Of that great lord, which therein wont to dwell, Whose want too well now feels my friendless case; But ah! here fits not well Old woes, but joys, to tell Against the bridal day, which is not long : Yet therein now doth lodge a noble peer, 141 145 Great England's glory and the world's wide wonder, Whose dreadful name late through all Spain did thunder, And Hercules' two pillars standing near Did make to quake and fear: Fair branch of honour, flower of chivalry! That fillest England with thy triumphs' fame, Joy have thou of thy noble victory, And endless happiness of thine own name That promiseth the same; 150 That through thy prowess and victorious arms 155 Thy country may be freed from foreign harms, And great Eliza's glorious name may ring Through all the world, fill'd with thy wide alarms Which some brave Muse may sing To ages following, Upon the bridal day, which is not long : From those high towers this noble lord issúing With a great train ensuing. Above the rest were goodly to be seen 160 Two gentle knights of lovely face and feature, Beseeming well the bower of any queen, With gifts of wit and ornaments of nature, Fit for so goodly stature, 165 170 That like the twins of Jove they seem'd in sight Which deck the baldric of the Heavens bright; 175 They two, forth pacing to the river's side, Received those two fair brides, their love's delight; Which, at th' appointed tide, Each one did make his bride Against their bridal day, which is not long : 179 Sweet Thames ! run softly, till I end my song. E. SPENSER. 54 THE HAPPY HEART Art thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers ? Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexed? Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexed Canst drink the waters of the crispéd spring? 5 10 Swimm'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears? O punishment ! Then he that patiently want's burden bears O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content! T. DEKKER. 15 20 55 This Life, which seems so fair, Is like a bubble blown up in the air By sporting children's breath, Who chase it everywhere And strive who can most motion it bequeath. And though it sometime seem of its own might, Like to an eye of gold, to be fix'd there, And firm to hover in that empty height, That only is because it is so light. -But in that pomp it doth not long appear; For, when 'tis most admired, in a thought, Because it erst was nought, it turns to nought. W. DRUMMOND. 56 SOUL AND BODY Poor Soul, the centre of my sinful earth, Why so large cost, having so short a lease, Eat up thy charge? is this thy body's end? Then, Soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss, 9 5 10 So shalt thou feed on death, that feeds on men, And death once dead, there's no more dying then. W. SHAKESPEARE. 57 LIFE The World's a bubble, and the Life of Man nception wretched, from the womb Curs from the cradle, and brought up to years Who then to frail mortality shall trust, Yet since with sorrow here we live opprest, What life is best? Courts are but only superficial schools The rural parts are turn'd into a den And where's a city from all vice so free, But may be term'd the worst of all the three ? Domestic cares afflict the husband's bed, Or pains his head : Those that live single, take it for a curse, 10 15 20 Some would have children: those that have them moan Or wish them gone : What is it, then, to have, or have no wife, Our own affections still at home to please To cross the sea to any foreign soil, Perils and toil : Wars with their noise affright us; when they cease, We are worse in peace ;— What then remains, but that we still should cry Not to be born, or, being born, to die? LORD BACON. 30 58 THE LESSONS OF NATURE Of this fair volume which we World do name We clear might read the art and wisdom rare Find out His power which wildest powers doth tame, His providence extending everywhere, His justice which proud rebels doth not spare, In every page, no period of the same. But silly we, like foolish children, rest 5 Well pleased with colour'd vellum, leaves of gold, Fair dangling ribbands, leaving what is best, On the great Writer's sense ne'er taking hold; Or if by chance we stay our minds on aught, 59 11 Doth then the world go thus, doth all thus move? 4 Those souls which vice's moody mists most blind, Blind Fortune, blindly, most their friend doth prove; And they who thee, poor idol, Virtue ! love, Ply like a feather toss'd by storm and wind. Ah! if a Providence doth sway this all, Why should best minds groan under most distress? Or why should pride humility make thrall, 10 Heavens hinder, stop this fate; or grant a time When good may have, as well as bad, their prime. W. DRUMMOND. |