| Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917. | | | | To the Patrons of New Netherland, 1656 | | By Evert Nieuwenhof |
| | | | (For an engraving by Adrian vander Donck, who died in 1655, leaving to his wife the colony of Colen-Donck, or Yonkers.) |
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STILL Amstel’s ancient burghers live, | |
| And East and West extend their care; | |
| To all the lands wise laws they give, | |
| And to the beast-like savage there. | |
| New Holland’s gardens still they till | 5 |
| With unforgotten old-time skill. | |
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| Why mourn Brazil, full of base Portuguese, | |
| When vander Donck points out such pleasant lands— | |
| Where corn swells golden ears, and from the trees | |
| Hang rosy grapes, ready for eager hands? | 10 |
| Men mourn a loss, and then in vain their voice; | |
| But when their loss brings gain, doubly rejoice. | | | |
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