They asken that, and talken this, Forth thrust a white neck and red crest. SPENSER. IN every town where Thamis rolls his tyde, And hens, and dogs, and hogs, are feeding by; The snappish cur (the passengers annoy) The whimpering girl, and hoarser screaming boy, The scolding quean to louder notes doth rise, The grunting hogs alarm the neighbours round, And curs, girls, boys, and scolds, in the deep base are drown'd. Hard by a sty, beneath a roof of thatch, Her dugs were mark'd by every collier's hand; Such place hath Deptford, navy-building town, All up the silver Thames, or all adown; Ne Richmond's self, from whose tall front are eyed Vales, spires, meandering streams, and Windsor's towery pride. WALLER. On a Lady singing to her Lute. FAIR charmer! cease; nor make your voice's prize A heart resign'd the conquest of your eyes: Well might, alas! that threaten'd vessel fail, Which winds and lightning both at once assail. We were too bless'd with these enchanting lays, Which must be heavenly when an angel plays: But killing charms your lover's death contrive, Lest heavenly music should be heard alive. Orpheus could charm the trees; but thus a tree, Taught by your hand, can charm no less than he. A poet made the silent wood pursue; This vocal wood had drawn the poet too. On a Fan of the Author's Design, in which was painted the story of Cephalus and Procris, with the motto 'aura veni.' COME, gentle air! the' Æolian shepherd said, While Procris panted in the secret shade; Nor could that fabled dart more surely wound: Alike both lovers fall by those they love. And pities Procris while her lover dies. COWLEY. The Garden. FAIN would my Muse the flowery treasures sing, And humble glories of the youthful spring ; Where opening roses breathing sweets diffuse, And soft carnations show'r their balmy dews; Where lilies smile in virgin robes of white, The thin undress of superficial light; And varied tulips show so dazzling gay, Blushing in bright diversities of day. Each painted flow'ret in the lake below Surveys its beauties, whence its beauties grow; And pale Narcissus, on the bank in vain Transformed, gazes on himself again. Here aged trees cathedral walks compose, And mount the hill in venerable rows; There the green infants in their beds are laid, The garden's hope, and its expected shade. Here orange-trees with blooms and pendants shine, And vernal honours to their autumn join; Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store, Yet in the rising blossom promise more. There in bright drops the crystal fountains play, By laurels shielded from the piercing day: Where Daphne, now a tree as once a maid, Still from Apollo vindicates her shade; Still turns her beauties from th' invading beam, Nor seeks in vain for succour to the stream. The stream at once preserves her virgin leaves, At once a shelter from her boughs receives, Where summer's beauty midst of winter stays, And winter's coolness spite of summer's rays. WEEPING. WHILE Celia's tears make sorrow bright, Proud grief sits swelling in her eyes; The sun, next those the fairest light, Thus from the ocean first did rise: These silver drops, like morning dew, The stars that fall from Celia's eye The baby in that sunny sphere That heav'n, the threaten'd world to spare, EARL OF ROCHESTER. On Silence. SILENCE! coeval with eternity; Thou wert ere Nature's self began to be, 'Twas one vast nothing all, and all slept fast in thee, Thine was the sway ere heav'n was form'd, or earth, Then various elements against thee join'd, And fram'd the clamorous race of busy humankind. The tongue mov'd gently first, and speech was low, Till wrangling science taught it noise and show, And wicked wit arose, thy most abusive foe. |