Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/103

 To which their hardy labours well prepare The sinewy arm of Albion's sons. Pursue, Ye sons of Albion ! with unyielding heart, Your hardy labours : let the sounding loom Mix with the melody of every vale ; The loom, that long renown'd wide envy'd gift Of wealthy Flandria, who the boon receiv'd From fair Venetia ; she from Grecian nymphs ; They from Phenice, who obtain'd the dole From old Ægyptus. Thus around the globe The golden-footed Sciences their path Mark, like the sun, enkindling life and joy, And follow'd close by Ignorance and Pride, Lead Day and Night o'er realms. Our day arose When Alva's tyranny the weaving arts Drove from the fertile vallies of the Scheld. With speedy wing and scatter'd course they fled, Like a community of bees, disturb'd By some relentless swain's rapacious hand ; While good Eliza to the fugitives Gave gracious welcome ; as wise Egypt erst To troubled Nilus, whose nutricious flood With annual gratitude enrich'd her meads. Then from fair Antwerp an industrious train Cross'd the smooth channel of our smiling seas, And in the vales of Cantium, on the banks Of Stour alighted, and the naval wave Of spacious Medway : some on gentle Yare And fertile Waveney pitch'd, and made their seats Pleasant Norvicum and Colcestria's tow'rs : Some to the Darent sped their happy way : Berghem, and Sluys, and elder Bruges, chose Antona's chalky plains, and stretched their tents Down to Clausentum, and that bay supine Beneath the shade of Vecta's cliffy isle.