Batrachomyomachia, or, the wonderfull and bloudy Battell betweene Frogs and Mice/To the vertuous, courteous, and worshipfull Gentleman, Master Robert Greenwood of Westerton

by William Fowldes

To the vertuous, courteous, and worshipfull Gentleman,
Master Robert Greenwood of Westerton,
health, with the happinesse of both worlds.

Svch loving favours from your sonne I found,
So kinde affection at your Worships hand,
Though undeserved, that I still am bound,
And unto you and yours obliged stand:
And though that green branch, which ay-springing stood,
As chiefest crowne or garland to your wood,
Be by the stroke of Fate quite cut away,
Ne're shall a thanklesse nature in me sway.

No lofty Cedar, though in height he passe
Each sev'rall plant which desert forrests yeeld;
No Laurell, though Apollo's tree it was;
No Pine for shippes, no Oke ordayn'd to build,
Nor any shrub was halfe so deare to me,
As was that branch falne from the Greenwoods tree:
Which though, as dead, entomb'd in earth it lyes,
A day will come, we hope to see it rise.

Here (worthy Sir) doe I present to you
The timely Buds of my frost-bitten Spring,
And though this trifle not deserve your view,
Yet such a trifle once did Homer sing,
Adorn'd with robes, spun from the wooll of Greece,
Homely by me now clad in English fleece:
Albeit no pleasure in this toy you take,
Yet deigne a kinde aspect for Hargreves sake,

The unworthy wel-willer of your
Worships welfare,
William Fovvldes.