Rich in a conquer'd monarch's tent, E'er had so vain a dream as I. Methought I saw the earliest shade, And sweetest that the spring can spread, Of jasmin, briar, and woodbine made; And there I saw Clorinda dead. Though dead she lay, yet could I see But all show'd unconcern'd to be, Was to her lover when alive. And now, methought, I lost all care Yet soon, now from my princess free, For subjects, getting liberty, Get but a license to be mad. Birds that are long in cages aw'd, If they get out, a while will roam; And to the ocean rivers run, From being pent in banks of flowers; Not knowing that th' exhaling sun Will send them back in weeping showers. Soon thus, for pride of liberty, Bred the discretion to be bound. But as dull subjects see too late Is but proud strutting in a chain; Then, growing wiser when undone, In winter's nights sad stories sing So now I mourn'd that she was dead To find the harm of liberty. My soul, in sleep's soft fetters bound, Yet she's to me but such a light The Mistress. WHEN Nature heard men thought her old, "Catch, as it falls, the Scythian snow, "Fetch from the east the morning's breath, And from the Phoenix gums and spice, Such as she culls, when at her death Nature of these a mistress made; But would have form'd a lover too; And such as might this nymph persuade This second work she well began That could so choice a beauty please. She wrought, and wrought, and then gave o'er; Then did another model try; But, less contented than before, She laid the work for ever by. I ask'd the cause; and straight she said, ""Tis very possible, I find, To match the body which I made; But I can never fit her mind. "For that still various seems and strange; "Now sexes meet not by design, When they the world's chief work advance, But in the dark they sometimes join, As wandering atoms meet by chance." * EDMOND WALLER Was born in 1605, and died in 1687. SONG. CHLORIS, farewell! I now must go : I shall prove blind and lose my way. Fame of thy beauty, and thy youth, Among the rest me hither brought : Finding this fame fall short of truth Made me stay longer than I thought. For I'm engag'd by word and oath But what assurance can I take, When thou, fore-knowing this abuse, For some more worthy lover's sake, May'st leave me with so just excuse? |