Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air? He who of those delights can judge, and spare J. Milton LXXVII TO CYRIACK SKINNER CYRTACK, mean applause 'YRIACK, whose grandsire, on the royal bench Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, our laws, To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench And what the Swede intends, and what the French. To measure life learn thou betimes, and know And disapproves that care, though wise in show, Q LXXVIII HYMN TO DIANA UEEN and Huntress, chaste and fair, Seated in thy silver chair State in wonted manner keep: Hesperus entreats thy light, Earth, let not thy envious shade Dare itself to interpose; Heaven to clear when day did close: 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! B. Jonson LXXIX WISHES FOR THE SUPPOSED MISTRESS HOE'ER she be, WH 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 to 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, And be ye call'd, my absent kisses. 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 command the rest: A face made up Out of no other shop Than what Nature's white hand sets ope. Sydneian showers Of sweet discourse, whose powers 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, 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. Let her full glory, My fancies, fly before ye; Be ye my fictions:- but her story. R. Crashaw LXXX THE GREAT ADVENTURER Ο VER the mountains And over the waves, Under the fountains And under the graves; Under floods that are deepest, Over rocks that are steepest Where there is no place Where the midge dares not venture If love come, he will enter You may esteem him A coward from his flight; 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; 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 |