Lyrical Poems [34]
Will force you hence, and in an hour.
You are a sparkling Rose i'th' bud, Yet lost, ere that chaste flesh and blood Can show where you or grew or stood.
You are a full-spread fair-set Vine, And can with tendrils love entwine; Yet dried, ere you distil your wine.
You are like Balm, enclosed well In amber, or some crystal shell; Yet lost ere you transfuse your smell.
You are a dainty Violet; Yet wither'd, ere you can be set Within the virgins coronet.
You are the Queen all flowers among; But die you must, fair maid, ere long, As he, the maker of this song.
*140*
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may: Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best, which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times, still succeed the former.
--Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry.
** EPIGRAMS **
*141*
POSTING TO PRINTING
Let others to the printing-press run fast; Since after death comes glory, I'll not haste.
*142*
HIS LOSS
All has been plunder'd from me but my wit: Fortune herself can lay no claim to it.
*143*
THINGS MORTAL STILL MUTABLE
Things are uncertain; and the more we get, The more on icy pavements we are set.
*144*
NO MAN WITHOUT MONEY
No man such rare parts hath, that he can swim, If favour or occasion help not him.
*145*
THE PRESENT TIME BEST PLEASETH
Praise, they that will, times past: I joy to see Myself now live; this age best pleaseth me!
*146*
WANT
Want is a softer wax, that takes thereon, This, that, and every base impression,
*147*
SATISFACTION FOR SUFFERINGS
For all our works a recompence is sure; 'Tis sweet to think on what was hard t'endure.
*148*
WRITING
When words we want, Love teacheth to indite; And what we blush to speak, she bids us write.
*149*
THE DEFINITION OF BEAUTY
Beauty no other thing is, than a beam Flash'd out between the middle and extreme.
*150*
A MEAN IN OUR MEANS
Though frankincense the deities require, We must not give all to the hallow'd fire. Such be our gifts, and such be our expense, As for ourselves to leave some frankincense.
*151*
MONEY MAKES THE MIRTH
When all birds else do of their music fail, Money's the still-sweet-singing nightingale!
*152*
TEARS AND LAUGHTER
Knew'st thou one month would take thy life away, Thou'dst weep; but laugh, should it not last a day.
*153*
UPON TEARS
Tears, though they're here below the sinner's brine, Above, they are the Angels' spiced wine.
*154*
ON LOVE
Love's of itself too sweet; the best of all Is, when love's honey has a dash of gall.
*155*
PEACE NOT PERMANENT
Great cities seldom rest; if there be none T' invade from far, they'll find worse foes at home.
*156*
PARDONS
Those ends in war the best contentment bring, Whose peace is made up with a pardoning.
*157*
TRUTH AND ERROR
Twixt truth and error, there's this difference known Error is fruitful, truth is only one.
*158*
WlT PUNISHED PROSPERS MOST
Dread not the shackles; on with thine intent, Good wits get more fame by their punishment.
*159*
BURIAL
Man may want land to live in; but for all Nature finds out some place for burial.
*160*
NO PAINS, NO GAINS
If little labour, little are our gains; Man's fortunes are according to his pains.
*161*
TO YOUTH
Drink wine, and live here blitheful while ye may; The morrow's life too late is; Live to-day.
*162*
TO ENJOY THE TIME
While fates permit us, let's be merry; Pass all we must the fatal ferry; And this our life, too, whirls away, With the rotation of the day.
*163*
FELICITY QUICK OF FLIGHT
Every time seems short to be That's measured
You are a sparkling Rose i'th' bud, Yet lost, ere that chaste flesh and blood Can show where you or grew or stood.
You are a full-spread fair-set Vine, And can with tendrils love entwine; Yet dried, ere you distil your wine.
You are like Balm, enclosed well In amber, or some crystal shell; Yet lost ere you transfuse your smell.
You are a dainty Violet; Yet wither'd, ere you can be set Within the virgins coronet.
You are the Queen all flowers among; But die you must, fair maid, ere long, As he, the maker of this song.
*140*
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may: Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun, The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best, which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times, still succeed the former.
--Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry.
** EPIGRAMS **
*141*
POSTING TO PRINTING
Let others to the printing-press run fast; Since after death comes glory, I'll not haste.
*142*
HIS LOSS
All has been plunder'd from me but my wit: Fortune herself can lay no claim to it.
*143*
THINGS MORTAL STILL MUTABLE
Things are uncertain; and the more we get, The more on icy pavements we are set.
*144*
NO MAN WITHOUT MONEY
No man such rare parts hath, that he can swim, If favour or occasion help not him.
*145*
THE PRESENT TIME BEST PLEASETH
Praise, they that will, times past: I joy to see Myself now live; this age best pleaseth me!
*146*
WANT
Want is a softer wax, that takes thereon, This, that, and every base impression,
*147*
SATISFACTION FOR SUFFERINGS
For all our works a recompence is sure; 'Tis sweet to think on what was hard t'endure.
*148*
WRITING
When words we want, Love teacheth to indite; And what we blush to speak, she bids us write.
*149*
THE DEFINITION OF BEAUTY
Beauty no other thing is, than a beam Flash'd out between the middle and extreme.
*150*
A MEAN IN OUR MEANS
Though frankincense the deities require, We must not give all to the hallow'd fire. Such be our gifts, and such be our expense, As for ourselves to leave some frankincense.
*151*
MONEY MAKES THE MIRTH
When all birds else do of their music fail, Money's the still-sweet-singing nightingale!
*152*
TEARS AND LAUGHTER
Knew'st thou one month would take thy life away, Thou'dst weep; but laugh, should it not last a day.
*153*
UPON TEARS
Tears, though they're here below the sinner's brine, Above, they are the Angels' spiced wine.
*154*
ON LOVE
Love's of itself too sweet; the best of all Is, when love's honey has a dash of gall.
*155*
PEACE NOT PERMANENT
Great cities seldom rest; if there be none T' invade from far, they'll find worse foes at home.
*156*
PARDONS
Those ends in war the best contentment bring, Whose peace is made up with a pardoning.
*157*
TRUTH AND ERROR
Twixt truth and error, there's this difference known Error is fruitful, truth is only one.
*158*
WlT PUNISHED PROSPERS MOST
Dread not the shackles; on with thine intent, Good wits get more fame by their punishment.
*159*
BURIAL
Man may want land to live in; but for all Nature finds out some place for burial.
*160*
NO PAINS, NO GAINS
If little labour, little are our gains; Man's fortunes are according to his pains.
*161*
TO YOUTH
Drink wine, and live here blitheful while ye may; The morrow's life too late is; Live to-day.
*162*
TO ENJOY THE TIME
While fates permit us, let's be merry; Pass all we must the fatal ferry; And this our life, too, whirls away, With the rotation of the day.
*163*
FELICITY QUICK OF FLIGHT
Every time seems short to be That's measured