thou causedest the guilty to be losed causing the guiltless to be strait reserved and freeing those that death had well deserved. But by her envy can be nothing wrought, so God send to my foes all they have thought. QUEEN ELIZABETH 30 31 THE GOOD LIFE LONG LIFE T is not growing like a tree IT in bulk, doth make Man better be; or standing long an oak, three hundred year, is fairer far in May, although it fall and die that night- ON A GRECIAN URN B. JONSON HO are these coming to the sacrifice? WHO to what green altar, O mysterious priest, lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, and all her silken flanks with garlands drest? what little town by river or sea-shore, or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, is emptied of its folk, this pious morn? and, little town, thy streets for evermore will silent be; and not a soul to tell, why thou art desolate, can e'er return. J. KEATS 32 IN GOOD PRECEPTS N all thy need, be thou possest Clouds will not ever pour down rain: first peals of thunder we must hear, R. HERRICK 33 TO MR WILLIAM BROWNE O much a stranger my severer Muse reed, but that she knows some rites of Phoebus' dues, 34 AGAIN MIDNIGHT SOUNDS GAIN those sounds sweep on When from some doomed city of mixed reproof and pity, in refluent airs half drowned, A. DE VERE 35 LIFE THROUGH DEATH ADEW-DROP, falling on the wild sea-wave, exclaimed in fear-'I perish in this grave;' but in a shell received, that drop of dew which thrust it forth, as it had feared, to die ;- 36 until again, 'I perish quite,' it said, R. C. TRENCH THE SONG lark now leaves his watery nest, and climbing shakes his dewy wings; he takes his window for the east, and, to implore your light, he sings, The merchant bows unto the seaman's star, that look for day before his mistress wakes: 39 40 Enough I reckon wealth: a mean, the surest lot, that lies too high for base contempt, too low for envy's shot. My wishes are but few, all easy to fulfil, I make the limits of my power the bounds unto my will. I feel no care for coin, my mind to me an empire is, their fall is worst, that from the height Sith sails of largest size the storm doth soonest tear; I bear so low and small a sail as freeth me from fear. I envy not their hap, I take no pleasure in their pain, can cast my comforts down: when Fortune smiles, I smile to think how quickly she will frown. And when in froward mood she proves an angry foe, small gain I found to let her come, less loss to let her go. 41 R. SOUTHWELL THE HVMILIBVS DAT GRATIAM 'HE mountains huge, that seem to check the sky, and all the world with greatness over-peer, with heath or moss for most part barren lie; when valleys low doth kindly Phoebus cheer, and with his heat in hedge and grove begets the virgin primrose or sweet violets. 42 43 44 So God oft-times denies unto the great the gifts of nature or his heavenly grace, and those that high in honour's chair are set do feel their wants: when men of meaner place, although they lack the others' golden spring, perhaps are blest above the richest king. TO THE VIOLET H. PEACHAM HILD of the Spring! thou charming flower, CH no longer in confinement lie; arise to light, thy form discover, rival the azure of the sky! The rains are gone, the storms are o'er, LORD TO THE CLYDE ORD of the vale! astounding Flood; And yet how fair the rural scene! pleased in refreshing dews to steep TELL W. WORDSWORTH THE WORLD'S WANDERERS ELL me, thou Star, whose wings of light in what cavern of the night will thy pinions close now? |