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From “Poly-Olbion”
WHEN now the neighboring floods willed Wrekin to suppress | |
| His style, or they were like to surfeit with excess, | |
| And time had brought about that now they all began | |
| To listen to a long-told prophecy, which ran | |
| Of Moreland, that she might live prosperously to see | 5 |
| A river born of her, who well might reckoned be | |
| The third of this large isle: which saw did first arise | |
| From Arden, in those days delivering prophecies. * * * * * | |
| Then of her | |
| Why shouldst thou all this while the prophecy defer, | 10 |
| Who bearing many springs, which pretty rivers grew, | |
| She could not be content until she fully knew | |
| Which child it was of hers (born under such a fate) | |
| As should in time be raised unto that high estate? | |
| (I fain would have you think that this was long ago, | 15 |
| When many a river now that furiously doth flow | |
| Had scarcely learned to creep), and therefore she doth will | |
| Wise Arden, from the depth of her abundant skill, | |
| To tell her which of these her rills it was she meant. | |
| To satisfy her will, the wizard answers, Trent. | 20 |
| For, as a skilful seer, the aged forest wist, | |
| A more than usual power did in that name consist, | |
| Which thirty doth import: by which she thus divined, | |
| There should be found in her of fishes thirty kind; | |
| And thirty Abbeys great, in places fat and rank, | 25 |
| Should in succeeding time be builded on her bank; | |
| And thirty several streams from many a sundry way | |
| Unto her greatness should their watery tribute pay. | |
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