The little joys which here are now, When by their sight they let us know How we deprived of greater are. 'Tis you the best of seasons with you bring; This is for beasts, and that for men, the Spring. CLAD ALL IN WHITE. Fairest thing that shines below, Why in this robe dost thou appear? Thou wilt seem much whiter so, Than winter when 'tis clad with snow. "Tis not the linen shows so fair: Her skin shines through, and makes it bright; So clouds themselves like suns appear, When the sun pierces them with light: So lilies in a glass enclose, The glass will seem as white as those. Thou now one heap of beauty art; Nought outwards, or within is foul; Thy body's clothed like thy soul: Such robes the saints departed wear, And with such full glory shine. Yet seeing thee so gently pure, My hopes will needs continue still; Thou wouldst not take this garment, sure, When thou hadst an intent to kill. Of peace and yielding who would doubt, THE CHRONICLE. A BALLAD. Margarita first possessed, If I remember well, my breast, But, when awhile the wanton maid Martha soon did it resign To the beauteous Catharine. Elisa till this hour might reign, Had she not evil counsels ta'en: And still new favourites she chose, Mary then and gentle Anne Both to reign at once began; And sometimes Mary was the fair, And sometimes Anne the crown did wear, And sometimes both I obeyed. Another Mary then arose, And did rigorous laws impose; Had not Rebecca set me free. When fair Rebecca set me free, 'Twas then a golden time with me; But soon those pleasures fled; For the gracious princess died, In her youth and beauty's pride, And Judith reignéd in her stead. One month, three days, and half an hour, Judith held the sovereign power; Wondrous beautiful her face; But so small and weak her wit, That she to govern was unfit, And so Susanna took her place. But, when Isabella came, Armed with a resistless flame, And th' artillery of her eye; Whilst she proudly marched about Greater conquests to find out, She beat out Susan, by the by. But in her place I then obeyed Black-eyed Bess, her viceroy-maid, To whom ensued a vacancy. Thousand worse passions then possessed The interregnum of my breast: Bless me from such an anarchy! Gentle Henrietta then, And a third Mary next began; Then Joan, and Jane, and Audria, And then a pretty Thomasine, And then another Catharine, And then a long et cætera. But should I now to you relate, The strength and riches of their state, The powders, patches, and the pins, The ribands, jewels, and the rings, If I should tell the politic arts To take and keep men's hearts; The letters, embassies, and spies, The frowns, and smiles, and flatteries, The quarrels, tears, and perjuries, Numberless, nameless mysteries! And all the little lime-twigs laid By Machiavel, the waiting-maid; But I will briefer with them be, Since few of them were long with me. An higher and a noble strain, My present emperess doth claim, Whom God grant long to reign! ROBERT HERRICK. 1591-1674. [“Hesperides." 1648.] CHERRY RIPE. CHERRY ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry, They do grow, I answer, There, All the year where cherries grow. THE ROCK OF RUBIES, AND THE QUARRY OF PEARLS. Some asked me where the rubies grew, And nothing I did say, But with my finger pointed to The lips of Julia. Some asked how pearls did grow, and where, Then spoke I to my girl, To part her lips, and showed them there The quarrelets of pearl. |