POETRY AND IMAGINATION 



and the deeds of Willoughby, Chancelor, Burrough, 

 Jenkinson, Pet, and Jackman. But his style is less 

 inspiring than his subject. Except as an accompani- 

 ment to stocking-weaving, there are no good uses to 

 be found for verse of this kind : 



* It is no common labour to 

 The river Ob to sail, 

 Howbeit Burrough did therein, 

 Not dangerless, prevail. 



He through the foresaid frozen seas 



In Lapland did arrive, 

 And thence, to expedite for Ob, 



His labours did revive.' 



The author gives advice which his readers will gladly Praise of 

 follow when, after touching briefly on the voyages of 

 Drake, Hawkins, Gilbert, Frobisher, and the rest, he 

 commends his audience to the Preacher : 



'Omitted then, and named men 

 And lands (not here, indeed, 

 So written of as they deserve) 

 At large in Hakluit read.' 



Perhaps the best of the poems dedicated to single Chapman's 



J. • • r^ ^1 ^ T\ r^ • *^^ Guiana.' 



expeditions is George Chapman s De Gutana carmen 



Epicum (1596). It is crabbed, like almost all Chap- 

 man's verse, but it embodies the very spirit that sent 

 hundreds of young Englishmen over sea. The dream 

 of gold is dreamed again in the description of Raleigh's 

 purposed colony : 



' Guiana, whose rich feet are mines of gold, 

 Whose forehead knocks against the roof of stars. 

 Stands on her tip-toes at fair England looking, 

 Kissing her hand, bowing her mighty breast. 

 And every sign of all submission making 

 To be her sister, and the daughter both 

 Of our most sacred maid.' 

 XII 97 G 



