V. PER certo i bei vostr'occhi, Donna mia Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole, Quivi d'attorno o s'agghiaccia, o s'ingiela; Ma quanto a gli occhi giunge a trovar loco Tutte le notti a me suol far piovose Finche mia Alba rivien colma di rose. VI. GIOVANE piano, e semplicetto amante De pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono ; S'arma di se, e d' intero diamante : Tanto del forse, e d' invidia sicuro, Di timori, e speranze al popol use E di cetra sonora, e delle muse: Sol troverete in tal parte men duro, VII. ON HIS BEING ARRIVED TO THE AGE OF TWENTY-THREE. How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, VIII. WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY. CAPTAIN, or colonel, or knight in arms, Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower Of sad Electra's poet had the power To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. IX. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY. DAUGHTER to that good earl, once president Who lived in both, unstain'd with gold or fee, Kill'd with report that old man eloquent. Though later born than to have known the days Wherein your father flourish'd, yet by you, Madam, methinks I see him living yet; So well your words his noble virtues praise, That all both judge you to relate them true, And to possess them, honour'd Margaret. X. ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON MY WRITING CERTAIN TREATISES. A BOOK was writ of late, called Tetrachordon, Stand spelling false, while one might walk to MileEnd Green. Why is it harder, sirs, than Gordon, Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp? Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek, That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp. Thy age, like ours, O soul of Sir John Cheek, Hated not learning worse than toad or asp, When thou taught'st Cambridge and King Edward Greek. XI. ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs When straight a barbarous noise environs me As when those hinds, that were transform'd to frogs, Rail'd at Latona's twin-born progeny, Which after held the sun and moon in fee. But this is got by casting pearl to hogs; That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, And still revolt when truth would set them free. Licence they mean when they cry liberty; For who loves that, must first be wise and good; But from that mark how far they rove we see, For all this waste of wealth, and loss of blood. XII. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth Wisely hast shunn'd the broad way and the green, And with those few art eminently seen, That labour up the hill of heavenly truth, The better part with Mary and with Ruth Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen, No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. Thy care is fix'd, and zealously attends To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure Thou, when the bridegroom with his feastful friends Passes to bliss at the mid-hour of night, Hast gain'd thy entrance, virgin wise and pure. XIII. TO MR. H. LAWES, ON THE PUBLISHING HIS AIRS. HARRY, whose tuneful and well-measured song XIV. ON THE RELIGIOUS MEMORY OF MRS. CATHERINE THOMSON, WHEN faith and love, which parted from thee never, Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever. Love led them on, and Faith, who knew them best Thy handmaids, clad them o'er with purple beams And azure wings, that up they flew so drest, And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes Before the Judge, who thenceforth bid thee rest, And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams. |