from New English Canaan [The Authors Prologue]

If art and industry should doe as much

As Nature hath for Canaan, not such

Another place, for benefit and rest,

In all the universe can be possest.

The more we proove it by discovery,

The more delight each object to the eye

Procures; as if the elements had here

Bin reconcil’d, and pleas’d it should appeare

Like a faire virgin, longing to be sped

And meete her lover in a Nuptiall bed,

Deck’d in rich ornaments t’ advaunce her state

And excellence, being most fortunate

When most enjoy’d: so would our Canaan be

If well imploy’d by art and industry;

Whose offspring now, shewes that her fruitfull wombe,

Not being enjoy’d, is like a glorious tombe,

Admired things producing which there dye,

And ly fast bound in darck obscurity:

The worth of which, in each particuler,

Who list to know, this abstract will declare.