ELAPSAM
Littore ludentem cum te (formosa) videret Nereus, hic formae captus amore tuae Exlex, aggeribus ruptis, incurrit in agros, Insequiturque pedem, te fugiente, tuum. Ipsa fugis velox, sequitur velocior iste. In trucis amplexus, praeda cupita, venis. Tu clamas frustra. Tenerae nihil ille misertus Oscula dat labiis millia multa tuis. Raptori infensae Dryades de sylva ibi Faunum Sylvestrem, auxilium qui ferat, ire iubent. Hic mox, auspicibus divis, arbuscula amicam Eripuit tumido, te tribuitque tuo. |
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ON THE FLOOD OF THE SEVERN. TO HIS FRIEND THOMAS LUTTRELL OF DUNSTER
If you crave to understand the Severn’s unwonted floods, what causes they have, and the source of this madness, the common people attribute it to the moon and the driving winds, they rise their mind no higher. The astrologer inspects the aspect of the heavens and the conjunctions of the planets, referring to these the cause of whatever novelty befalls. Consult the religious, and seek the cause from this source. Why them? They say that everything occurs because God so decides, that through these means occur everything which God Himself does. Lo thus, the rock stricken, Moses made the river of water to flow through this means, with no medium intermediating. Yet beforehand, the winds intermediating, he made his people a highway in the Red Sea, and compelled the waters to stand. For God may do either. He works through means, and, with nothing intermediating, He does whatever He chooses. |
DE SABRINAE AESTU. AD THOMAM LUTTRELLUM DUNSTERIENSEM, AMICUM ET CONSANGUINEUM SUUM
Sabriane insolitus cognoscere si cupis aestus Quas habeat causas, et furor unde venit, Ad lunam vulgus transfert ventosque moventes, Altius ingenium non levat ille suum. Aetheris aspectum astrologus iunctosque planetas Inspicit, hisque novum quod cadit omne refert. Consule symmistas, et causam hinc quaere. Quid illi? Cuncta Deo (dictunt) sic statuente cadunt. E tribus unam liceat mihi promere causam, Per media haec fiunt quae Deus ipse facit. Percussa Moises sic rupe, en flumen aquarum Per medium hoc, medio at non mediante dedit. Ante tamen ventis mediantibus in mare rubro Fecit iter populo, et stare coegit aquas. Nempe potest utrunque Deus. Mediis operatur. Quodque placet, nulla re mediante, facit. |