Lucasta [20]
other poetical works. Singer does not give these lines. In the WHIRLIGIG there is a curious picture of a young gallant of the time of Charles I., to which Lovelace might have sat, had he been old enough at the time. But Lenton had no want of sitters for his portrait.
TO HIS HONOURED AND INGENIOUS FRIEND, COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE, ON HIS "LUCASTA."
Chast as Creation meant us, and more bright Then the first day in 's uneclipsed light, Is thy LUCASTA; and thou offerest heere Lines to her name as undefil'd and cleere; Such as the first indeed more happy dayes (When vertue, wit, and learning wore the bayes Now vice assumes) would to her memory give: A Vestall flame that should for ever live, Plac't in a christal temple, rear'd to be The Embleme of her thoughts integrity; And on the porch thy name insculpt, my friend, Whose love, like to the flame, can know no end. The marble step that to the alter brings The hallowed priests with their clean offerings, Shall hold their names that humbly crave to be Votaries to th' shrine, and grateful friends to thee. So shal we live (although our offrings prove Meane to the world) for ever by thy love. Tho. Rawlins.<11.1>
<11.1> A well known dramatist and poet. These lines are not in Singer's reprint.
TO MY DEAR BROTHER, COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE.
Ile doe my nothing too, and try To dabble to thy memory. Not that I offer to thy name Encomiums of thy lasting fame. Those by the landed have been writ: Mine's but a yonger-brother wit; A wit that's hudled up in scarres, Borne like my rough selfe in the warres; And as a Squire in the fight Serves only to attend the Knight, So 'tis my glory in this field, Where others act, to beare thy shield. Dudley Lovelace, Capt.<12.1>
<12.1> The youngest brother of the poet. Besides the present lines, and some to be found in the posthumous volume, of which he was the editor, this gentleman contributed the following commendatory poem to AYRES AND DIALOGUES [by Thomas Stanley Esq.] set by John Gamble, 1656. The verses themselves have little merit; and the only object which I had in introducing them, was to add to the completeness of the present edition:--
TO MY MUCH HONORED COZEN, MR. STANLEY, UPON HIS POEMS SET BY MR. JOHN GAMBLE.
I. Enough, enough of orbs and spheres, Reach me a trumpet or a drum, To sound sharp synnets in your ears, And beat a deep encomium.
II. I know not th' Eight Intelligence: Those that do understand it, pray Let them step hither, and from thence Speak what they all do sing or say:
III. Nor what your diapasons are, Your sympathies and symphonies; To me they seem as distant farre As whence they take their infant rise.
IV. But I've a grateful heart can ring A peale of ordnance to your praise, And volleys of small plaudits bring To clowd a crown about your baies.
V. Though laurel is thought thunder free, That storms and lightning disallows, Yet Caesar thorough fire and sea Snatches her to twist his conquering brows.
VI. And now me thinks like him you stand I' th' head of all the Poets' hoast, Whilest with your words you do command, They silent do their duty boast.
VII. Which done, the army ecchoes o're, Like Gamble Ios one and all, And in their various notes implore, Long live our noble Generall. Dudley Posthumus Lovelace.
DE DOMINO RICHARDO LOVELACIO, ARMIGERO ET CHILIARCHA,<13.1> VIRO INCOMPARABILI.
Ecce tibi, heroi claris natalibus orto;<13.2> Cujus honoratos Cantia vidit avos. Cujus adhuc memorat rediviva Batavia patrem, Inter et Herculeos enumerare solet. Qui tua Grollaferox, laceratus vulnere multo, Fulmineis vidit moenia Pacta globis. Et cum saeva tuas fudisset Iberia
TO HIS HONOURED AND INGENIOUS FRIEND, COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE, ON HIS "LUCASTA."
Chast as Creation meant us, and more bright Then the first day in 's uneclipsed light, Is thy LUCASTA; and thou offerest heere Lines to her name as undefil'd and cleere; Such as the first indeed more happy dayes (When vertue, wit, and learning wore the bayes Now vice assumes) would to her memory give: A Vestall flame that should for ever live, Plac't in a christal temple, rear'd to be The Embleme of her thoughts integrity; And on the porch thy name insculpt, my friend, Whose love, like to the flame, can know no end. The marble step that to the alter brings The hallowed priests with their clean offerings, Shall hold their names that humbly crave to be Votaries to th' shrine, and grateful friends to thee. So shal we live (although our offrings prove Meane to the world) for ever by thy love. Tho. Rawlins.<11.1>
<11.1> A well known dramatist and poet. These lines are not in Singer's reprint.
TO MY DEAR BROTHER, COLONEL RICHARD LOVELACE.
Ile doe my nothing too, and try To dabble to thy memory. Not that I offer to thy name Encomiums of thy lasting fame. Those by the landed have been writ: Mine's but a yonger-brother wit; A wit that's hudled up in scarres, Borne like my rough selfe in the warres; And as a Squire in the fight Serves only to attend the Knight, So 'tis my glory in this field, Where others act, to beare thy shield. Dudley Lovelace, Capt.<12.1>
<12.1> The youngest brother of the poet. Besides the present lines, and some to be found in the posthumous volume, of which he was the editor, this gentleman contributed the following commendatory poem to AYRES AND DIALOGUES [by Thomas Stanley Esq.] set by John Gamble, 1656. The verses themselves have little merit; and the only object which I had in introducing them, was to add to the completeness of the present edition:--
TO MY MUCH HONORED COZEN, MR. STANLEY, UPON HIS POEMS SET BY MR. JOHN GAMBLE.
I. Enough, enough of orbs and spheres, Reach me a trumpet or a drum, To sound sharp synnets in your ears, And beat a deep encomium.
II. I know not th' Eight Intelligence: Those that do understand it, pray Let them step hither, and from thence Speak what they all do sing or say:
III. Nor what your diapasons are, Your sympathies and symphonies; To me they seem as distant farre As whence they take their infant rise.
IV. But I've a grateful heart can ring A peale of ordnance to your praise, And volleys of small plaudits bring To clowd a crown about your baies.
V. Though laurel is thought thunder free, That storms and lightning disallows, Yet Caesar thorough fire and sea Snatches her to twist his conquering brows.
VI. And now me thinks like him you stand I' th' head of all the Poets' hoast, Whilest with your words you do command, They silent do their duty boast.
VII. Which done, the army ecchoes o're, Like Gamble Ios one and all, And in their various notes implore, Long live our noble Generall. Dudley Posthumus Lovelace.
DE DOMINO RICHARDO LOVELACIO, ARMIGERO ET CHILIARCHA,<13.1> VIRO INCOMPARABILI.
Ecce tibi, heroi claris natalibus orto;<13.2> Cujus honoratos Cantia vidit avos. Cujus adhuc memorat rediviva Batavia patrem, Inter et Herculeos enumerare solet. Qui tua Grollaferox, laceratus vulnere multo, Fulmineis vidit moenia Pacta globis. Et cum saeva tuas fudisset Iberia