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To the first edition of the author's poems, printed in 1645, was prefixed the following advertisement of

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The STATIONER to the READER.

T is not any private refpect of gain, gentle Reader, for the slightest pamphlet is now-a-days more vendible than the works of learnedeft men; but it is the love I have to our own language, that hath made me diligent to collect and fet forth fuch pieces both in profe and verfe, as may renew the wonted honor and efteem of our English tongue: and it's the worth of these both English and Latin poems, not the florish of any prefixed encomiums, that can invite thee to buy them, though these are not without the highest commendations and applaufe of the learnedeft Academics, both domestic and foreign; and amongst those of our own country, the unparallel'd atteftation of that renown'd Provost of Eton, Sir Henry Wotton. I know not thy palate how it relishes such dainties, nor how harmonious thy foul is; perhaps more trivial airs may please thee better. But howfoever thy opinion is spent upon thefe, that encouragement I have already received from the most ingenious men in their clear and courteous entertainment of Mr. Waller's late choice pieces,. hath once more made me adventure into the world, presenting it with these ever-green, and not to be blasted laurels. The Author's more peculiar excellency in these studies was too well known to conceal his papers, or to keep me from attempting to folicit them from

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him.

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The STATIONER to the READER. him. Let the event guide itself which way it will, I shall deserve of the age, by bringing into the light as true a birth, as the Muses have brought forth fince our famous Spenfer wrote; whose poems in these English ones are as rarely imitated, as sweetly excell'd. Reader, if thou art eagle-ey'd to censure their worth, I am not fearful to expofe them to thy exactest perusal.

Thine to command,

HUMPH. MOSELEY.

POEMS on feveral OCCASIONS.

I.

ANNO ÆTATIS

17.

On the Death of a fair Infant, dying of a cough*.

I.

Faireft flower no fooner blown but blafted, Soft filken primrofe fading timelefly, Summer's chief honor, if thou hadst out-lafted Bleak Winter's force that made thy bloffom dry; For he being amorous on that lovely dye

That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, But kill'd, alas, and then bewail'd his fatal blifs.

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*This elegy was not inferted in the first edition of the author's poems printed in 1645, but was added in the second edition printed in 1673. It was compos'd in the year 1625, that being the 17th year of Milton's age. In fome editions the title runs thus, On the death of a fair Infant, a nephew of his, dying of a cough: but the fcquel fhows plainly that the child was not a nephew, but a niece, and confequently a daughter of his fifter Philips, and probably her first child.

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II.

For fince grim Aquilo his charioteer
By boiftrous rape th' Athenian damfel got,
He thought it touch'd his deity full near,
If likewife he fome fair-one wedded not,
Thereby to wipe away th' infamous blot

Of long-uncoupled bed, and childlefs eld,

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Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was III.

So mounting up in icy-pearled car,

Through middle empire of the freezing air

He wander'd long, till thee he spy'd from far:
There ended was his queft, there ceas'd his care.
Down he defcended from his fnow-foft chair,

But all unwares with his cold kind embrace
Unhous'd thy virgin foul from her fair biding-place.

IV.

Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate;
For fo Apollo, with unweeting hand,
Whilome did flay his dearly-loved mate,
Young Hyacinth born on Eurotas' strand,
Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land;
But then transform'd him to a purple flower:
Alack that fo to change thee Winter had no power.

V.

Yet can I not perfuade me thou art dead,

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Or that thy corfe corrupts in earth's dark womb, 39 Or that thy beauties lie in wormy bed,

Hid from the world in a low delved tomb;
Could Heav'n for pity thee so strictly doom?

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