RPO -- Thomas Weelkes : Thule, the Period of Cosmography

The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20070809082644/http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca:80/poem/2268.html

Representative Poetry Online

Poet Index Poem Index Random Search

Introduction Timeline Calendar Glossary Criticism Bibliography

RPO Canadian Poetry UTEL

Thomas Weelkes (1576?-1623)

Thule, the Period of Cosmography

1Thule, the period of cosmography,

2 Doth vaunt of Hecla, whose sulphureous fire

3Doth melt the frozen clime and thaw the sky;

4 Trinacrian Etna's flames ascend not higher:

5These things seem wondrous, yet more wondrous I,

6Whose heart with fear doth freeze, with love doth fry.

7The Andalusian merchant, that returns

8 Laden with cochineal and china dishes,

9Reports in Spain how strangely Fogo burns

10 Amidst an ocean full of flying fishes:

11These things seem wondrous, yet more wondrous I,

12Whose heart with fear doth freeze, with love doth fry.

Notes

1] Thule: the ancient Greek and Latin name for a land supposed to be the most northerly region of the world.

2] Hecla: a volcano in Iceland.

4] Trinacria: the Greek name of Sicily.

7] Andalusia: a province of southern Spain.

9] Fogo: a volcanic island in the Cape Verde group.

Online text copyright © 2005, Ian Lancashire for the Department of English, University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Thomas Weelkes, Canto. Madrigals of 5. and 6. parts, apt for the viols and voices (London: T. Este, 1600). STC 25206.
First publication date: 1600
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP.1.237; RPO 1996-2000.
Recent editing: 2:2002/2/14

Rhyme: ababcc

Other poems by Thomas Weelkes