Complaint of Thames, 1647

Sources

Poem 4

Original Source

Hester Pulter, Poems breathed forth by the nobel Hadassas, University of Leeds Library, Brotherton Collection, MS Lt q 32

Versions

Facsimile of manuscript: Photographs provided by University of Leeds, Brotherton Collection
Transcription of manuscript: By Leah Knight and Wendy Wall.
Elemental edition: By Leah Knight and Wendy Wall.
Amplified edition: By Lara Dodds.

How to cite these versions

Conventions for these editions

The Pulter Project: Poet in the Making

Created by Leah Knight and Wendy Wall
Encoded by Katherine Poland, Matthew Taylor, Elizabeth Chou, and Emily Andrey, Northwestern University
Website designed by Sergei Kalugin, Northwestern University
IT project consultation by Josh Honn, Northwestern University
Project sponsored by Northwestern University, Brock University, and University of Leeds

Poem Index

Loading…

Notes: Transcription

  Editorial note 

In these transcriptions we preserve as many details of the original material, textual, and graphic properties of Hester Pulter’s manuscript verse as we have found practical. Whenever possible, for instance, original spelling, punctuation, capitalization, lineation, insertions, deletions, alterations, spacing between words and lines, and indentation are all maintained; abbreviations and brevigraphs are not expanded; and superscript and subscript representations are retained. See full conventions for the transcriptions here.

Line number 7

  Physical note 

blotted letters, possibly “ar,” between “r” and “a”

Line number 14

  Physical note 

struck-through “a” crossed out with two forward slashes

Line number 18

  Physical note 

“e”s are unusual in shape

Line number 20

  Physical note 

“S” written over initial “K”; final “s” written over imperfectly erased “g”

Line number 33

  Physical note 

“w” blotted and crossed with forward slashes; “e” crowded into space before next word

Line number 63

  Physical note 

Second “c” overwrites an “a”.

Line number 72

  Physical note 

two additional final letters (likely “ed”) corrected or cancelled; “w” could be corrected to or from “o”

Line number 84

  Physical note 

to right of line, vertical scribble followed by “f”

Line number 87

  Physical note 

cancelled with scribbles

Line number 90

  Physical note 

three or four letters cancelled with scribbles, last two likely “gh”

Line number 103

  Physical note 

in left margin, ink mark in shape of a check mark

Line number 105

  Physical note 

in different hand from main scribe

Line number 108

  Physical note 

deleted word, six or seven letters long, starts with “C” and ends with “s”

Line number 109

  Physical note 

last “e” crowded into space before next word; “r” appears written over “n”

Line number 118

  Physical note 

two “f”s in left margin

Sorry, but there are no notes associated with any currently displayed witness.

Transcription

The complaint of Thames 1647

when the best of Kings was impriſoned

by the worst of Rebels at Holmbie

The

Critical Note

The complaint, a common poetic form of the day, is voiced by the river Thames, which flows eastwards from Gloucestershire to London (hence the “western spring” in l. 3). The Thames mourns the imprisonment of King Charles at Holmby, a Northamptonshire estate (also known as Holdenby House) where King Charles was imprisoned after his surrender in the civil war in 1647.

Complaint of Thames, 1647, When the Best of Kings was Imprisoned by the Worst of Rebels at Holmby

The Complaint of Thames, 1647, When the Best of Kings Was Imprisoned By the Worst of Rebels at

Critical Note

Also known as Holdenby House, Holmby is the estate in Northamptonshire where King Charles I was held prisoner during the latter stages of the First Civil War (February to June 1647). This is one of three poems that Pulter dated 1647. See The Invitation to the Country [Poem 2] and Made When I Was Sick, 1647 [Poem 31].

Holmby

The aim of the elemental edition to make the poems accessible to the largest variety of readers, which involves modernizing spelling and punctuation as well as adding basic glosses. Spelling and punctuation reflect current standard American usage; punctuation highlights syntax which might otherwise be obscure. Outmoded but still familiar word forms (“thou,” “‘tis,” “hold’st”) are not modernized, and we do not modernize grammar when the sense remains legible. After a brief headnote aimed at offering a “way in” to the poem’s unique qualities and connections with other verse by Pulter or her contemporaries, the edition features a minimum of notes and interpretative framing to allow more immediate engagement with the poem. Glosses clarify synonyms or showcase various possible meanings in Pulter’s time. Other notes identify named people and places or clarify obscure material. We rely (without citation) primarily on the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the Oxford Reference database, and the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. When we rely on Alice Eardley’s edition of Pulter’s work, we cite her text generally (“Eardley”); other sources are cited in full. The result is an edition we consider a springboard for further work on Pulter’s poetry. See full conventions for this edition here.

— Leah Knight and Wendy Wall

I have modernized spelling and punctuation in this poem with the aim of enhancing clarity and readability. The notes gloss unfamiliar words and provide cultural and literary contexts.

— Leah Knight and Wendy Wall

In this political-pastoral complaint (in iambic pentameter couplets), the narrator discovers the river Thames mourning the imprisonment of King Charles I in 1647 and the national crisis that has ensued because of the civil war. The use of a frame tale and an embedded narrator was common in Renaissance complaint poems (by William Shakespeare, Samuel Daniel, Thomas Lodge, and others). In this poem, however, Pulter creates a personification of a topographical feature, who testifies to the decline of England and lauds the glory of Charles I and past English rulers (whose erotically-described travel over her waters made her the envy of all the rivers of the world). After inventorying world rivers and mourning the loss of their admiration, the Thames fantasizes that she might stream underground and transport Cromwell and parliamentary authorities to a hellish classical underworld. She then offers to immortalize the king with the only material she can offer: the watery tears of grief.

— Leah Knight and Wendy Wall

Framed by a brief first-person introduction and conclusion, “The Complaint of Thames” voices the lament of the Thames river, personified as a female figure, for the betrayal of the rightful monarch, King Charles I, by the people and city of London. Pulter examines the political consequences of the king’s imprisonment in both national and global contexts through the device of a catalog of rivers. Drawing upon extensive geographical and historical lore, Pulter heightens the pathos of the Thames’s complaint by putting it into dialogue with the famous rivers of England and the world. The rivers alternately envy the Thames and grieve with her, joined, finally, by the speaker who puts off sleep to weep with the rivers of the world.

— Leah Knight and Wendy Wall

Late in an evening as I walk’d alone,

Late in an evening as I walked alone,

I heard the Thames most Sadly make her moane:

I heard the Thames most sadly make her moan.

As Shee came weeping from her western Spring,

As she came weeping from her western spring,

As she came weeping from her

Critical Note

The Thames flows from west to east across southern England, passing through Oxford and London. Its source is in Gloucestershire.

western spring,

Shee thus bewaild the learned Shepherds King.

She thus bewailed the

Critical Note

King Charles, figured as the head of a courtly flock

learnéd shepherd’s king:

Critical Note

Pulter personifies the Thames as a feminized figure, thus drawing on the tradition of complaint poetry such as Samuel Daniel’s “The Complaint of Rosamund” and Spenser’s “The Ruines of Time.” In Spenser’s poem, the speaker stands by the river Thames and overhears the complaint of a woman who speaks as the spirit of Verulamium, an ancient Roman city. Some well known poems, such as Michael Drayton’s Poly-Olbion, identified the Thames as masculine. In John Denham’s popular “Cooper’s Hill” (1642), likewise, the Thames is personified as a “son” of the Ocean:

Thames, the most lov’d of all the ocean’s sons,

By his old sire to his embraces runs,

Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea,

Like mortal life to meet eternity. (lines 187-90)

She thus bewailed the learned shepherds’ king:

Amintas Sad Amintas Sits forelorne

“

Critical Note

common male pastoral name for a shepherd; the female equivalent is Chloris, mentioned in the next line.

Amintas, sad Amintas, sits forlorn,

And his faire Cloris now’s become the Scorne

And his fair Chloris now’s become the scorn

And his fair

Critical Note

a pastoral name for Queen Henrietta Maria, paired with Amintas for King Charles.

Chloris now’s become the scorn

Of Troynovants

Physical Note

blotted letters, possibly “ar,” between “r” and “a”

ingrate licentious Dames

Critical Note

The name given by the early chroniclers to London, which was presumed to be built by Brutus, a Trojan refugee; it indicates the city of the Trinovantes or The New Troy.

Troynovant’s

Gloss Note

ungrateful

ingrate licentious dames.

Critical Note

New Troy, i.e. London; a name that draws upon the legend that London was founded by the Trojan hero Brutus.

Troynovant’s

Critical Note

In contrast to the sympathetic Royalism shared by the speaker and the personified Thames, the women of London are represented as immoral and treacherous. During the 1640s some London women did bring petitions before Parliament, political actions that were satirized in sexualized terms in pamphlets such as The Parliament of Women(1646). See Mihoko Suzuki Subordinate Subjects: Gender, the Political Nation, and Literary Form in England, 1588-1688 (Ashgate, 2003), especially chapter 4.

ingrate, licentious dames.

Noe merveile then if poore aflicted Thames

No marvel, then, if poor afflicted Thames

With Salt abortive teares dos wash this Citty

With salt,

Gloss Note

fruitless

abortive tears does wash this city,

With salt abortive tears does wash this city,

As full of Blood and lies as voyd of pittie

As full of blood and lies as void of pity.

Perfidious Town know thou the power of fate

Gloss Note

untrustworthy

Perfidious town, know thou the power of fate:

Gloss Note

faithless or treacherous (OED)

Perfidious town, know thou the power of fate.

Thy long felicitie ſhall find a date

Thy long felicity shall find a

Gloss Note

come to an end

date,

Thy long felicity shall find a date,

And I may live to ſee another turn

And I may live to see another

Gloss Note

of Fortune’s wheel

turn,

And I may live to see another turn

When thy proud

Physical Note

struck-through “a” crossed out with two forward slashes

fabriack ſhall unpittied burn

When thy proud

Gloss Note

edifice; structure

fabric shall unpitied burn.

When thy proud fabric shall unpitied burn.

Then Heaven Just Heaven withhold thy raine

Then Heaven, just Heaven, withhold thy rain,

And I will leave my channill once againe

And I will leave my channel once again,

As when my holy Albians blood was ſpilt

As when my holy

Critical Note

could refer to St. Alban or to Albion. Eardley: St. Alban, killed in the third century AD for harboring a priest; at his urging, God dried up waters so that he could cross a stream to be executed and complete his martyrdom; Albion, another name for Britain, from a giant slain by Hercules, whose spilt blood would reference civil war

Albion’s blood was spilt;

As when my holy

Critical Note

Saint Alban is known as the first British martyr (3rd or 4th century). Alban harbors a priest and refuses to renounce Christianity. When his execution by beheading is ordered, he approaches his death eagerly and when he reaches a quickly flowing river that cannot be crossed, he prays, and the river dries up. In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People this event is located at the River Ver in the town of Verulamium (now St. Albans), but in another early source (Gildas, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae) Alban crosses the Thames before his martyrdom, which corresponds to Pulter’s version of the story.

Albian’s blood was spilt,

Physical Note

“e”s are unusual in shape

ſeeing to wash away thy Horrid guilt

Physical Note

corrected from “seeing” in the manuscript

Seeking to wash away

Gloss Note

London’s

thy horrid guilt

Seeing to wash away thy horrid guilt

Is more impoſſible then tis to change

Is more impossible than ’tis to change

The

Physical Note

“S” written over initial “K”; final “s” written over imperfectly erased “g”

Skins of Negros that in Aphrick range

Critical Note

Afric, or Africa; this line and the one above it allude to the biblical phrase naming impossibility: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” (Jeremiah 13:23), which was proverbial in early modern England

The skins of Negroes that in Afric range.

Critical Note

Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (AV); i.e. the Londoners’ guilt is immutable.

The skins of Negroes that in Afric’ range.

Then when thou fryest in vengfull flames of fire

Then, when thou fryest in vengeful flames of fire,

Then when thou fryest in vengeful flames of fire,

Thy Scorched genious Reddy to expire

Thy scorchéd

Gloss Note

spirit

genius ready to expire—

Thy scorched

Critical Note

i.e. genius loci, “A guardian spirit or god associated with a place” (OED), in this case, the Thames, which withholds its water to punish the “slander” of the Londoners’ tongues.

genius ready to expire,

Thy Tongue and mouth Sable as Salamander

Thy tongue and mouth

Gloss Note

black

sable as

Critical Note

lizard-like animal, some of which have a black color, supposedly able to endure fire

salamander

Thy tongue and mouth sable as salamander

With Speaking gainst thy King and Queene Such Sland’r

With speaking ’gainst thy king and queen such slander—

With speaking ’gainst thy king and queen such slander,

Then not a drop of my coole Cristall Wave

Then not a drop of my cool crystal

Physical Note

modified from "wave" in the manuscript

have

Then not a drop of my cool crystal wave

To coole thy Sulpherous Tongue or life to ſave

To cool thy

Gloss Note

fiery; hellish

sulfurous tongue, or life to save;

To cool thy sulfurous tongue or life to save,

But when I haue of thee Seene all my lust

But when I have of thee seen all my

Gloss Note

pleasure; desire; vigor

lust

But when I have of thee seen all my lust

And all thy pride and Glory Turn’d to dust

And all thy pride and glory turned to dust,

Then I Triumphant with my watery traine

Then I, triumphant with my watery train,

Then I triumphant with my watery train

Will make this Cittie Quagmires once againe

Will make this city

Gloss Note

wet boggy lands that give way under foot; a situation that is unpleasant or hazardous, or from which it is difficult to extricate oneself

quagmires once again.

Will make this city

Critical Note

“an area of wet, boggy land that gives way under foot; a quaking bog” (OED, “quagmire,” n. 1.); the Thames first threatens to abandon the city of London to drought because of its betrayal of the king. She will return only when she has witnessed (“seen all my lust”) sufficient humbling and punishment (“all thy pride and glory turned to dust”).

quagmires once again.

But O thy Blood and Pe^rjuries Repent

But O,

Gloss Note

London

thy

Gloss Note

responsibility for violence or bloodshed

blood and perjuries repent;

But O, thy blood and perjuries repent,

Then Heaven I hope in mercie will Relent

Then Heaven, I hope, in mercy will relent.

Then Heaven I hope in mercy will relent.

Thy King Restore call

Physical Note

“w” blotted and crossed with forward slashes; “e” crowded into space before next word

whome his Queene againe

Thy king restore, call home his

Gloss Note

Henrietta Maria, King Charles’s wife

queen again,

Thy king restore, call home his queen again,

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vaine

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vain.

Hast thou forgot (Aye me) Soe have not I

Hast thou forgot? Ay me—so have not I—

Hast thou forgot (ay me), so have not I,

Those Halcian dayes the Sweete Tranquillity

Those

Gloss Note

peaceful

halcyon days, the sweet tranquility

Those

Critical Note

a period of calm weather that occurs around the winter solstice (OED “halcyon,” adj. 1) and, by extension, the time of peace and prosperity enjoyed by Britain during the rule of Charles I.

halcyon days, the sweet tranquility

That wee injoyed Under his happy Reigne

That we enjoyed under his happy reign,

Which Heaven will once Restore to us againe

Which heaven will once restore to us again,

Which Heaven will once restore to us again,

Unles the diſmale line of diſſolution

Unless the dismal line of dissolution

Unless the

Critical Note

“separation into parts or constituent elements; reduction of any body or mass to elements or atoms; destruction of the existing condition; disintegration, decomposition” OED, "dissolution," n.1a.). The Thames worries that a “dismal line of dissolution” will be brought upon the nation, which perhaps anticipates a break in succession or inheritance.

dismal line of dissolution

(Which ô forbid) bee drawn upon this Nation.

(Which O, forbid) be

Gloss Note

forced, traced (figuratively)

drawn upon this nation.

(Which oh, forbid) be drawn upon this nation.

Oft have I born upon my Silver Brest

Oft have I born upon my silver

Gloss Note

forefront, face, swelling or supporting surface

breast

Oft have I borne upon my silver breast

His lovely Cloris like Aurora drest

His lovely Chloris, like

Gloss Note

Roman goddess of the dawn

Aurora dressed

His lovely Chloris

Critical Note

Henrietta Maria costumed as a goddess (Aurora) for a masque, as she was in William Davenant and Inigo Jones’s Luminalia (1638). See note 106 in Alice Eardley, Poems, Emblems, and The Unfortunate Florinda. Pulter addresses and refers to Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, frequently throughout the manuscript, including Aurora [1] [Poem 3], To Aurora [1] [Poem 22], To Aurora [2] [Poem 26], To Aurora [3] [Poem 34], and Aurora [2] [Poem 37].

like Aurora dressed,

With youth and bevty with her Princely Spouſe

With youth and beauty, with her princely spouse.

Envied I was by Severn Humber Owes

Envied I was by

Gloss Note

major rivers in England

Severn, Humber, Ouse;

Envied I was by

Critical Note

Pulter here develops an extensive catalog of the world’s rivers. The Thames boasts that the famous rivers of Britain (Severn, Humber, Ouse, and Dee), Europe (Danube, Tagus, Loire, Po, and Tiber), Africa (Nile), Asia (Ganges), and the Middle East (Euphrates) once envied her because she was home to Charles and Henrietta Maria. Pulter draws upon extensive geographical and historical knowledge in her characterization of each river. Each river announces its greatest glory (e.g., the Danube is the longest; Cleopatra traveled on the Nile; the Ganges received sacrifices of its people; the Euphrates bordered Eden), and then admits that it is the Thames that is superior and deserves its “envy.” When the Thames’s fellow rivers learn that the city has betrayed its monarchs, however, they “envy me no more,” and join with the Thames in its mourning (“with their tears my heavy loss deplore”).

Severn, Humber, Ouse.

The Sacred Dee ſaid ſhee noe more would boast

The sacred

Critical Note

river flowing from Wales across the north of England, sacred because linked to a river goddess

Dee said she no more would boast

The sacred Dee said she no more would boast

Her Shewing Conquest on the conquering Coast

Critical Note

the River Dee flows across Wales and England to reach the North Sea

Her showing conquest on the conquering coast,

Though Edgares Glory from her River Springs

Though

Critical Note

Edgar, king of England from 959-979; it was reputed that eight other kings signalled submission to Edgar by rowing him down the River Dee.

Edgar’s glory from her river springs,

Though Edgar’s glory from her river springs

When hee in Triumph by eight Captive Kings

When he, in triumph, by eight captive kings

When he in triumph by eight captive kings

Was Rowed upon her famous Crist^iall Streame

Was rowed upon her famous crystal stream;

Those former Honours Shewed now like a dreame

Those former honors showed now like a dream.

Nay the Danube Said ſhee would ner’e Rehearſe

Nay, the

Gloss Note

second longest European river

Danube said she would ne’er rehearse

Nay, the Danube said she would ne’er rehearse

Her being biggest in the Univerſe

Her being biggest in the universe.

Even Tagus would not brag of Golden Sands

Even

Critical Note

longest river on the Iberian peninsula, famous for gold-bearing sands

Tagus would not brag of golden sands,

Even Tagus would not brag of golden sands,

But ſaid ſhee envied more my happy Strands

But said she envied more my happy

Gloss Note

shores

strands.

But said she envied more my happy strands;

Soe said the Loyer in envie Poe tooke on

Critical Note

The Loire agreed. The Loire is the longest river in France.

So said the Loire. In envy

Gloss Note

longest river in Italy

Gloss Note

proceeded; began [talking]; or possibly in sense 5 of “to take on” (OED, take, v.): spoke or acted madly or excitedly; showed great agitation or distress.

took on:

So said the Loire. In envy Po

Critical Note

MS: “tooke” which appears to be an error.

looked on

Though ſhee were Honour’d by a Phaiton

Though she were honored by a

Critical Note

son of Helios, the sun god; his scorched body fell into the Eridanus River, later known as the River Po of Italy, when he lost control when attempting to drive the sun-chariot.

Phaeton,

Though she were honored by a Phaeton.

And Egipts Glory Nillus Stately Streame

And Egypt’s glory,

Gloss Note

Nile river, longest in the world

Nilus, stately stream,

And Egypt’s glory, Nilus, stately stream,

Said her felicities were but a dreame

Said her felicities were but a dream,

Said her felicities were but a dream

When on her or’e flowing waves were ſeene

When on her o’erflowing waves were seen

The Roman Eagles and her black ey’d Queen

The Roman eagles and her

Critical Note

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (51-30 BCE); with the eagles, emblems of Rome, pointing to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, each of whom travelled the Nile

black-eyed queen.

The Roman eagles and her black-eyed queen.

And Silver Gangers Said the Sacrifice

And silver

Gloss Note

sacred river in India

Ganges said the sacrifice

And silver Ganges said the sacrifice

The Banians brought with elevated eyes

The

Gloss Note

Hindu traders

Banians brought with elevated eyes—

The

Critical Note

used during the seventeenth century to refer to people from India and/or followers of Hinduism (OED, banian, n.). Pulter refers to the Hindu practice of cremation of the dead on the banks of the Ganges.

Banians brought with elevated eyes,

Though all theire

Physical Note

Second “c” overwrites an “a”.

Carcaſes by fire calcin’d

Though all their carcasses, by fire

Gloss Note

purified by burning

calcined,

Though all their carcasses by fire calcined

Were in her Purifieing Waves Refin’d

Were in her purifying waves refined;

Though all theire wealth and Treaſure in they hurl’d

Though all their wealth and treasure in they hurled,

And Shee were Lady of the Eastern World

And she were Lady of the eastern world—

And she were lady of the eastern world;

Yet all that Glory Shee did count a toye

Yet all that glory she did count a toy,

Yet all that glory she did count a toy

Compar’d Shee Said with happy Thames her Joy

Compared, she said, with happy

Gloss Note

that is, the Thames’s joy. One common early modern way to signal the possessive form grammatically was called the “his genitive,” in which the word “his” or “her” modified the thing possessed (such as Elizabeth her book).

Thames her joy.

Compared, she said, with happy Thames her joy.

Tiber Said of Horatias vallure brave

Gloss Note

river in Italy flowing through Rome

Tiber said of

Critical Note

a Roman hero who volunteered to be one of the last defenders of a bridge over the river Tiber against an Etruscan army intent on invading Rome

Horatius’s valor brave

Tiber said of Horatius’ valor brave

Shee ne’re would Speake but I the praiſe should have

She ne’er would speak, but I the praise should have.

She ne’er would speak but I the praise should have.

Cristall Euphratus never did envie

Crystal

Gloss Note

river near Garden of Eden

Euphrates never did envy

Crystal Euphrates never did envy

The Glory of noe other flowd

Physical Note

two additional final letters (likely “ed”) corrected or cancelled; “w” could be corrected to or from “o”

~~[?]~~ but I

The glory of no other flood but I;

The glory of no other flood but I,

Though from a Thouſand ffounts her Streame doth ſpring

Though from a thousand founts her stream doth spring,

Though from a thousand founts her stream doth spring;

Yet did ſhee never beare ſoe good a King

Yet did she never bear so good a king.

Through lofty Babilon her River flowes

Through lofty

Gloss Note

famous city in ancient Mesopotamia

Babylon her river flows,

Through lofty Babylon her river flows

And Earthly Paradice Shee doth incloſe

And

Critical Note

Euphrates is associated with the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:14.

earthly paradise she doth enclose,

And earthly paradise she doth enclose;

Though brave Symerrimus enlarge her fame

Though brave

Gloss Note

queen of Assyria (811-806 BCE)

Semiramis enlarge her fame,

Though brave Semiramis enlarge her fame,

Yet doth ſhee envie Still the Engliſh Thame

Yet doth she envy still the English Thame.

But now alas they envie me noe more

But now, alas, they envy me no more,

But with theire Teares my heavy loſs deplore

But with their tears my heavy loss

Gloss Note

lament

deplore.

But with their tears my heavy loss deplore.

Oft haue I born my Sacred Soveraings Barge

Oft have I born my sacred sovereign’s barge,

Oft have I borne my sacred sovereign’s barge,

Being Richly guilt, most proud of ſuch a charge

Being richly gilt, most proud of such a charge.

My waves would Swell to ſee his Princely face

My waves would swell to see his princely face,

Each billow loth to give his fellow

Physical Note

to right of line, vertical scribble followed by “f”

place

Each billow loath to give his fellow place.

Each billow loth to give his fellow place.

Sometimes they would riſe to kis his Royall hand

Sometimes they would rise to kiss his royal hand,

And hardly would give back at my command

And hardly would give back at my command,

And hardly would give back at my command.

Billow with billow ſtrive

Physical Note

cancelled with scribbles

~~with~~ and ruffling Rore

Billow with billow strive, and ruffling roar,

Scorning the blow of either hand or Owre

Scorning the blow of either hand or oar;

Scorning the blow of either hand or oar.

But now inſulting on my billowes Ride

But now, insulting, on my billows ride

But now insulting on my billows ride

Physical Note

three or four letters cancelled with scribbles, last two likely “gh”

~~[?]~~ Kingdooms Schourg’s and this Citties pride

Critical Note

Cromwell and parliamentarians in London who had opposed King Charles

The kingdom’s scourges and this city’s pride,

Which make my Trembling Streame lamenting Rore

Which make my trembling stream lamenting roar,

Which make my trembling stream lamenting roar

And her ſad loſs w:th troubl^ed brest deplore

And her sad loss with troubled breast deplore.

Com kind Caribdis Com ô com and help’s

Come, kind

Critical Note

In Greek mythology, a whirlpool found on straits, opposite to Scylla, a threatening six-headed monster surrounded by dogs (mentioned in the next line)

Charybdis, come, O come and

Gloss Note

help us

help’s;

Come kind Charybdis, come, oh come, and help’s;

Sweet louely Scilla bring thy barking whelps

Sweet lovely Scylla, bring thy barking

Gloss Note

dogs

whelps.

Sweet lovely Scylla, bring thy barking whelps.

Then Should they need noe Monument nor Tombe

Then should

Gloss Note

the kingdom’s scourges

they need no monument nor tomb,

Then should they need no monument nor tomb,

But Ocianis darke and Horrid Womb

But

Critical Note

In Greek mythology, the son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), the personification of the great river believed to encircle the whole world.

Oceanus’s dark and horrid womb

But Oceanus’ dark and horrid womb

Should them involve but wiſhes are invaine

Should them

Gloss Note

envelop

involve. But wishes are in vain:

Critical Note

The Thames invokes famous water monsters (Scylla and Charybdis) to aid her in ridding London of the king’s enemies, who will be washed away to unmarked graves in the ocean (“Oceanus’ dark and horrid womb”).

Should them involve. But wishes are in vain;

I will Rore out my griefe unto the Maine

I will roar out my grief unto the

Gloss Note

the open sea

main.

I will roar out my grief unto the main.

Now all the bewty that my Waves adorne

Now all the beauty that my waves adorn

100

Are Snowey Swans that Sadly Swim forelorne

Are snowy swans that sadly swim, forlorn;

Are snowy swans that sadly swim forlorn;

101

Nor doe they in they Sun theire ffeathers Prune

Nor do they in the sun their feathers prune,

102

As they were wont, nor yet theire Voices Tune

As they were

Gloss Note

accustomed to do

wont, nor yet their voices tune.

As they were wont, nor yet their voices tune,

103

Physical Note

in left margin, ink mark in shape of a check mark

But in diſpaires hanging theire head and wing

But in despairs, hanging their head and wing,

104

This Kingdoms Derges they expireing Sing

This kingdom’s

Gloss Note

songs of mourning

dirges they, expiring,

Critical Note

swans traditionally were understood to sing when dying

sing.

Critical Note

Following the invocations of the mythical Scylla and Charybdis, the Thames turns to a more naturalistic description of swans swimming on the river; however, they sing their own deaths and the death of the kingdom. With this image, Pulter refers to the belief that swans are silent until just before their deaths, when they sing a final song. Thomas Browne examines the origin of and evidence for this belief in Book 3, Chapter 27 of Pseudodoxia Epidemica (Sir Thomas Browne, Selected Writings. Ed. Geoffrey Keynes (University of Chicago Press, 1968), pp. 289-90). Compare Shakespeare’s Othello, where Emilia’s final speech begins:

What did thy song bode, lady?

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan

And die in music. (5.2.240-42)

Greenblatt, et. al. The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd ed., 2016.

This kingdom’s dirges they expiring sing.

105

O That

Physical Note

in different hand from main scribe

\itt \ in my Power were to Refuſe

O, that it in my power were to refuse

Oh that it in my power were to refuse

106

To ſee this Towne like Cristall Arethuſe

To see this town like crystal

Critical Note

Arethusa, in classical mythology, the nymph with whom Alpheus fell in love, and who flowed underground to escape him, before being turned into a fountain

Arethuse,

To see this town, like crystal

Critical Note

Arethusa is a nymph transformed into an underground fountain so that she may escape the river god Alpheus. See Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.572-641. While much of the poem describes the envy of the world’s rivers for the Thames, here the Thames expresses envy for Arethuse who is able to escape underground. The Thames wishes to “refuse / To see this town.”

Arethuse.

107

Below this curſſed Earth Iwould hide my head

Below this curséd earth I would hide my head,

Below this cursed Earth I would hide my head,

108

And run amongst the

Physical Note

deleted word, six or seven letters long, starts with “C” and ends with “s”

~~[?]~~^Caverns of the Dead

And run amongst the caverns of the dead,

109

Physical Note

last “e” crowded into space before next word; “r” appears written over “n”

Where my pure Wave with Acharon ſhould mix

Where my pure wave with

Gloss Note

river of Hades

Acheron should mix

Where my pure wave with Acheron should mix,

110

With Leathe, Phlegethon, Cocîtus, Stix;

With

Gloss Note

rivers of Hades

Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx.

With Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx;

111

Then would I wafte them to the Stigian Shade

Then would I

Gloss Note

convey by water

waft

Critical Note

the anti-royalists mentioned as the kingdom’s scourges, above, and three lines below (“they”)

them to the

Gloss Note

hellish, gloomy, associated with the River Styx

Stygian shade,

Critical Note

The Thames asks to enter the underworld (“caverns of the dead”) where she can mix her “pure wave” with the five rivers of Hades: Acheron (sorrow or woe), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Cocytus (lamentation), and Styx (hate) and punish the king’s enemies (“rebels”) by ushering them to Hell (“waft them to the stygian shade”).

Then would I waft them to the stygian shade

112

Examples Unto Reybels to be made

Examples unto rebels to be made.

113

Ô my Sad heart these are but foolish dreames

O my sad heart, these are but foolish dreams,

Oh my sad heart, these are but foolish dreams,

114

ffor they Triumph Upon my Conquer’d Streames

For they triumph upon my conquered streams.

115

Yet this I’le doe while Sighs breaths up my Spring

Yet this I’ll do while sighs

Gloss Note

evaporates; exhales; taints

breathes up my spring:

Yet this I’ll do while sighs breathes up my spring;

116

I’le trickle teares for my aflicted King

I’ll trickle tears for my afflicted king,

117

And looke how fare one drop of Cristall Thames

And look how far one drop of crystal Thames

118

Physical Note

two “f”s in left margin

Doth run, ſo fare I’le Memoriſe their ffames:

Doth run; so far I’ll memorize their fames,

Doth run, so far I’ll memorize their fames;

119

Soe ſhall my griefe imortaliſe them Names.

So shall my grief immortalize

Critical Note

corrected from “them”

their names.”

So shall my grief immortalize them names.

120

I hearing theſe complaints Though time to ſleepe:

I, hearing these complaints, though time to sleep,

I hearing these complaints, though time to sleep,

121

Satt Sadly Down and with her gan to weepe.

Sat sadly down, and with her ’gan to weep.

Notes: Elemental Edition

Title note

  Critical note 

  Editorial note 

  Headnote 

Line number 4

  Critical note 

King Charles, figured as the head of a courtly flock

Line number 5

  Critical note 

common male pastoral name for a shepherd; the female equivalent is Chloris, mentioned in the next line.

Line number 7

  Critical note 

The name given by the early chroniclers to London, which was presumed to be built by Brutus, a Trojan refugee; it indicates the city of the Trinovantes or The New Troy.

Line number 7

  Gloss note 

ungrateful

Line number 9

  Gloss note 

fruitless

Line number 11

  Gloss note 

untrustworthy

Line number 12

  Gloss note 

come to an end

Line number 13

  Gloss note 

of Fortune’s wheel

Line number 14

  Gloss note 

edifice; structure

Line number 17

  Critical note 

Line number 18

  Physical note 

corrected from “seeing” in the manuscript

Line number 18

  Gloss note 

London’s

Line number 20

  Critical note 

Line number 22

  Gloss note 

spirit

Line number 23

  Gloss note 

black

Line number 23

  Critical note 

lizard-like animal, some of which have a black color, supposedly able to endure fire

Line number 25

  Physical note 

modified from "wave" in the manuscript

Line number 26

  Gloss note 

fiery; hellish

Line number 27

  Gloss note 

pleasure; desire; vigor

Line number 30

  Gloss note 

wet boggy lands that give way under foot; a situation that is unpleasant or hazardous, or from which it is difficult to extricate oneself

Line number 31

  Gloss note 

London

Line number 31

  Gloss note 

responsibility for violence or bloodshed

Line number 33

  Gloss note 

Henrietta Maria, King Charles’s wife

Line number 36

  Gloss note 

peaceful

Line number 40

  Gloss note 

forced, traced (figuratively)

Line number 41

  Gloss note 

forefront, face, swelling or supporting surface

Line number 42

  Gloss note 

Roman goddess of the dawn

Line number 44

  Gloss note 

major rivers in England

Line number 45

  Critical note 

river flowing from Wales across the north of England, sacred because linked to a river goddess

Line number 46

  Critical note 

the River Dee flows across Wales and England to reach the North Sea

Line number 47

  Critical note 

Edgar, king of England from 959-979; it was reputed that eight other kings signalled submission to Edgar by rowing him down the River Dee.

Line number 51

  Gloss note 

second longest European river

Line number 53

  Critical note 

longest river on the Iberian peninsula, famous for gold-bearing sands

Line number 54

  Gloss note 

shores

Line number 55

  Critical note 

The Loire agreed. The Loire is the longest river in France.

Line number 55

  Gloss note 

longest river in Italy

Line number 55

  Gloss note 

proceeded; began [talking]; or possibly in sense 5 of “to take on” (OED, take, v.): spoke or acted madly or excitedly; showed great agitation or distress.

Line number 56

  Critical note 

son of Helios, the sun god; his scorched body fell into the Eridanus River, later known as the River Po of Italy, when he lost control when attempting to drive the sun-chariot.

Line number 57

  Gloss note 

Nile river, longest in the world

Line number 60

  Critical note 

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (51-30 BCE); with the eagles, emblems of Rome, pointing to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, each of whom travelled the Nile

Line number 61

  Gloss note 

sacred river in India

Line number 62

  Gloss note 

Hindu traders

Line number 63

  Gloss note 

purified by burning

Line number 68

  Gloss note 

Line number 69

  Gloss note 

river in Italy flowing through Rome

Line number 69

  Critical note 

a Roman hero who volunteered to be one of the last defenders of a bridge over the river Tiber against an Etruscan army intent on invading Rome

Line number 71

  Gloss note 

river near Garden of Eden

Line number 75

  Gloss note 

famous city in ancient Mesopotamia

Line number 76

  Critical note 

Euphrates is associated with the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:14.

Line number 77

  Gloss note 

queen of Assyria (811-806 BCE)

Line number 80

  Gloss note 

lament

Line number 90

  Critical note 

Cromwell and parliamentarians in London who had opposed King Charles

Line number 93

  Critical note 

In Greek mythology, a whirlpool found on straits, opposite to Scylla, a threatening six-headed monster surrounded by dogs (mentioned in the next line)

Line number 93

  Gloss note 

help us

Line number 94

  Gloss note 

dogs

Line number 95

  Gloss note 

the kingdom’s scourges

Line number 96

  Critical note 

In Greek mythology, the son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), the personification of the great river believed to encircle the whole world.

Line number 97

  Gloss note 

envelop

Line number 98

  Gloss note 

the open sea

Line number 102

  Gloss note 

accustomed to do

Line number 104

  Gloss note 

songs of mourning

Line number 104

  Critical note 

swans traditionally were understood to sing when dying

Line number 106

  Critical note 

Arethusa, in classical mythology, the nymph with whom Alpheus fell in love, and who flowed underground to escape him, before being turned into a fountain

Line number 109

  Gloss note 

river of Hades

Line number 110

  Gloss note 

rivers of Hades

Line number 111

  Gloss note 

convey by water

Line number 111

  Critical note 

the anti-royalists mentioned as the kingdom’s scourges, above, and three lines below (“they”)

Line number 111

  Gloss note 

hellish, gloomy, associated with the River Styx

Line number 115

  Gloss note 

evaporates; exhales; taints

Line number 119

  Critical note 

corrected from “them”

Sorry, but there are no notes associated with any currently displayed witness.

Elemental Edition

The complaint of Thames 1647

when the best of Kings was impriſoned

by the worst of Rebels at Holmbie

The

Critical Note

Complaint of Thames, 1647, When the Best of Kings was Imprisoned by the Worst of Rebels at Holmby

The Complaint of Thames, 1647, When the Best of Kings Was Imprisoned By the Worst of Rebels at

Critical Note

Holmby

Late in an evening as I walk’d alone,

Late in an evening as I walked alone,

I heard the Thames most Sadly make her moane:

I heard the Thames most sadly make her moan.

As Shee came weeping from her western Spring,

As she came weeping from her western spring,

As she came weeping from her

Critical Note

The Thames flows from west to east across southern England, passing through Oxford and London. Its source is in Gloucestershire.

western spring,

Shee thus bewaild the learned Shepherds King.

She thus bewailed the

Critical Note

King Charles, figured as the head of a courtly flock

learnéd shepherd’s king:

Critical Note

Thames, the most lov’d of all the ocean’s sons,

By his old sire to his embraces runs,

Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea,

Like mortal life to meet eternity. (lines 187-90)

She thus bewailed the learned shepherds’ king:

Amintas Sad Amintas Sits forelorne

“

Critical Note

common male pastoral name for a shepherd; the female equivalent is Chloris, mentioned in the next line.

Amintas, sad Amintas, sits forlorn,

And his faire Cloris now’s become the Scorne

And his fair Chloris now’s become the scorn

And his fair

Critical Note

a pastoral name for Queen Henrietta Maria, paired with Amintas for King Charles.

Chloris now’s become the scorn

Of Troynovants

Physical Note

blotted letters, possibly “ar,” between “r” and “a”

ingrate licentious Dames

Critical Note

The name given by the early chroniclers to London, which was presumed to be built by Brutus, a Trojan refugee; it indicates the city of the Trinovantes or The New Troy.

Troynovant’s

Gloss Note

ungrateful

ingrate licentious dames.

Critical Note

New Troy, i.e. London; a name that draws upon the legend that London was founded by the Trojan hero Brutus.

Troynovant’s

Critical Note

ingrate, licentious dames.

Noe merveile then if poore aflicted Thames

No marvel, then, if poor afflicted Thames

With Salt abortive teares dos wash this Citty

With salt,

Gloss Note

fruitless

abortive tears does wash this city,

With salt abortive tears does wash this city,

As full of Blood and lies as voyd of pittie

As full of blood and lies as void of pity.

Perfidious Town know thou the power of fate

Gloss Note

untrustworthy

Perfidious town, know thou the power of fate:

Gloss Note

faithless or treacherous (OED)

Perfidious town, know thou the power of fate.

Thy long felicitie ſhall find a date

Thy long felicity shall find a

Gloss Note

come to an end

date,

Thy long felicity shall find a date,

And I may live to ſee another turn

And I may live to see another

Gloss Note

of Fortune’s wheel

turn,

And I may live to see another turn

When thy proud

Physical Note

struck-through “a” crossed out with two forward slashes

fabriack ſhall unpittied burn

When thy proud

Gloss Note

edifice; structure

fabric shall unpitied burn.

When thy proud fabric shall unpitied burn.

Then Heaven Just Heaven withhold thy raine

Then Heaven, just Heaven, withhold thy rain,

And I will leave my channill once againe

And I will leave my channel once again,

As when my holy Albians blood was ſpilt

As when my holy

Critical Note

Albion’s blood was spilt;

As when my holy

Critical Note

Albian’s blood was spilt,

Physical Note

“e”s are unusual in shape

ſeeing to wash away thy Horrid guilt

Physical Note

corrected from “seeing” in the manuscript

Seeking to wash away

Gloss Note

London’s

thy horrid guilt

Seeing to wash away thy horrid guilt

Is more impoſſible then tis to change

Is more impossible than ’tis to change

The

Physical Note

“S” written over initial “K”; final “s” written over imperfectly erased “g”

Skins of Negros that in Aphrick range

Critical Note

The skins of Negroes that in Afric range.

Critical Note

Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (AV); i.e. the Londoners’ guilt is immutable.

The skins of Negroes that in Afric’ range.

Then when thou fryest in vengfull flames of fire

Then, when thou fryest in vengeful flames of fire,

Then when thou fryest in vengeful flames of fire,

Thy Scorched genious Reddy to expire

Thy scorchéd

Gloss Note

spirit

genius ready to expire—

Thy scorched

Critical Note

i.e. genius loci, “A guardian spirit or god associated with a place” (OED), in this case, the Thames, which withholds its water to punish the “slander” of the Londoners’ tongues.

genius ready to expire,

Thy Tongue and mouth Sable as Salamander

Thy tongue and mouth

Gloss Note

black

sable as

Critical Note

lizard-like animal, some of which have a black color, supposedly able to endure fire

salamander

Thy tongue and mouth sable as salamander

With Speaking gainst thy King and Queene Such Sland’r

With speaking ’gainst thy king and queen such slander—

With speaking ’gainst thy king and queen such slander,

Then not a drop of my coole Cristall Wave

Then not a drop of my cool crystal

Physical Note

modified from "wave" in the manuscript

have

Then not a drop of my cool crystal wave

To coole thy Sulpherous Tongue or life to ſave

To cool thy

Gloss Note

fiery; hellish

sulfurous tongue, or life to save;

To cool thy sulfurous tongue or life to save,

But when I haue of thee Seene all my lust

But when I have of thee seen all my

Gloss Note

pleasure; desire; vigor

lust

But when I have of thee seen all my lust

And all thy pride and Glory Turn’d to dust

And all thy pride and glory turned to dust,

Then I Triumphant with my watery traine

Then I, triumphant with my watery train,

Then I triumphant with my watery train

Will make this Cittie Quagmires once againe

Will make this city

Gloss Note

wet boggy lands that give way under foot; a situation that is unpleasant or hazardous, or from which it is difficult to extricate oneself

quagmires once again.

Will make this city

Critical Note

quagmires once again.

But O thy Blood and Pe^rjuries Repent

But O,

Gloss Note

London

thy

Gloss Note

responsibility for violence or bloodshed

blood and perjuries repent;

But O, thy blood and perjuries repent,

Then Heaven I hope in mercie will Relent

Then Heaven, I hope, in mercy will relent.

Then Heaven I hope in mercy will relent.

Thy King Restore call

Physical Note

“w” blotted and crossed with forward slashes; “e” crowded into space before next word

whome his Queene againe

Thy king restore, call home his

Gloss Note

Henrietta Maria, King Charles’s wife

queen again,

Thy king restore, call home his queen again,

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vaine

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vain.

Hast thou forgot (Aye me) Soe have not I

Hast thou forgot? Ay me—so have not I—

Hast thou forgot (ay me), so have not I,

Those Halcian dayes the Sweete Tranquillity

Those

Gloss Note

peaceful

halcyon days, the sweet tranquility

Those

Critical Note

a period of calm weather that occurs around the winter solstice (OED “halcyon,” adj. 1) and, by extension, the time of peace and prosperity enjoyed by Britain during the rule of Charles I.

halcyon days, the sweet tranquility

That wee injoyed Under his happy Reigne

That we enjoyed under his happy reign,

Which Heaven will once Restore to us againe

Which heaven will once restore to us again,

Which Heaven will once restore to us again,

Unles the diſmale line of diſſolution

Unless the dismal line of dissolution

Unless the

Critical Note

dismal line of dissolution

(Which ô forbid) bee drawn upon this Nation.

(Which O, forbid) be

Gloss Note

forced, traced (figuratively)

drawn upon this nation.

(Which oh, forbid) be drawn upon this nation.

Oft have I born upon my Silver Brest

Oft have I born upon my silver

Gloss Note

forefront, face, swelling or supporting surface

breast

Oft have I borne upon my silver breast

His lovely Cloris like Aurora drest

His lovely Chloris, like

Gloss Note

Roman goddess of the dawn

Aurora dressed

His lovely Chloris

Critical Note

like Aurora dressed,

With youth and bevty with her Princely Spouſe

With youth and beauty, with her princely spouse.

Envied I was by Severn Humber Owes

Envied I was by

Gloss Note

major rivers in England

Severn, Humber, Ouse;

Envied I was by

Critical Note

Severn, Humber, Ouse.

The Sacred Dee ſaid ſhee noe more would boast

The sacred

Critical Note

river flowing from Wales across the north of England, sacred because linked to a river goddess

Dee said she no more would boast

The sacred Dee said she no more would boast

Her Shewing Conquest on the conquering Coast

Critical Note

the River Dee flows across Wales and England to reach the North Sea

Her showing conquest on the conquering coast,

Though Edgares Glory from her River Springs

Though

Critical Note

Edgar, king of England from 959-979; it was reputed that eight other kings signalled submission to Edgar by rowing him down the River Dee.

Edgar’s glory from her river springs,

Though Edgar’s glory from her river springs

When hee in Triumph by eight Captive Kings

When he, in triumph, by eight captive kings

When he in triumph by eight captive kings

Was Rowed upon her famous Crist^iall Streame

Was rowed upon her famous crystal stream;

Those former Honours Shewed now like a dreame

Those former honors showed now like a dream.

Nay the Danube Said ſhee would ner’e Rehearſe

Nay, the

Gloss Note

second longest European river

Danube said she would ne’er rehearse

Nay, the Danube said she would ne’er rehearse

Her being biggest in the Univerſe

Her being biggest in the universe.

Even Tagus would not brag of Golden Sands

Even

Critical Note

longest river on the Iberian peninsula, famous for gold-bearing sands

Tagus would not brag of golden sands,

Even Tagus would not brag of golden sands,

But ſaid ſhee envied more my happy Strands

But said she envied more my happy

Gloss Note

shores

strands.

But said she envied more my happy strands;

Soe said the Loyer in envie Poe tooke on

Critical Note

The Loire agreed. The Loire is the longest river in France.

So said the Loire. In envy

Gloss Note

longest river in Italy

Gloss Note

proceeded; began [talking]; or possibly in sense 5 of “to take on” (OED, take, v.): spoke or acted madly or excitedly; showed great agitation or distress.

took on:

So said the Loire. In envy Po

Critical Note

MS: “tooke” which appears to be an error.

looked on

Though ſhee were Honour’d by a Phaiton

Though she were honored by a

Critical Note

son of Helios, the sun god; his scorched body fell into the Eridanus River, later known as the River Po of Italy, when he lost control when attempting to drive the sun-chariot.

Phaeton,

Though she were honored by a Phaeton.

And Egipts Glory Nillus Stately Streame

And Egypt’s glory,

Gloss Note

Nile river, longest in the world

Nilus, stately stream,

And Egypt’s glory, Nilus, stately stream,

Said her felicities were but a dreame

Said her felicities were but a dream,

Said her felicities were but a dream

When on her or’e flowing waves were ſeene

When on her o’erflowing waves were seen

The Roman Eagles and her black ey’d Queen

The Roman eagles and her

Critical Note

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (51-30 BCE); with the eagles, emblems of Rome, pointing to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, each of whom travelled the Nile

black-eyed queen.

The Roman eagles and her black-eyed queen.

And Silver Gangers Said the Sacrifice

And silver

Gloss Note

sacred river in India

Ganges said the sacrifice

And silver Ganges said the sacrifice

The Banians brought with elevated eyes

The

Gloss Note

Hindu traders

Banians brought with elevated eyes—

The

Critical Note

Banians brought with elevated eyes,

Though all theire

Physical Note

Second “c” overwrites an “a”.

Carcaſes by fire calcin’d

Though all their carcasses, by fire

Gloss Note

purified by burning

calcined,

Though all their carcasses by fire calcined

Were in her Purifieing Waves Refin’d

Were in her purifying waves refined;

Though all theire wealth and Treaſure in they hurl’d

Though all their wealth and treasure in they hurled,

And Shee were Lady of the Eastern World

And she were Lady of the eastern world—

And she were lady of the eastern world;

Yet all that Glory Shee did count a toye

Yet all that glory she did count a toy,

Yet all that glory she did count a toy

Compar’d Shee Said with happy Thames her Joy

Compared, she said, with happy

Gloss Note

Thames her joy.

Compared, she said, with happy Thames her joy.

Tiber Said of Horatias vallure brave

Gloss Note

river in Italy flowing through Rome

Tiber said of

Critical Note

a Roman hero who volunteered to be one of the last defenders of a bridge over the river Tiber against an Etruscan army intent on invading Rome

Horatius’s valor brave

Tiber said of Horatius’ valor brave

Shee ne’re would Speake but I the praiſe should have

She ne’er would speak, but I the praise should have.

She ne’er would speak but I the praise should have.

Cristall Euphratus never did envie

Crystal

Gloss Note

river near Garden of Eden

Euphrates never did envy

Crystal Euphrates never did envy

The Glory of noe other flowd

Physical Note

two additional final letters (likely “ed”) corrected or cancelled; “w” could be corrected to or from “o”

~~[?]~~ but I

The glory of no other flood but I;

The glory of no other flood but I,

Though from a Thouſand ffounts her Streame doth ſpring

Though from a thousand founts her stream doth spring,

Though from a thousand founts her stream doth spring;

Yet did ſhee never beare ſoe good a King

Yet did she never bear so good a king.

Through lofty Babilon her River flowes

Through lofty

Gloss Note

famous city in ancient Mesopotamia

Babylon her river flows,

Through lofty Babylon her river flows

And Earthly Paradice Shee doth incloſe

And

Critical Note

Euphrates is associated with the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:14.

earthly paradise she doth enclose,

And earthly paradise she doth enclose;

Though brave Symerrimus enlarge her fame

Though brave

Gloss Note

queen of Assyria (811-806 BCE)

Semiramis enlarge her fame,

Though brave Semiramis enlarge her fame,

Yet doth ſhee envie Still the Engliſh Thame

Yet doth she envy still the English Thame.

But now alas they envie me noe more

But now, alas, they envy me no more,

But with theire Teares my heavy loſs deplore

But with their tears my heavy loss

Gloss Note

lament

deplore.

But with their tears my heavy loss deplore.

Oft haue I born my Sacred Soveraings Barge

Oft have I born my sacred sovereign’s barge,

Oft have I borne my sacred sovereign’s barge,

Being Richly guilt, most proud of ſuch a charge

Being richly gilt, most proud of such a charge.

My waves would Swell to ſee his Princely face

My waves would swell to see his princely face,

Each billow loth to give his fellow

Physical Note

to right of line, vertical scribble followed by “f”

place

Each billow loath to give his fellow place.

Each billow loth to give his fellow place.

Sometimes they would riſe to kis his Royall hand

Sometimes they would rise to kiss his royal hand,

And hardly would give back at my command

And hardly would give back at my command,

And hardly would give back at my command.

Billow with billow ſtrive

Physical Note

cancelled with scribbles

~~with~~ and ruffling Rore

Billow with billow strive, and ruffling roar,

Scorning the blow of either hand or Owre

Scorning the blow of either hand or oar;

Scorning the blow of either hand or oar.

But now inſulting on my billowes Ride

But now, insulting, on my billows ride

But now insulting on my billows ride

Physical Note

three or four letters cancelled with scribbles, last two likely “gh”

~~[?]~~ Kingdooms Schourg’s and this Citties pride

Critical Note

Cromwell and parliamentarians in London who had opposed King Charles

The kingdom’s scourges and this city’s pride,

Which make my Trembling Streame lamenting Rore

Which make my trembling stream lamenting roar,

Which make my trembling stream lamenting roar

And her ſad loſs w:th troubl^ed brest deplore

And her sad loss with troubled breast deplore.

Com kind Caribdis Com ô com and help’s

Come, kind

Critical Note

In Greek mythology, a whirlpool found on straits, opposite to Scylla, a threatening six-headed monster surrounded by dogs (mentioned in the next line)

Charybdis, come, O come and

Gloss Note

help us

help’s;

Come kind Charybdis, come, oh come, and help’s;

Sweet louely Scilla bring thy barking whelps

Sweet lovely Scylla, bring thy barking

Gloss Note

dogs

whelps.

Sweet lovely Scylla, bring thy barking whelps.

Then Should they need noe Monument nor Tombe

Then should

Gloss Note

the kingdom’s scourges

they need no monument nor tomb,

Then should they need no monument nor tomb,

But Ocianis darke and Horrid Womb

But

Critical Note

In Greek mythology, the son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), the personification of the great river believed to encircle the whole world.

Oceanus’s dark and horrid womb

But Oceanus’ dark and horrid womb

Should them involve but wiſhes are invaine

Should them

Gloss Note

envelop

involve. But wishes are in vain:

Critical Note

Should them involve. But wishes are in vain;

I will Rore out my griefe unto the Maine

I will roar out my grief unto the

Gloss Note

the open sea

main.

I will roar out my grief unto the main.

Now all the bewty that my Waves adorne

Now all the beauty that my waves adorn

100

Are Snowey Swans that Sadly Swim forelorne

Are snowy swans that sadly swim, forlorn;

Are snowy swans that sadly swim forlorn;

101

Nor doe they in they Sun theire ffeathers Prune

Nor do they in the sun their feathers prune,

102

As they were wont, nor yet theire Voices Tune

As they were

Gloss Note

accustomed to do

wont, nor yet their voices tune.

As they were wont, nor yet their voices tune,

103

Physical Note

in left margin, ink mark in shape of a check mark

But in diſpaires hanging theire head and wing

But in despairs, hanging their head and wing,

104

This Kingdoms Derges they expireing Sing

This kingdom’s

Gloss Note

songs of mourning

dirges they, expiring,

Critical Note

swans traditionally were understood to sing when dying

sing.

Critical Note

What did thy song bode, lady?

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan

And die in music. (5.2.240-42)

Greenblatt, et. al. The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd ed., 2016.

This kingdom’s dirges they expiring sing.

105

O That

Physical Note

in different hand from main scribe

\itt \ in my Power were to Refuſe

O, that it in my power were to refuse

Oh that it in my power were to refuse

106

To ſee this Towne like Cristall Arethuſe

To see this town like crystal

Critical Note

Arethusa, in classical mythology, the nymph with whom Alpheus fell in love, and who flowed underground to escape him, before being turned into a fountain

Arethuse,

To see this town, like crystal

Critical Note

Arethuse.

107

Below this curſſed Earth Iwould hide my head

Below this curséd earth I would hide my head,

Below this cursed Earth I would hide my head,

108

And run amongst the

Physical Note

deleted word, six or seven letters long, starts with “C” and ends with “s”

~~[?]~~^Caverns of the Dead

And run amongst the caverns of the dead,

109

Physical Note

last “e” crowded into space before next word; “r” appears written over “n”

Where my pure Wave with Acharon ſhould mix

Where my pure wave with

Gloss Note

river of Hades

Acheron should mix

Where my pure wave with Acheron should mix,

110

With Leathe, Phlegethon, Cocîtus, Stix;

With

Gloss Note

rivers of Hades

Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx.

With Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx;

111

Then would I wafte them to the Stigian Shade

Then would I

Gloss Note

convey by water

waft

Critical Note

the anti-royalists mentioned as the kingdom’s scourges, above, and three lines below (“they”)

them to the

Gloss Note

hellish, gloomy, associated with the River Styx

Stygian shade,

Critical Note

Then would I waft them to the stygian shade

112

Examples Unto Reybels to be made

Examples unto rebels to be made.

113

Ô my Sad heart these are but foolish dreames

O my sad heart, these are but foolish dreams,

Oh my sad heart, these are but foolish dreams,

114

ffor they Triumph Upon my Conquer’d Streames

For they triumph upon my conquered streams.

115

Yet this I’le doe while Sighs breaths up my Spring

Yet this I’ll do while sighs

Gloss Note

evaporates; exhales; taints

breathes up my spring:

Yet this I’ll do while sighs breathes up my spring;

116

I’le trickle teares for my aflicted King

I’ll trickle tears for my afflicted king,

117

And looke how fare one drop of Cristall Thames

And look how far one drop of crystal Thames

118

Physical Note

two “f”s in left margin

Doth run, ſo fare I’le Memoriſe their ffames:

Doth run; so far I’ll memorize their fames,

Doth run, so far I’ll memorize their fames;

119

Soe ſhall my griefe imortaliſe them Names.

So shall my grief immortalize

Critical Note

corrected from “them”

their names.”

So shall my grief immortalize them names.

120

I hearing theſe complaints Though time to ſleepe:

I, hearing these complaints, though time to sleep,

I hearing these complaints, though time to sleep,

121

Satt Sadly Down and with her gan to weepe.

Sat sadly down, and with her ’gan to weep.

Notes: Amplified Edition

Title note

  Critical note 

  Editorial note 

I have modernized spelling and punctuation in this poem with the aim of enhancing clarity and readability. The notes gloss unfamiliar words and provide cultural and literary contexts.

  Headnote 

Line number 3

  Critical note 

The Thames flows from west to east across southern England, passing through Oxford and London. Its source is in Gloucestershire.

Line number 4

  Critical note 

Thames, the most lov’d of all the ocean’s sons,

By his old sire to his embraces runs,

Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea,

Like mortal life to meet eternity. (lines 187-90)

Line number 6

  Critical note 

a pastoral name for Queen Henrietta Maria, paired with Amintas for King Charles.

Line number 7

  Critical note 

New Troy, i.e. London; a name that draws upon the legend that London was founded by the Trojan hero Brutus.

Line number 7

  Critical note 

Line number 11

  Gloss note 

faithless or treacherous (OED)

Line number 17

  Critical note 

Line number 20

  Critical note 

Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (AV); i.e. the Londoners’ guilt is immutable.

Line number 22

  Critical note 

i.e. genius loci, “A guardian spirit or god associated with a place” (OED), in this case, the Thames, which withholds its water to punish the “slander” of the Londoners’ tongues.

Line number 30

  Critical note 

Line number 36

  Critical note 

a period of calm weather that occurs around the winter solstice (OED “halcyon,” adj. 1) and, by extension, the time of peace and prosperity enjoyed by Britain during the rule of Charles I.

Line number 39

  Critical note 

Line number 42

  Critical note 

Line number 44

  Critical note 

Line number 55

  Critical note 

MS: “tooke” which appears to be an error.

Line number 62

  Critical note 

Line number 97

  Critical note 

Line number 104

  Critical note 

What did thy song bode, lady?

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan

And die in music. (5.2.240-42)

Greenblatt, et. al. The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd ed., 2016.

Line number 106

  Critical note 

Line number 111

  Critical note 

Sorry, but there are no notes associated with any currently displayed witness.

Amplified Edition

The complaint of Thames 1647

when the best of Kings was impriſoned

by the worst of Rebels at Holmbie

The

Critical Note

Complaint of Thames, 1647, When the Best of Kings was Imprisoned by the Worst of Rebels at Holmby

The Complaint of Thames, 1647, When the Best of Kings Was Imprisoned By the Worst of Rebels at

Critical Note

Holmby

I have modernized spelling and punctuation in this poem with the aim of enhancing clarity and readability. The notes gloss unfamiliar words and provide cultural and literary contexts.

— Lara Dodds

Late in an evening as I walk’d alone,

Late in an evening as I walked alone,

I heard the Thames most Sadly make her moane:

I heard the Thames most sadly make her moan.

As Shee came weeping from her western Spring,

As she came weeping from her western spring,

As she came weeping from her

Critical Note

The Thames flows from west to east across southern England, passing through Oxford and London. Its source is in Gloucestershire.

western spring,

Shee thus bewaild the learned Shepherds King.

She thus bewailed the

Critical Note

King Charles, figured as the head of a courtly flock

learnéd shepherd’s king:

Critical Note

Thames, the most lov’d of all the ocean’s sons,

By his old sire to his embraces runs,

Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea,

Like mortal life to meet eternity. (lines 187-90)

She thus bewailed the learned shepherds’ king:

Amintas Sad Amintas Sits forelorne

“

Critical Note

common male pastoral name for a shepherd; the female equivalent is Chloris, mentioned in the next line.

Amintas, sad Amintas, sits forlorn,

And his faire Cloris now’s become the Scorne

And his fair Chloris now’s become the scorn

And his fair

Critical Note

a pastoral name for Queen Henrietta Maria, paired with Amintas for King Charles.

Chloris now’s become the scorn

Of Troynovants

Physical Note

blotted letters, possibly “ar,” between “r” and “a”

ingrate licentious Dames

Critical Note

The name given by the early chroniclers to London, which was presumed to be built by Brutus, a Trojan refugee; it indicates the city of the Trinovantes or The New Troy.

Troynovant’s

Gloss Note

ungrateful

ingrate licentious dames.

Critical Note

New Troy, i.e. London; a name that draws upon the legend that London was founded by the Trojan hero Brutus.

Troynovant’s

Critical Note

ingrate, licentious dames.

Noe merveile then if poore aflicted Thames

No marvel, then, if poor afflicted Thames

With Salt abortive teares dos wash this Citty

With salt,

Gloss Note

fruitless

abortive tears does wash this city,

With salt abortive tears does wash this city,

As full of Blood and lies as voyd of pittie

As full of blood and lies as void of pity.

Perfidious Town know thou the power of fate

Gloss Note

untrustworthy

Perfidious town, know thou the power of fate:

Gloss Note

faithless or treacherous (OED)

Perfidious town, know thou the power of fate.

Thy long felicitie ſhall find a date

Thy long felicity shall find a

Gloss Note

come to an end

date,

Thy long felicity shall find a date,

And I may live to ſee another turn

And I may live to see another

Gloss Note

of Fortune’s wheel

turn,

And I may live to see another turn

When thy proud

Physical Note

struck-through “a” crossed out with two forward slashes

fabriack ſhall unpittied burn

When thy proud

Gloss Note

edifice; structure

fabric shall unpitied burn.

When thy proud fabric shall unpitied burn.

Then Heaven Just Heaven withhold thy raine

Then Heaven, just Heaven, withhold thy rain,

And I will leave my channill once againe

And I will leave my channel once again,

As when my holy Albians blood was ſpilt

As when my holy

Critical Note

Albion’s blood was spilt;

As when my holy

Critical Note

Albian’s blood was spilt,

Physical Note

“e”s are unusual in shape

ſeeing to wash away thy Horrid guilt

Physical Note

corrected from “seeing” in the manuscript

Seeking to wash away

Gloss Note

London’s

thy horrid guilt

Seeing to wash away thy horrid guilt

Is more impoſſible then tis to change

Is more impossible than ’tis to change

The

Physical Note

“S” written over initial “K”; final “s” written over imperfectly erased “g”

Skins of Negros that in Aphrick range

Critical Note

The skins of Negroes that in Afric range.

Critical Note

Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (AV); i.e. the Londoners’ guilt is immutable.

The skins of Negroes that in Afric’ range.

Then when thou fryest in vengfull flames of fire

Then, when thou fryest in vengeful flames of fire,

Then when thou fryest in vengeful flames of fire,

Thy Scorched genious Reddy to expire

Thy scorchéd

Gloss Note

spirit

genius ready to expire—

Thy scorched

Critical Note

i.e. genius loci, “A guardian spirit or god associated with a place” (OED), in this case, the Thames, which withholds its water to punish the “slander” of the Londoners’ tongues.

genius ready to expire,

Thy Tongue and mouth Sable as Salamander

Thy tongue and mouth

Gloss Note

black

sable as

Critical Note

lizard-like animal, some of which have a black color, supposedly able to endure fire

salamander

Thy tongue and mouth sable as salamander

With Speaking gainst thy King and Queene Such Sland’r

With speaking ’gainst thy king and queen such slander—

With speaking ’gainst thy king and queen such slander,

Then not a drop of my coole Cristall Wave

Then not a drop of my cool crystal

Physical Note

modified from "wave" in the manuscript

have

Then not a drop of my cool crystal wave

To coole thy Sulpherous Tongue or life to ſave

To cool thy

Gloss Note

fiery; hellish

sulfurous tongue, or life to save;

To cool thy sulfurous tongue or life to save,

But when I haue of thee Seene all my lust

But when I have of thee seen all my

Gloss Note

pleasure; desire; vigor

lust

But when I have of thee seen all my lust

And all thy pride and Glory Turn’d to dust

And all thy pride and glory turned to dust,

Then I Triumphant with my watery traine

Then I, triumphant with my watery train,

Then I triumphant with my watery train

Will make this Cittie Quagmires once againe

Will make this city

Gloss Note

wet boggy lands that give way under foot; a situation that is unpleasant or hazardous, or from which it is difficult to extricate oneself

quagmires once again.

Will make this city

Critical Note

quagmires once again.

But O thy Blood and Pe^rjuries Repent

But O,

Gloss Note

London

thy

Gloss Note

responsibility for violence or bloodshed

blood and perjuries repent;

But O, thy blood and perjuries repent,

Then Heaven I hope in mercie will Relent

Then Heaven, I hope, in mercy will relent.

Then Heaven I hope in mercy will relent.

Thy King Restore call

Physical Note

“w” blotted and crossed with forward slashes; “e” crowded into space before next word

whome his Queene againe

Thy king restore, call home his

Gloss Note

Henrietta Maria, King Charles’s wife

queen again,

Thy king restore, call home his queen again,

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vaine

Or all thy prayer and fasting is in vain.

Hast thou forgot (Aye me) Soe have not I

Hast thou forgot? Ay me—so have not I—

Hast thou forgot (ay me), so have not I,

Those Halcian dayes the Sweete Tranquillity

Those

Gloss Note

peaceful

halcyon days, the sweet tranquility

Those

Critical Note

a period of calm weather that occurs around the winter solstice (OED “halcyon,” adj. 1) and, by extension, the time of peace and prosperity enjoyed by Britain during the rule of Charles I.

halcyon days, the sweet tranquility

That wee injoyed Under his happy Reigne

That we enjoyed under his happy reign,

Which Heaven will once Restore to us againe

Which heaven will once restore to us again,

Which Heaven will once restore to us again,

Unles the diſmale line of diſſolution

Unless the dismal line of dissolution

Unless the

Critical Note

dismal line of dissolution

(Which ô forbid) bee drawn upon this Nation.

(Which O, forbid) be

Gloss Note

forced, traced (figuratively)

drawn upon this nation.

(Which oh, forbid) be drawn upon this nation.

Oft have I born upon my Silver Brest

Oft have I born upon my silver

Gloss Note

forefront, face, swelling or supporting surface

breast

Oft have I borne upon my silver breast

His lovely Cloris like Aurora drest

His lovely Chloris, like

Gloss Note

Roman goddess of the dawn

Aurora dressed

His lovely Chloris

Critical Note

like Aurora dressed,

With youth and bevty with her Princely Spouſe

With youth and beauty, with her princely spouse.

Envied I was by Severn Humber Owes

Envied I was by

Gloss Note

major rivers in England

Severn, Humber, Ouse;

Envied I was by

Critical Note

Severn, Humber, Ouse.

The Sacred Dee ſaid ſhee noe more would boast

The sacred

Critical Note

river flowing from Wales across the north of England, sacred because linked to a river goddess

Dee said she no more would boast

The sacred Dee said she no more would boast

Her Shewing Conquest on the conquering Coast

Critical Note

the River Dee flows across Wales and England to reach the North Sea

Her showing conquest on the conquering coast,

Though Edgares Glory from her River Springs

Though

Critical Note

Edgar, king of England from 959-979; it was reputed that eight other kings signalled submission to Edgar by rowing him down the River Dee.

Edgar’s glory from her river springs,

Though Edgar’s glory from her river springs

When hee in Triumph by eight Captive Kings

When he, in triumph, by eight captive kings

When he in triumph by eight captive kings

Was Rowed upon her famous Crist^iall Streame

Was rowed upon her famous crystal stream;

Those former Honours Shewed now like a dreame

Those former honors showed now like a dream.

Nay the Danube Said ſhee would ner’e Rehearſe

Nay, the

Gloss Note

second longest European river

Danube said she would ne’er rehearse

Nay, the Danube said she would ne’er rehearse

Her being biggest in the Univerſe

Her being biggest in the universe.

Even Tagus would not brag of Golden Sands

Even

Critical Note

longest river on the Iberian peninsula, famous for gold-bearing sands

Tagus would not brag of golden sands,

Even Tagus would not brag of golden sands,

But ſaid ſhee envied more my happy Strands

But said she envied more my happy

Gloss Note

shores

strands.

But said she envied more my happy strands;

Soe said the Loyer in envie Poe tooke on

Critical Note

The Loire agreed. The Loire is the longest river in France.

So said the Loire. In envy

Gloss Note

longest river in Italy

Gloss Note

proceeded; began [talking]; or possibly in sense 5 of “to take on” (OED, take, v.): spoke or acted madly or excitedly; showed great agitation or distress.

took on:

So said the Loire. In envy Po

Critical Note

MS: “tooke” which appears to be an error.

looked on

Though ſhee were Honour’d by a Phaiton

Though she were honored by a

Critical Note

son of Helios, the sun god; his scorched body fell into the Eridanus River, later known as the River Po of Italy, when he lost control when attempting to drive the sun-chariot.

Phaeton,

Though she were honored by a Phaeton.

And Egipts Glory Nillus Stately Streame

And Egypt’s glory,

Gloss Note

Nile river, longest in the world

Nilus, stately stream,

And Egypt’s glory, Nilus, stately stream,

Said her felicities were but a dreame

Said her felicities were but a dream,

Said her felicities were but a dream

When on her or’e flowing waves were ſeene

When on her o’erflowing waves were seen

The Roman Eagles and her black ey’d Queen

The Roman eagles and her

Critical Note

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (51-30 BCE); with the eagles, emblems of Rome, pointing to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, each of whom travelled the Nile

black-eyed queen.

The Roman eagles and her black-eyed queen.

And Silver Gangers Said the Sacrifice

And silver

Gloss Note

sacred river in India

Ganges said the sacrifice

And silver Ganges said the sacrifice

The Banians brought with elevated eyes

The

Gloss Note

Hindu traders

Banians brought with elevated eyes—

The

Critical Note

Banians brought with elevated eyes,

Though all theire

Physical Note

Second “c” overwrites an “a”.

Carcaſes by fire calcin’d

Though all their carcasses, by fire

Gloss Note

purified by burning

calcined,

Though all their carcasses by fire calcined

Were in her Purifieing Waves Refin’d

Were in her purifying waves refined;

Though all theire wealth and Treaſure in they hurl’d

Though all their wealth and treasure in they hurled,

And Shee were Lady of the Eastern World

And she were Lady of the eastern world—

And she were lady of the eastern world;

Yet all that Glory Shee did count a toye

Yet all that glory she did count a toy,

Yet all that glory she did count a toy

Compar’d Shee Said with happy Thames her Joy

Compared, she said, with happy

Gloss Note

Thames her joy.

Compared, she said, with happy Thames her joy.

Tiber Said of Horatias vallure brave

Gloss Note

river in Italy flowing through Rome

Tiber said of

Critical Note

a Roman hero who volunteered to be one of the last defenders of a bridge over the river Tiber against an Etruscan army intent on invading Rome

Horatius’s valor brave

Tiber said of Horatius’ valor brave

Shee ne’re would Speake but I the praiſe should have

She ne’er would speak, but I the praise should have.

She ne’er would speak but I the praise should have.

Cristall Euphratus never did envie

Crystal

Gloss Note

river near Garden of Eden

Euphrates never did envy

Crystal Euphrates never did envy

The Glory of noe other flowd

Physical Note

two additional final letters (likely “ed”) corrected or cancelled; “w” could be corrected to or from “o”

~~[?]~~ but I

The glory of no other flood but I;

The glory of no other flood but I,

Though from a Thouſand ffounts her Streame doth ſpring

Though from a thousand founts her stream doth spring,

Though from a thousand founts her stream doth spring;

Yet did ſhee never beare ſoe good a King

Yet did she never bear so good a king.

Through lofty Babilon her River flowes

Through lofty

Gloss Note

famous city in ancient Mesopotamia

Babylon her river flows,

Through lofty Babylon her river flows

And Earthly Paradice Shee doth incloſe

And

Critical Note

Euphrates is associated with the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:14.

earthly paradise she doth enclose,

And earthly paradise she doth enclose;

Though brave Symerrimus enlarge her fame

Though brave

Gloss Note

queen of Assyria (811-806 BCE)

Semiramis enlarge her fame,

Though brave Semiramis enlarge her fame,

Yet doth ſhee envie Still the Engliſh Thame

Yet doth she envy still the English Thame.

But now alas they envie me noe more

But now, alas, they envy me no more,

But with theire Teares my heavy loſs deplore

But with their tears my heavy loss

Gloss Note

lament

deplore.

But with their tears my heavy loss deplore.

Oft haue I born my Sacred Soveraings Barge

Oft have I born my sacred sovereign’s barge,

Oft have I borne my sacred sovereign’s barge,

Being Richly guilt, most proud of ſuch a charge

Being richly gilt, most proud of such a charge.

My waves would Swell to ſee his Princely face

My waves would swell to see his princely face,

Each billow loth to give his fellow

Physical Note

to right of line, vertical scribble followed by “f”

place

Each billow loath to give his fellow place.

Each billow loth to give his fellow place.

Sometimes they would riſe to kis his Royall hand

Sometimes they would rise to kiss his royal hand,

And hardly would give back at my command

And hardly would give back at my command,

And hardly would give back at my command.

Billow with billow ſtrive

Physical Note

cancelled with scribbles

~~with~~ and ruffling Rore

Billow with billow strive, and ruffling roar,

Scorning the blow of either hand or Owre

Scorning the blow of either hand or oar;

Scorning the blow of either hand or oar.

But now inſulting on my billowes Ride

But now, insulting, on my billows ride

But now insulting on my billows ride

Physical Note

three or four letters cancelled with scribbles, last two likely “gh”

~~[?]~~ Kingdooms Schourg’s and this Citties pride

Critical Note

Cromwell and parliamentarians in London who had opposed King Charles

The kingdom’s scourges and this city’s pride,

Which make my Trembling Streame lamenting Rore

Which make my trembling stream lamenting roar,

Which make my trembling stream lamenting roar

And her ſad loſs w:th troubl^ed brest deplore

And her sad loss with troubled breast deplore.

Com kind Caribdis Com ô com and help’s

Come, kind

Critical Note

In Greek mythology, a whirlpool found on straits, opposite to Scylla, a threatening six-headed monster surrounded by dogs (mentioned in the next line)

Charybdis, come, O come and

Gloss Note

help us

help’s;

Come kind Charybdis, come, oh come, and help’s;

Sweet louely Scilla bring thy barking whelps

Sweet lovely Scylla, bring thy barking

Gloss Note

dogs

whelps.

Sweet lovely Scylla, bring thy barking whelps.

Then Should they need noe Monument nor Tombe

Then should

Gloss Note

the kingdom’s scourges

they need no monument nor tomb,

Then should they need no monument nor tomb,

But Ocianis darke and Horrid Womb

But

Critical Note

In Greek mythology, the son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), the personification of the great river believed to encircle the whole world.

Oceanus’s dark and horrid womb

But Oceanus’ dark and horrid womb

Should them involve but wiſhes are invaine

Should them

Gloss Note

envelop

involve. But wishes are in vain:

Critical Note

Should them involve. But wishes are in vain;

I will Rore out my griefe unto the Maine

I will roar out my grief unto the

Gloss Note

the open sea

main.

I will roar out my grief unto the main.

Now all the bewty that my Waves adorne

Now all the beauty that my waves adorn

100

Are Snowey Swans that Sadly Swim forelorne

Are snowy swans that sadly swim, forlorn;

Are snowy swans that sadly swim forlorn;

101

Nor doe they in they Sun theire ffeathers Prune

Nor do they in the sun their feathers prune,

102

As they were wont, nor yet theire Voices Tune

As they were

Gloss Note

accustomed to do

wont, nor yet their voices tune.

As they were wont, nor yet their voices tune,

103

Physical Note

in left margin, ink mark in shape of a check mark

But in diſpaires hanging theire head and wing

But in despairs, hanging their head and wing,

104

This Kingdoms Derges they expireing Sing

This kingdom’s

Gloss Note

songs of mourning

dirges they, expiring,

Critical Note

swans traditionally were understood to sing when dying

sing.

Critical Note

What did thy song bode, lady?

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan

And die in music. (5.2.240-42)

Greenblatt, et. al. The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd ed., 2016.

This kingdom’s dirges they expiring sing.

105

O That

Physical Note

in different hand from main scribe

\itt \ in my Power were to Refuſe

O, that it in my power were to refuse

Oh that it in my power were to refuse

106

To ſee this Towne like Cristall Arethuſe

To see this town like crystal

Critical Note

Arethusa, in classical mythology, the nymph with whom Alpheus fell in love, and who flowed underground to escape him, before being turned into a fountain

Arethuse,

To see this town, like crystal

Critical Note

Arethuse.

107

Below this curſſed Earth Iwould hide my head

Below this curséd earth I would hide my head,

Below this cursed Earth I would hide my head,

108

And run amongst the

Physical Note

deleted word, six or seven letters long, starts with “C” and ends with “s”

~~[?]~~^Caverns of the Dead

And run amongst the caverns of the dead,

109

Physical Note

last “e” crowded into space before next word; “r” appears written over “n”

Where my pure Wave with Acharon ſhould mix

Where my pure wave with

Gloss Note

river of Hades

Acheron should mix

Where my pure wave with Acheron should mix,

110

With Leathe, Phlegethon, Cocîtus, Stix;

With

Gloss Note

rivers of Hades

Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx.

With Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx;

111

Then would I wafte them to the Stigian Shade

Then would I

Gloss Note

convey by water

waft

Critical Note

the anti-royalists mentioned as the kingdom’s scourges, above, and three lines below (“they”)

them to the

Gloss Note

hellish, gloomy, associated with the River Styx

Stygian shade,

Critical Note

Then would I waft them to the stygian shade

112

Examples Unto Reybels to be made

Examples unto rebels to be made.

113

Ô my Sad heart these are but foolish dreames

O my sad heart, these are but foolish dreams,

Oh my sad heart, these are but foolish dreams,

114

ffor they Triumph Upon my Conquer’d Streames

For they triumph upon my conquered streams.

115

Yet this I’le doe while Sighs breaths up my Spring

Yet this I’ll do while sighs

Gloss Note

evaporates; exhales; taints

breathes up my spring:

Yet this I’ll do while sighs breathes up my spring;

116

I’le trickle teares for my aflicted King

I’ll trickle tears for my afflicted king,

117

And looke how fare one drop of Cristall Thames

And look how far one drop of crystal Thames

118

Physical Note

two “f”s in left margin

Doth run, ſo fare I’le Memoriſe their ffames:

Doth run; so far I’ll memorize their fames,

Doth run, so far I’ll memorize their fames;

119

Soe ſhall my griefe imortaliſe them Names.

So shall my grief immortalize

Critical Note

corrected from “them”

their names.”

So shall my grief immortalize them names.

120

I hearing theſe complaints Though time to ſleepe:

I, hearing these complaints, though time to sleep,

I hearing these complaints, though time to sleep,

121

Satt Sadly Down and with her gan to weepe.

Sat sadly down, and with her ’gan to weep.

All Notes

Elemental Edition

Title note

  Critical note 

Amplified Edition

Title note

  Critical note 

Transcription

  Editorial note 

Elemental Edition

  Editorial note 

Amplified Edition

  Editorial note 

I have modernized spelling and punctuation in this poem with the aim of enhancing clarity and readability. The notes gloss unfamiliar words and provide cultural and literary contexts.

Elemental Edition

  Headnote 

Amplified Edition

  Headnote 

Amplified Edition

Line number 3

  Critical note 

The Thames flows from west to east across southern England, passing through Oxford and London. Its source is in Gloucestershire.

Elemental Edition

Line number 4

  Critical note 

King Charles, figured as the head of a courtly flock

Amplified Edition

Line number 4

  Critical note 

Thames, the most lov’d of all the ocean’s sons,

By his old sire to his embraces runs,

Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea,

Like mortal life to meet eternity. (lines 187-90)

Elemental Edition

Line number 5

  Critical note 

common male pastoral name for a shepherd; the female equivalent is Chloris, mentioned in the next line.

Amplified Edition

Line number 6

  Critical note 

a pastoral name for Queen Henrietta Maria, paired with Amintas for King Charles.

Transcription

Line number 7

  Physical note 

blotted letters, possibly “ar,” between “r” and “a”

Elemental Edition

Line number 7

  Critical note 

The name given by the early chroniclers to London, which was presumed to be built by Brutus, a Trojan refugee; it indicates the city of the Trinovantes or The New Troy.

Elemental Edition

Line number 7

  Gloss note 

ungrateful

Amplified Edition

Line number 7

  Critical note 

New Troy, i.e. London; a name that draws upon the legend that London was founded by the Trojan hero Brutus.

Amplified Edition

Line number 7

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 9

  Gloss note 

fruitless

Elemental Edition

Line number 11

  Gloss note 

untrustworthy

Amplified Edition

Line number 11

  Gloss note 

faithless or treacherous (OED)

Elemental Edition

Line number 12

  Gloss note 

come to an end

Elemental Edition

Line number 13

  Gloss note 

of Fortune’s wheel

Transcription

Line number 14

  Physical note 

struck-through “a” crossed out with two forward slashes

Elemental Edition

Line number 14

  Gloss note 

edifice; structure

Elemental Edition

Line number 17

  Critical note 

Amplified Edition

Line number 17

  Critical note 

Transcription

Line number 18

  Physical note 

“e”s are unusual in shape

Elemental Edition

Line number 18

  Physical note 

corrected from “seeing” in the manuscript

Elemental Edition

Line number 18

  Gloss note 

London’s

Transcription

Line number 20

  Physical note 

“S” written over initial “K”; final “s” written over imperfectly erased “g”

Elemental Edition

Line number 20

  Critical note 

Amplified Edition

Line number 20

  Critical note 

Jeremiah 13:23: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (AV); i.e. the Londoners’ guilt is immutable.

Elemental Edition

Line number 22

  Gloss note 

spirit

Amplified Edition

Line number 22

  Critical note 

i.e. genius loci, “A guardian spirit or god associated with a place” (OED), in this case, the Thames, which withholds its water to punish the “slander” of the Londoners’ tongues.

Elemental Edition

Line number 23

  Gloss note 

black

Elemental Edition

Line number 23

  Critical note 

lizard-like animal, some of which have a black color, supposedly able to endure fire

Elemental Edition

Line number 25

  Physical note 

modified from "wave" in the manuscript

Elemental Edition

Line number 26

  Gloss note 

fiery; hellish

Elemental Edition

Line number 27

  Gloss note 

pleasure; desire; vigor

Elemental Edition

Line number 30

  Gloss note 

wet boggy lands that give way under foot; a situation that is unpleasant or hazardous, or from which it is difficult to extricate oneself

Amplified Edition

Line number 30

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 31

  Gloss note 

London

Elemental Edition

Line number 31

  Gloss note 

responsibility for violence or bloodshed

Transcription

Line number 33

  Physical note 

“w” blotted and crossed with forward slashes; “e” crowded into space before next word

Elemental Edition

Line number 33

  Gloss note 

Henrietta Maria, King Charles’s wife

Elemental Edition

Line number 36

  Gloss note 

peaceful

Amplified Edition

Line number 36

  Critical note 

a period of calm weather that occurs around the winter solstice (OED “halcyon,” adj. 1) and, by extension, the time of peace and prosperity enjoyed by Britain during the rule of Charles I.

Amplified Edition

Line number 39

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 40

  Gloss note 

forced, traced (figuratively)

Elemental Edition

Line number 41

  Gloss note 

forefront, face, swelling or supporting surface

Elemental Edition

Line number 42

  Gloss note 

Roman goddess of the dawn

Amplified Edition

Line number 42

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 44

  Gloss note 

major rivers in England

Amplified Edition

Line number 44

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 45

  Critical note 

river flowing from Wales across the north of England, sacred because linked to a river goddess

Elemental Edition

Line number 46

  Critical note 

the River Dee flows across Wales and England to reach the North Sea

Elemental Edition

Line number 47

  Critical note 

Edgar, king of England from 959-979; it was reputed that eight other kings signalled submission to Edgar by rowing him down the River Dee.

Elemental Edition

Line number 51

  Gloss note 

second longest European river

Elemental Edition

Line number 53

  Critical note 

longest river on the Iberian peninsula, famous for gold-bearing sands

Elemental Edition

Line number 54

  Gloss note 

shores

Elemental Edition

Line number 55

  Critical note 

The Loire agreed. The Loire is the longest river in France.

Elemental Edition

Line number 55

  Gloss note 

longest river in Italy

Elemental Edition

Line number 55

  Gloss note 

proceeded; began [talking]; or possibly in sense 5 of “to take on” (OED, take, v.): spoke or acted madly or excitedly; showed great agitation or distress.

Amplified Edition

Line number 55

  Critical note 

MS: “tooke” which appears to be an error.

Elemental Edition

Line number 56

  Critical note 

son of Helios, the sun god; his scorched body fell into the Eridanus River, later known as the River Po of Italy, when he lost control when attempting to drive the sun-chariot.

Elemental Edition

Line number 57

  Gloss note 

Nile river, longest in the world

Elemental Edition

Line number 60

  Critical note 

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (51-30 BCE); with the eagles, emblems of Rome, pointing to Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, each of whom travelled the Nile

Elemental Edition

Line number 61

  Gloss note 

sacred river in India

Elemental Edition

Line number 62

  Gloss note 

Hindu traders

Amplified Edition

Line number 62

  Critical note 

Transcription

Line number 63

  Physical note 

Second “c” overwrites an “a”.

Elemental Edition

Line number 63

  Gloss note 

purified by burning

Elemental Edition

Line number 68

  Gloss note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 69

  Gloss note 

river in Italy flowing through Rome

Elemental Edition

Line number 69

  Critical note 

a Roman hero who volunteered to be one of the last defenders of a bridge over the river Tiber against an Etruscan army intent on invading Rome

Elemental Edition

Line number 71

  Gloss note 

river near Garden of Eden

Transcription

Line number 72

  Physical note 

two additional final letters (likely “ed”) corrected or cancelled; “w” could be corrected to or from “o”

Elemental Edition

Line number 75

  Gloss note 

famous city in ancient Mesopotamia

Elemental Edition

Line number 76

  Critical note 

Euphrates is associated with the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:14.

Elemental Edition

Line number 77

  Gloss note 

queen of Assyria (811-806 BCE)

Elemental Edition

Line number 80

  Gloss note 

lament

Transcription

Line number 84

  Physical note 

to right of line, vertical scribble followed by “f”

Transcription

Line number 87

  Physical note 

cancelled with scribbles

Transcription

Line number 90

  Physical note 

three or four letters cancelled with scribbles, last two likely “gh”

Elemental Edition

Line number 90

  Critical note 

Cromwell and parliamentarians in London who had opposed King Charles

Elemental Edition

Line number 93

  Critical note 

In Greek mythology, a whirlpool found on straits, opposite to Scylla, a threatening six-headed monster surrounded by dogs (mentioned in the next line)

Elemental Edition

Line number 93

  Gloss note 

help us

Elemental Edition

Line number 94

  Gloss note 

dogs

Elemental Edition

Line number 95

  Gloss note 

the kingdom’s scourges

Elemental Edition

Line number 96

  Critical note 

In Greek mythology, the son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), the personification of the great river believed to encircle the whole world.

Elemental Edition

Line number 97

  Gloss note 

envelop

Amplified Edition

Line number 97

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 98

  Gloss note 

the open sea

Elemental Edition

Line number 102

  Gloss note 

accustomed to do

Transcription

Line number 103

  Physical note 

in left margin, ink mark in shape of a check mark

Elemental Edition

Line number 104

  Gloss note 

songs of mourning

Elemental Edition

Line number 104

  Critical note 

swans traditionally were understood to sing when dying

Amplified Edition

Line number 104

  Critical note 

What did thy song bode, lady?

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan

And die in music. (5.2.240-42)

Greenblatt, et. al. The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd ed., 2016.

Transcription

Line number 105

  Physical note 

in different hand from main scribe

Elemental Edition

Line number 106

  Critical note 

Arethusa, in classical mythology, the nymph with whom Alpheus fell in love, and who flowed underground to escape him, before being turned into a fountain

Amplified Edition

Line number 106

  Critical note 

Transcription

Line number 108

  Physical note 

deleted word, six or seven letters long, starts with “C” and ends with “s”

Transcription

Line number 109

  Physical note 

last “e” crowded into space before next word; “r” appears written over “n”

Elemental Edition

Line number 109

  Gloss note 

river of Hades

Elemental Edition

Line number 110

  Gloss note 

rivers of Hades

Elemental Edition

Line number 111

  Gloss note 

convey by water

Elemental Edition

Line number 111

  Critical note 

the anti-royalists mentioned as the kingdom’s scourges, above, and three lines below (“they”)

Elemental Edition

Line number 111

  Gloss note 

hellish, gloomy, associated with the River Styx

Amplified Edition

Line number 111

  Critical note 

Elemental Edition

Line number 115

  Gloss note 

evaporates; exhales; taints

Transcription

Line number 118

  Physical note 

two “f”s in left margin

Elemental Edition

Line number 119

  Critical note 

corrected from “them”

Sorry, but there are no notes associated with any currently displayed witness.

Manuscript X (Close panel)