My patience I will put in ure, I will relieve, when in distress. Thus she continued year by year To young and old the same was known, That she no company would mind, Who were to vanity inclin'd. Mean while Ulysses fought for fame, 'Mongst Trojans hazarding his life: Young gallants, hearing of her name, Came flocking for to tempt his wife: For she was lovely, young, and fair, No lady might with her compare. With costly gifts and jewels fine, 45 50 65 60 65 With modesty and comely grace Her book her dayly comfort was, 70 She seldom looked in her glass; 75 Powder and paint she ne'er would use. I wish all ladies were as free From pride, as was Penelope. She in her needle took delight, 80 And absence of her dearest love : At length the ten years siege of Troy To see the towers to ashes turn'd: Then came Ulysses home to see O blame her not if she was glad, Fair ladies all, example take; And hence a worthy lesson learn, All youthful follies to forsake, And vice from virtue to discern: And let all women strive to be As constant as Penelope. 95 100 105 TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS; 337 XI. TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS. By Col. Richard Lovelace: from the volume of his poems, intitled "Lucasta, Lond. 1649," 12mo. The elegance of this writer's manner would be more admired if it had somewhat more of simplicity. TELL me not, sweet, I am unkinde, That from the nunnerie Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde, To warre and armes I flie. True, a new mistresse now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith imbrace Yet this inconstancy is such, 5 As you too shall adore; 10 I could not love thee, deare, so much, Lov'd I not honour more. VOL. III. Z XII. XII. VALENTINE AND URSINE. The old story-book of Valentine and Orson (which suggested the plan of this tale, but it is not strictly followed in it) was originally a translation from the French, being one of their earliest attempts at romance. See "Le Bibliotheque de Romans, &c.” The circumstance of the bridge of bells is taken from the old metrical legend of Sir Bevis, and has also been copied in the Seven Champions. The original lines are, "Over the dyke a bridge there lay, Sign. E. iv. In the Editor's folio MS. was an old poem on this subject, in a wretched 'corrupt state, unworthy the press from which were taken such particulars as could be adopted. PART THE FIRST. WHEN Flora 'gins to decke the fields With colours fresh and fine, Then holy clerkes their mattins sing The |