Whereat full oft I smiled, To see how all these three, From boy to man, from man to boy, Would chop and change degree: And musing thus, I think, The case is very strange, That man from wealth, to live in woe, Doth ever seek to change. Thus thoughtful as I lay, I saw my withered skin, How it doth show my dented thews, The flesh was worn so thin; And eke my toothless chaps, The gates of my right way, That opes and shuts as I do speak, "The white and hoarish hairs, "Bid thee lay hand, and feel "Hang up, therefore, the bit Whereat I sighed, and said, "Farewell my wonted joy! Truss up thy pack, and trudge from me, COME live with me, and be my love, To every little boy; "And tell them thus from me, Their time most happy is, If to their time they reason had, To know the truth of this.' And we will all the pleasures prove, That valleys, groves, and hills and fields, And we will sit upon the rocks, SIR WALTER RALEIGH. By shallow rivers, to whose falls And I will make thee beds of roses, A gown made of the finest wool, A belt of straw and ivy buds, The shepherd swains shall dance and sing, 5 But could youth last, and love still breed, THE PILGRIM. GIVE me my scallop-shell of quiet, My gown of glory (hope's true gauge), Over the silver mountains, More peaceful pilgrims I shall see, That have cast off their rags of clay, And walk apparelled fresh, like me. THE SOUL'S ERRAND. Go, tell the court it glows, Tell potentates they live Tell men of high condition Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest | Did never muse inspire beneath bed; A chamber deaf to noise and blind to A poet's brain with finer store. 7 He wrote of love with high conceit And beauty reared above her height. She cometh in before the Almighty's view: Of her, ye virgins! learn obedience, When so ye come into these holy places, To humble your proud faces. Bring her up to the high altar, that she may The sacred ceremonies there partake, The which do endless matrimony make; And let the roaring organs loudly play The praises of the Lord, in lively notes, The whiles with hollow throats The choristers the joyous anthems sing, That all the woods may answer, and their echo ring. Behold whiles she before the altar stands, stain, fair The more they on it stare; But her sad eyes, still fastened on the ground, Are governed with goodly modesty, Why blush ye, Love! to give to me your hand, The pledge of all your band? UNA AND THE LION. ONE day, nigh weary of the irksome way, It fortunéd, out of the thickest wood, His bloody rage assuagéd with remorse, And, with the sight amazed, forgot his furious force. Instead thereof he kissed her weary feet, And licked her lily hands with fawning tongue, As he her wrongéd innocence did weet. O how can beauty master the most strong, And simple truth subdue avenging wrong! Whose yielded pride and proud submission, Still dreading death, when she had marked long, Her heart 'gan melt in great compassion, And drizzling tears did shed for pure affection. The lion would not leave her desolate, But with her went along, as a strong guard Of her chaste person, and a faithful mate Of her sad troubles, and misfortunes hard. Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward; And, when she waked, he waited diligent, With humble service to her will prepared: From her faireyes he took commandment, And ever by her looks conceived her intent. |