And looking back, at that short space Before I taught my tongue to wound O how I long to travel back, H. Vaughan LXXVI TO MR. LAWRENCE Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous son, What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air? J. Milton LXXVII TO CYRIACK SKINNER Cyriack, whose grandsire, on the royal bench And what the Swede intends, and what the French. LXXVIII 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: F Earth, let not thy envious shade Lay thy bow of pearl apart And thy crystal-shining quiver; Give unto the flying hart Space to breathe, how short soever: B. Jonson LXXIX 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 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 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 Her that dares be What these lines wish to see : 'Tis She, and here Lo! I unclothe and clear 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 Over the mountains And over the waves, Which Neptune obey; Over rocks that are steepest Love will find out the way. Where there is no place Where there is no space For receipt of a fly; Where the midge dares not venture You may esteem him |