Canst drink the waters of the crisped spring?
O sweet Content!

Swim'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears?
O Punishment!

Then he that patiently Want's burden bears,
No burden bears, but is a king, a king.

O sweet Content, O sweet, O sweet Content!

Work apace, apace, etc.

- THOMAS Dekker.

25.

MELANCOLIA.

HENCE, all you vain delights,
As short as are the nights
Wherein you spend your folly:
There's nought in this life sweet,
If man were wise to see't,
But only melancholy,

O sweetest melancholy !

Welcome, folded arms, and fixéd eyes,
A sigh that piercing mortifies,

A look that's fasten'd to the ground,
A tongue chain'd up without a sound!
Fountain heads and pathless groves,
Places which pale passion loves!
Moonlight walks, when all the fowls
Are warmly housed, save bats and owls!
A midnight bell, a parting groan!

These are the sounds we feed upon;

Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley;
Nothing's so dainty sweet as lovely melancholy.

- FRANCIS BEAUMONT.

26.

ON MELANCHOLY.

I.

WHEN I go musing all alone,

Thinking of divers things foreknown;
When I build castles in the air,
Void of sorrow, void of care,

Pleasing myself with phantasms sweet,
Methinks the time runs very fleet.
All my joys to this are folly;
Naught so sweet as melancholy!

2.

When I go walking all alone,
Recounting what I have ill-done,
My thoughts on me then tyrannise,
Fear and sorrow me surprise,
Whether I tarry still, or go,
Methinks the time moves very slow.
All my griefs to this are jolly;
Naught so sad as melancholy.

3.

When to myself I act and smile,
With pleasing thoughts the time beguile,
By a brookside or wood so green,
Unheard, unsought for, or unseen,
A thousand pleasures do me bless,
And crown my soul with happiness.

All my joys besides are folly;
None so sweet as melancholy.

S

4.

When I lie, sit, or walk alone,

I sigh, I grieve, making great moan;
In a dark grove or irksome den,
With discontents and furies then,
A thousand miseries at once
Mine heavy heart and soul ensconce.
All my griefs to this are jolly;
None so sour as melancholy.

5.

Methinks I hear, methinks I see
Sweet music, wondrous melody,
Towns, palaces, and cities fine;

Here now, then there, the world is mine;
Rare beauties, gallants, ladies shine,

Whate'er is lovely, is divine.

All other joys to this are folly;
None so sweet as melancholy.

6.

Methinks I hear, methinks I see

Ghosts, goblins, fiends: my fantasy
Presents a thousand ugly shapes;
Headless bears, black men, and apes;
Doleful outcries, fearful sights
My sad and dismal soul affrights.

All my griefs to this are jolly;
None so damn'd as melancholy.

27.

BREAK, BREAK, BREAK!

BREAK, break, break,

On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.

Oh well for the fisherman's boy,

That he shouts with his sister at play! Oh well for the sailor lad,

That he sings in his boat on the bay!

And the stately ships go on

To their haven under the hill;

But oh for the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!

Break, break, break,

At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!

But the tender grace of a day that is dead

Will never come back to me.

Go, Soul, the body's guest,
Upon a thankless errand;

Fear not to touch the best;

The truth shall be thy warrant.

Go, since I must die,

And give the world the lie.

Say to the Court it glows

And shines like rotten wood; Say to the Church it shows

What's good, and doth no good. If Church and Court reply, Then give them both the lie.

Tell Potentates they live

Acting but others' actions;

Not loved unless they give,

Not strong but by their factions. If Potentates reply,

Give Potentates the lie.

Tell men of high condition,
That manage the estate,
Their purpose is ambition,
Their practice only hate.
And if they once reply,
Then give them all the lie.

Tell them that brave it most,

They beg for more by spending,

Who in their greatest cost

Like nothing but commending:

And if they make reply,

Then tell them all they lie.

Tell Zeal it wants devotion;

Tell Love it is but lust; Tell Time it is but motion; Tell Flesh it is but dust. And wish them not reply, For thou must give the lie.