SLEEPEST, OR WAKEST THOU. SLEEPEST or wakest thou, jolly Shepherd? Thy sheep be in the corn; And for one blast of thy minniken mouth, CRABBED age and youth Cannot live together : Youth is full of pleasance, Age is full of care; Youth like summer morn, Age like winter weather; Youth like summer brave, Age like winter bare. Youth is full of sport, Age's breath is short; Youth is nimble, age is lame; Youth is hot and bold, Age is weak and cold; Youth is wild, and age is tame. Age, I do abhor thee, Youth, I do adore thee; O, my love, my love is young! Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee! For methinks thou stay'st too long. 'Ban, 'Ban, Ca-Caliban Has a new master--get a new man. Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, Freedom! Freedom, hey-day, Freedom! THE NYMPH'S REPLY.* BY SIR WALTER RALEIGH. [SIR WALTER RALEIGH was born at Budleigh in Devonshire, in 1555. After leaving the University of Oxford, where he was educated, he entered the Middle Temple, but soon embraced the profession of arms, in which he became highly distinguished. His introduction to Elizabeth was due to his gallantry in placing his cloak over a miry place that she might pass over it without inconvenience. He took a very active part in the destruction of the Spanish Armada, but his high character is sullied by the share he took in the ruin of the Earl of Essex. He obtained a grant of 12,000 acres of land, out of the forfeited estate of the Earl of Desmond, in the county of Cork; and during a visit to Spenser at Kilcolman, persuaded that poet to write his "Faerie Queene." After the accession of James he was tried for conspiring with Lord Cobham and others to place Arabella Stewart on the throne, and was condemned; but though respited, he remained twelve years in the Tower, where he wrote his "History of the World." He was then taken from prison and placed in command of a squadron sent against Guiana. While on this expedition, he plundered the town of St. Thomé, and on his return, in 1618, the King, under pretence of carrying out the sentence which had been passed so many years before, and which had been virtually annulled, basely ordered him to be executed. It was afterwards well known that James was led to this cruel step in order to appease the Spanish Ambassador. Raleigh was a man of great energy and extraordinary talent; he was distinguished not only by his military skill and courage, but also by his extensive acquaintance with the arts and sciences, which is evinced by the many learned works he wrote.] IF all the world and love were young, Time drives the flocks from field to fold, *To The Passionate Shepherd to his Love," by Christopher Marlow. |