Let former faults be fuel of the fire,

For grief in limbeck of thy heart to still Thy pensive thoughts, and dumps of thy desire, And vapour tears up to thy eyes at will. Let tears to tunes, and pains to plaints be prest, And let this be the burthen to thy song:Come, deep remorse, possess my sinful breast: Delights adieu! I harboured you too long.

A PREPARATIVE TO PRAYER.

WHEN thou dost talk with God-by prayer I

mean

Lift up pure hands, lay down all lust's desires; Fix thoughts on heaven, present a conscience clean :

Such holy blame to mercy's throne aspires.
Confess fault's guilt, crave pardon for thy sin,
Tread holy paths, call grace to guide therein.

It is the spirit with reverence must obey
Our Maker's will, to practise what he taught:
Make not the flesh thy counsel when thou pray;
'Tis enemy to every virtuous thought;

It is the foe we daily feed and clothe;
It is the prison that the soul doth loathe.

Even as Elias, mounting to the sky,
Did cast his mantle to the earth behind;

So when the heart presents the prayer on high,
Exclude the world from traffic with the mind:
Lips near to God, and ranging heart within,
Is but vain babbling, and converts to sin.

Like Abraham ascending up the hill
To sacrifice, his servants left below,

That he might act the great commander's will,
Without impeach to his obedient blow;

Even so the soul, remote from earthly things, Should mount salvation's shelter-mercy's wings.

D

MICHAEL DRAYTON.

BORN 1563; DIED 1631.

THE principal works of this poet, who enjoyed a high degree of popularity during the greater part of his life, and left a name in our literature still regarded with no inconsiderable respect, are the "Poly-Olbion," "Ideas," "The Barons' Wars," and "England's Heroical Epistles." The first, his most celebrated work, occasionally exhibits some of the warmth and beauty of the genuine bard; but upon the whole, denotes in its author the abilities rather of the historian, the antiquary, and the patient and accurate chorographer. The same character, somewhat modified, applies to the remainder. They are all more remarkable for historical research, extensive knowledge, and correctness of versification, than for the higher and more peculiar qualities

"those brave translunary things— That the great poets had."