18
Madagascar.
Now Wealth (the cause, and the reward of War)
Is greedily explor'd: some busie are
In virgin Mines; where shining gold they spie,
That darkens the Celestiall Chymicks eye:
I wish'd my Soule had brought my body here,
Not as a Poet, but a Pioner.
Some neere the deepest shore are sent to dive;
Whilst with their long retentive breath they strive
To root up Corall Trees, where Mermaids lie,
Sighing beneath those Precious boughs, and die
For absence of their scaly Lovers lost
In midnight stormes, about the Indian coast.
Some finde old Oysters, that lay gapeing there
For ev'ry new, fresh flood, a hundred yeare;
From these they rifle Pearles whose pond'rous size
Sinks weaker Divors when they strive to rise:
So big, on Carckonets were never scene,
But where some well truss'd Giantesse is Queene;
For though th'are Orient, and design'd to deck,
Their weight would yoke a tender Ladies Neck.
Some climbe, and search the Rocks, till each have found
A Saphyr, Ruby, and a Diamond:
Is greedily explor'd: some busie are
In virgin Mines; where shining gold they spie,
That darkens the Celestiall Chymicks eye:
I wish'd my Soule had brought my body here,
Not as a Poet, but a Pioner.
Some neere the deepest shore are sent to dive;
Whilst with their long retentive breath they strive
To root up Corall Trees, where Mermaids lie,
Sighing beneath those Precious boughs, and die
For absence of their scaly Lovers lost
In midnight stormes, about the Indian coast.
Some finde old Oysters, that lay gapeing there
For ev'ry new, fresh flood, a hundred yeare;
From these they rifle Pearles whose pond'rous size
Sinks weaker Divors when they strive to rise:
So big, on Carckonets were never scene,
But where some well truss'd Giantesse is Queene;
For though th'are Orient, and design'd to deck,
Their weight would yoke a tender Ladies Neck.
Some climbe, and search the Rocks, till each have found
A Saphyr, Ruby, and a Diamond:
That
