“But I will not now begin "Such a debt unto my foe; "Nor to my departure owe "What my presence could not win. "Gentler times for love are meant: "Who for parting pleasure strain "Gather roses in the rain, "Wet themselves, and spoil their scent. "Farewell therefore all the fruit "Which I could from love receive! "Joy will not with sorrow weave, "Nor will I this grief pollute. "Fate, I come, as dark, as sad, "As thy malice could desire; "Yet bring with me all the fire "That Love in his torches had." At these words, away he broke, Young Love. [From 8 stanzas.] COME, little infant! love me now, Clear thine aged father's brow From cold jealousy and fears. Pretty, surely, 'twere to see By young Love old Time beguil'd, While our sportings are as free As the nurse's with the child. Common beauties stay fifteen; Such as your's should swifter move, Whose fair blossoms are too green Yet for lust, but not for love. Love as much the snowy lamb, As the lusty bull, or ram, For his morning sacrifice. Now then love me! Time may take Thee before thy time away; Of this need we'll virtue make, And learn love before we may. So we win of doubtful Fate; And if good she to us meant, We that good shall antedate; Or if ill, that ill prevent. ALEXANDER BROME. The character of this witty loyalist, styled by Phillips "the "English Anacreon," whose writings are supposed to have contributed very essentially to the Restoration of Charles II. is thus drawn by honest Izaac Walton, in what he calls "An humble Eglog, written on the 29th of May, "1660." DAMON AND DORUS. Damon. Let rebels' spirits sink, let those To ruin families, and bring Contempt upon our church, our king, And Dorus, to invite thee, look, Here's a collection in this book As we have march'd to fight the cause Here's love dress'd neat, and chaste, and gay As gardens in the month of May ; Here's harmony, and wit, and art, To raise thy thoughts, and cheer thy heart. Damon. A friend of mine, And one that's worthy to be thine: A civil swain, that knows his times For business, and that done, makes rhymes, That's loyal does or should complain. * Brome was by profession an attorney in the lord mayor's court, and preserved his loyalty untainted through the whole of the civil wars and the protectorship. He was born in 1620, and died in 1666. In 1651 he published a comedy intitled "The Cunning Lovers," and in 1666 a translation of Horace by himself and others. He was also the editor of the dramatic works of his brother, Richard Brome. See Phillips and Langbaine. The following extracts are taken from his "Songs and other "Poems," of which the first edition appeared in 1660, the second in 1664, and the third in 1668. SONG. To a coy Lady. I PRITHEE leave this peevish fashion; Don't desire to be high-priz'd! i And doth scorn to be despis'd. Though we say you're fair, you know.... |