Cyriack, whose grandsire, on the royal bench
Of British Themis, with no mean applause
Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, our laws,
Which others at their bar so often wrench;

To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench
In mirth, that after no repenting draws;
Let Euclid rest, and Archimedes pause,

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And what the Swede intend, and what the French.

To measure life learn thou betimes, and know 9 Toward solid good what leads the nearest way

For other things mild Heaven a time ordains,

And disapproves that care, though wise in show, That with superfluous burden loads the day, And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. J. MILTON.

78

HYMN TO DIANA

Queen and Huntress, chaste and fair,
Now the sun is laid to sleep,

Seated in thy silver chair

State in wonted manner keep :
Hesperus entreats thy light,
Goddess excellently bright.

Earth, let not thy envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;

Cynthia's shining orb was made

Heaven to clear when day did close :
Bless us then with wished sight,
Goddess excellently bright.

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Lay thy bow of pearl apart

And thy crystal-shining quiver;

Give unto the flying hart

Space to breathe, how short soever :
Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddess excellently bright!

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B. JONSON.

79

WISHES FOR THE SUPPOSED MISTRESS

Whoe'er she be,

That not impossible She

That shall command my heart and me ;

Where'er she lie,

Lock'd up from mortal eye

In shady leaves of destiny:

Till that ripe birth

Of studied Fate stand forth,

And teach her fair steps tread our earth;

Till that divine

Idea take a shrine

Of crystal flesh, through which to shine:

-Meet you her, my Wishes,

Bespeak her to my blisses,

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And be ye call'd, my absent kisses.

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I wish her beauty

That owes not all its duty

To gaudy tire, or glist'ring shoe-tie :

Something more than

Taffata or tissue can,

Or rampant feather, or rich fan.

A face that's best

By its own beauty drest,

And can alone commend the rest:

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A face made up

Out of no other shop

Than what Nature's white hand sets ope.

Sidneian showers

Of sweet discourse, whose powers

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Can crown old Winter's head with flowers.

Whate'er delight

Can make day's forehead bright

Or give down to the wings of night.

Soft silken hours,

Open suns, shady bowers;

'Bove all, nothing within that lowers.

Days, that need borrow

No part of their good morrow

From a fore-spent night of sorrow :

Days, that in spite

Of darkness, by the light

Of a clear mind are day all night.

Life, that dares send

A challenge to his end,

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And when it comes, say, 'Welcome, friend.'

I wish her store

Of worth may leave her poor

Of wishes; and I wish

Now, if Time knows

-no more.

That Her, whose radiant brows

Weave them a garland of my vows;

Her that dares be

What these lines wish to see :

I seek no further, it is She.

'Tis She, and here

Lo! I unclothe and clear My wishes' cloudy character.

Such worth as this is

Shall fix my flying wishes, And determine them to kisses.

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Let her full glory,

My fancies, fly before ye;

Be ye my fictions :—but her story.

Where the midge dares not venture

Lest herself fast she lay;

But if she whom love doth honour
Be conceal'd from the day,

Set a thousand guards upon her,
Love will find out the way.

Some think to lose him

By having him confined; And some do suppose him, Poor thing, to be blind;

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But if ne'er so close ye wall him,
Do the best that you may,
Blind love, if so ye call him,
Will find out his way.

You may train the eagle
To stoop to your fist;
Or you may inveigle

The phoenix of the east ;
The lioness, ye may move her
To give o'er her prey;

But you'll ne'er stop a lover :
He will find out his way.

81

CHILD AND MAIDEN

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355

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ANON.

Ah, Chloris! that I now could sit
As unconcern'd as when

Your infant beauty could beget
No pleasure, nor no pain!
When I the dawn used to admire,
And praised the coming day,

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I little thought the growing fire
Must take my rest away.

Your charms in harmless childhood lay

Like metals in the mine;

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Age from no face took more away

Than youth conceal'd in thine.

But as your charms insensibly
To their perfection prest,

Fond love as unperceived did fly,
And in my bosom rest.

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My passion with your beauty grew,
And Cupid at my heart,

Still as his mother favour'd you,
Threw a new flaming dart :

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