SONNETS, I. TO THE NIGHTINGALE. O NIGHTINGALE, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost fill, While the jolly Hours lead on propitious May. Thy liquid notes that close the eye of day, a First heard before the shallow cuckoo's bill, Portend success in love. O, if Jove's will Have link'd that amorous power to thy soft lay, Now timely sing, ere the rude bird of hate Foretell my hopeless doom in some grove nigh; As thou from year to year hast sung too late For my relief, yet hadst no reason why: C d Whether the Muse or Love call thee his mate, C II. ON HIS BEING ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF d How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, a Stolen on his wing my three-and-twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career But my late spring no bud or blossom show'th. b b Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, b b It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of All is, if I have grace to use it so, с [Heaven; As ever in my great Task-Master's eye. III.-WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY. [seize, CAPTAIN, or colonel, or knight in arms, To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. IV. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth [green, Wisely hast shunn'd the broad way and the 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 Passes to bliss at the mid hour of night, [friends Hast gain'd thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure. V.-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. VI. ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON A BOOK was writ of late, call'd "Tetrachordon," [sleek, Those rugged names to our like mouths grow That would have made Quintillian 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. VIL-ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs Which after held the sun and moon in fee. And still revolt when truth would set them free. License 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. VIII. TO MR H. LAWES, ON THE PUBLISHING HARRY, whose tuneful and well-measuring song tongue. IX. ON THE RELIGIOUS MEMORY OF MRS CATHERINE THOMSON, MY CHRISTIAN FRIEND, DECEASED DEC. 16, 1646. WHEN Faith and Love, which parted from thee never, Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God, Meekly thou didst resign this earthly load [sever. Of death, call'd life; which us from life doth |