Lyrical Poems [35]
by felicity; But one half-hour that's made up here With grief, seems longer than a year.
*164*
MIRTH
True mirth resides not in the smiling skin; The sweetest solace is to act no sin.
*165*
THE HEART
In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.
*166*
LOVE, WHAT IT IS
Love is a circle, that doth restless move In the same sweet eternity of Love.
*167*
DREAMS
Here we are all, by day; by night we're hurl'd By dreams, each one into a several world.
*168*
AMBITION
In man, ambition is the common'st thing; Each one by nature loves to be a king.
*169*
SAFETY ON THE SHORE
What though the sea be calm? Trust to the shore; Ships have been drown'd, where late they danced before.
*170*
UPON A PAINTED GENTLEWOMAN
Men say you're fair; and fair ye are, 'tis true; But, hark! we praise the painter now, not you.
*171*
UPON WRINKLES
Wrinkles no more are, or no less, Than beauty turn'd to sourness.
*172*
CASUALTIES
Good things, that come of course, far less do please Than those which come by sweet contingencies.
*173*
TO LIVE FREELY
Let's live in haste; use pleasures while we may; Could life return, 'twould never lose a day.
*174*
NOTHING FREE-COST
Nothing comes free-cost here; Jove will not let His gifts go from him, if not bought with sweat.
*175*
MAN'S DYING-PLACE UNCERTAIN
Man knows where first he ships himself; but he Never can tell where shall his landing be.
*176*
LOSS FROM THE LEAST
Great men by small means oft are overthrown; He's lord of thy life, who contemns his own.
*177*
POVERTY AND RICHES
Who with a little cannot be content, Endures an everlasting punishment.
*178*
UPON MAN
Man is composed here of a twofold part; The first of nature, and the next of art; Art presupposes nature; nature, she Prepares the way for man's docility.
*179*
PURPOSES
No wrath of men, or rage of seas, Can shake a just man's purposes; No threats of tyrants, or the grim Visage of them can alter him; But what he doth at first intend, That he holds firmly to the end.
*180*
FOUR THINGS MAKE US HAPPY HERE
Health is the first good lent to men; A gentle disposition then: Next, to be rich by no by-ways; Lastly, with friends t' enjoy our days.
*181*
THE WATCH
Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never Wound up again; Once down, he's down for ever. The watch once down, all motions then do cease; The man's pulse stopt, all passions sleep in peace.
*182*
UPON THE DETRACTER
I ask'd thee oft what poets thou hast read, And lik'st the best? Still thou repli'st, The dead. --I shall, ere long, with green turfs cover'd be; Then sure thou'lt like, or thou wilt envy, me.
*183*
ON HlMSELF
Live by thy Muse thou shalt, when others die, Leaving no fame to long posterity; When monarchies trans-shifted are, and gone, Here shall endure thy vast dominion.
** NATURE AND LIFE **
*184*
I CALL AND I CALL
I call, I call: who do ye call? The maids to catch this cowslip ball! But since these cowslips fading be, Troth, leave the flowers, and maids, take me! Yet, if that neither you will do, Speak but the word, and I'll take you,
*185*
THE SUCCESSION OF THE FOUR SWEET MONTHS
First, April, she with mellow showers Opens the way for early flowers; Then after her comes smiling May, In a more rich and sweet array; Next enters June, and brings us more Gems than those two that went before; Then, lastly, July comes, and she More wealth brings in than all those three.
*186*
TO BLOSSOMS
Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past, But you may stay yet here a-while, To blush and gently smile; And go at last.
What, were ye born to be An hour or half's delight; And so to bid good-night? 'Twas pity Nature brought ye forth, Merely to show your worth, And lose you quite.
But you are lovely leaves, where we May read how soon things have Their end, though ne'er so brave:
*164*
MIRTH
True mirth resides not in the smiling skin; The sweetest solace is to act no sin.
*165*
THE HEART
In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.
*166*
LOVE, WHAT IT IS
Love is a circle, that doth restless move In the same sweet eternity of Love.
*167*
DREAMS
Here we are all, by day; by night we're hurl'd By dreams, each one into a several world.
*168*
AMBITION
In man, ambition is the common'st thing; Each one by nature loves to be a king.
*169*
SAFETY ON THE SHORE
What though the sea be calm? Trust to the shore; Ships have been drown'd, where late they danced before.
*170*
UPON A PAINTED GENTLEWOMAN
Men say you're fair; and fair ye are, 'tis true; But, hark! we praise the painter now, not you.
*171*
UPON WRINKLES
Wrinkles no more are, or no less, Than beauty turn'd to sourness.
*172*
CASUALTIES
Good things, that come of course, far less do please Than those which come by sweet contingencies.
*173*
TO LIVE FREELY
Let's live in haste; use pleasures while we may; Could life return, 'twould never lose a day.
*174*
NOTHING FREE-COST
Nothing comes free-cost here; Jove will not let His gifts go from him, if not bought with sweat.
*175*
MAN'S DYING-PLACE UNCERTAIN
Man knows where first he ships himself; but he Never can tell where shall his landing be.
*176*
LOSS FROM THE LEAST
Great men by small means oft are overthrown; He's lord of thy life, who contemns his own.
*177*
POVERTY AND RICHES
Who with a little cannot be content, Endures an everlasting punishment.
*178*
UPON MAN
Man is composed here of a twofold part; The first of nature, and the next of art; Art presupposes nature; nature, she Prepares the way for man's docility.
*179*
PURPOSES
No wrath of men, or rage of seas, Can shake a just man's purposes; No threats of tyrants, or the grim Visage of them can alter him; But what he doth at first intend, That he holds firmly to the end.
*180*
FOUR THINGS MAKE US HAPPY HERE
Health is the first good lent to men; A gentle disposition then: Next, to be rich by no by-ways; Lastly, with friends t' enjoy our days.
*181*
THE WATCH
Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never Wound up again; Once down, he's down for ever. The watch once down, all motions then do cease; The man's pulse stopt, all passions sleep in peace.
*182*
UPON THE DETRACTER
I ask'd thee oft what poets thou hast read, And lik'st the best? Still thou repli'st, The dead. --I shall, ere long, with green turfs cover'd be; Then sure thou'lt like, or thou wilt envy, me.
*183*
ON HlMSELF
Live by thy Muse thou shalt, when others die, Leaving no fame to long posterity; When monarchies trans-shifted are, and gone, Here shall endure thy vast dominion.
** NATURE AND LIFE **
*184*
I CALL AND I CALL
I call, I call: who do ye call? The maids to catch this cowslip ball! But since these cowslips fading be, Troth, leave the flowers, and maids, take me! Yet, if that neither you will do, Speak but the word, and I'll take you,
*185*
THE SUCCESSION OF THE FOUR SWEET MONTHS
First, April, she with mellow showers Opens the way for early flowers; Then after her comes smiling May, In a more rich and sweet array; Next enters June, and brings us more Gems than those two that went before; Then, lastly, July comes, and she More wealth brings in than all those three.
*186*
TO BLOSSOMS
Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past, But you may stay yet here a-while, To blush and gently smile; And go at last.
What, were ye born to be An hour or half's delight; And so to bid good-night? 'Twas pity Nature brought ye forth, Merely to show your worth, And lose you quite.
But you are lovely leaves, where we May read how soon things have Their end, though ne'er so brave: