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O, my love, my love is young:

Vow, alack, for youth unmeet, Age I do defy thee;

Youth, so apt to pluck a sweet, O sweet shepherd, hie thee,

Do not call it sin in me, For methinks thou stay'st too long.

That I am forsworn for thee;

Thou for whom e'en Jove would swear Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good,

Juno but an Ethiope were ; A shining gloss that fadeth suddenly ;

And deny himself for Jove,
A flower that dies, when first it 'gins to bud;

Turning mortal for thy love."
A brittle glass, that's broken presently;
A doubtful good, a gloss, a glass, a flower,
Lost, faded, broken, dead within an hour.

As it fell upon a day,
And as goods lost are seld or never found,

In the merry month of May, As faded gloss no rubbing will refresh,

Sitting in a pleasant shade As flowers dead lie wither'd on the ground,

Which a grove of myrtles made, As broken glass no cement can redress,

Beasts did leap, and birds did sing, So beauty, blemish'd once, for ever's lost,

Trees did grow, and plants did spring: In spite of physic, painting, pain, and cost.

Every thing did banish moan, Good night, good rest. Ah! neither be

Save the nightingale alone : share :

my She bade good night, that kept my rest away;

She, poor bird, as all forlorn,

Lean'd her breast up-till a thorn,
And daft me to a cabin hang'd with care,
To descant on the doubts of my decay. [row;"

And there sung the dolefull'st diety,

That to hear it was great pity: “ Farewell,” quoth she, “and come again to-mor

Fie, fie, fie, now would she cry, Farewell, I could not, for I supp'd with sorrow.

Teru, Teru, by and by : Yet at my parting sweetly she did smile,

That to hear her so complain, In scorn or friendship, nill I construe whether:

Scarce I could from tears refrain; May be, she joy'd to jest at my exile,

For her griefs, so lively shewn, May be, again to make me wander thither :

Made me think upon mine own. Wander, a word for shadows like myself,

Ah! (thought I) thou mourn'st in vain;
As take the pain, but cannot pluck the pelf.

None take pity on thy pain:
Lord how mine eyes threw gazes to the east ! Senseless trees, they cannot hear thee;
My heart doth charge the watch; the morning rise Ruthless beasts, they will not cheer thee;
Doth cite each moving sense from idle rest,

King Pandion, he is dead;
Not daring trust the office of mine eyes.

All thy friends are lapp'd in lead: While Philomela sings, I sit and mark,

All thy fellow birds do sing, And wish her lays were tuned like the lark ; Careless of thy sorrowing. For she doth welcome day-light with her ditty, Even so, poor bird, like thee, And drives away dark dismal dreaming night:

None alive will pity me.

Whilst as fickle fortune smil'd,
The night so pack’d, I post unto my pretty;
Heart hath his hope, and eyes their wished sight:

Thou and I were both beguil'd,
Sorrow chang'd to solace, solace mix'd with sorrow; Every one that flatters thee
For why: she sighed and bade me come to-morrow. Is no friend in misery.
Were I with her, the night would post too soon ; Words are easy like the wind;
But now are minutes added to the hours:

Faithful friends are hard to find.
To spite me now each minute seems an hour; Every man will be thy friend,
Yet not for me, shine sun to succour flowers ! Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend ;
Pack night, peep day; good day, of night now But if store of crowns be scant,
borrow;

No man will supply thy want.
Short night, to-nighi, and length thyself to-morrow. If that one be prodigal,

Bountiful they will him call; On a day (alack the day :)

And with such like flattering, Love, whose month was ever May,

“ Pity but he were a king." Spy'd a blossom passing fair,

If he be addict to vice, Playing in the wanton air.

Quickly him they will entice; Through the velvet leaves the wind,

If to women he be bent, All unseen, 'gan passage find;

They have him at commandement; That the lover, sick to death,

But if fortune once do frown, Wish'd himself the heaven's breath:

Then farewel his great renown : “ Air," quoth he,“ thy cheeks may blow;

They that fawn'd on him before, Air, would I might triumph so!

Use his company no more. But, alas ! my hand hath sworn

He that is thy friend indeed, Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn :

He will help thee in thy need;

THRENOS.

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FROM THE TEMPEST.

If thou sorrow he will weep;

Co-supremes and stars of love,
If thou wake, he cannot sleep :

As chorus to their tragic scene.
Thus of every grief in heart
He with thee doth bear thee part.
These are certain signs to know

Beauty, truth, and rarity,
Faithful friend from flattering foe.

Grace in all simplicity,

Here inclos'd in cinders lie. Let the bird of loudest lay,

Death is now the phænix' nest ; On the sole Arabian tree,

And the turtle's loyal breast Herald sad and trumpet be,

To eternity doth rest, To whose sound chaste wings obey.

Leaving no posterity : But thou shrinking harbinger,

'Twas not their infirmity, Foul pre-currer of the fiend,

It was married chastity.
Augur of the fever's end,
To this troop come thou not near.

Truth may seem, but cannot be ;

Beauty brag, but 'tis not she; From this session interdict

Truth and beauty buried be. Every fowl of tyrant wing,

To this urn let those repair Save the eagle, feather'd king:

That are either true or fair ;
Keep the obsequy so strict.

For these dead birds sigh a prayer.
Let the priest in surplice white,
That defunctive music can,
Be the death-divining swan,

SONGS FROM SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS.
Lest the requiem lack his right.
And thou, treble-dated crow,

Come unto these yellow sands, That thy sable gender mak'st

And then take hands : With the breath thou giv’st and tak'st,

Court'sied when you have, and kiss'd, Mongst our mourners shalt thou go.

(The wild waves whist) Here the anthem doth commence :

Foot it featly here and there; Love and constancy is dead;

And, sweet sprites, the burden bear.

Hark, hark ! Phænix and the turtle fled

Bur. Bough, wowgh,

[dispersedly. In a mutual flame from hence.

The watch-dogs bark : So they lov’d, as love in twain

Bur. Bough, wowgh, Had the essence but in one ;

Hark, hark! I hear Two distincts, division none :

The strain of strutting chanticlere
Number there in love was slain.

Cry, Cock-a-doodle-doo.
Hearts removed, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen

Full fathom five thy father lies, 'Twixt the turtle and his queen ;

Of his bones are coral made ;

Those are pearls that were his eyes: But in them it were a wonder.

Nothing of him that can fade, So between them love did shine,

But doth suffer a sea-change, That the turtle saw bis right

Into something rich and strange. Flaming in the phænix sight:

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell, Either was the other's mine.

Hark, now I hear them,—ding-dong, bell. Property was thus appallid,

[Burden, ding-dong. That the self was not the same ; Single nature's double name

Where the bee sucks, there lurk 1 : Neither two nor one was call'd.

In a cowslip's bell I lie :

There I couch when owls do cry. Reason, in itself confounded,

On the bats back I do fly,
Saw division grow together ;

After sunset, merrily:
To themselves yet either neither,
Simple were so well compounded,

Merrily, merrily, shall I live now,

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
That it cried, how true a twain,
Seemeth this concordant one !
Love hath reason, reason none,

Come away, come away, death,
If what parts can so remain.

And in sad cypress let me be laid ; Whereupon it made this threne

Fly away, fly away, breath; To the phenix and the dove,

I am slain by a fair cruel maid.

FROM TWELFTH-NIGHT,

A DIRGE.

Will I Rosalinda write ;

And with leaves and flowers do cover Teaching all that read, to know

The friendless bodies of unburied men. This quintescence of every sprite

Call unto his funeral dole Heaven would in little show.

The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole, Therefore heaven nature charg'd,

To raise him hillocks that shall keep him warm, That one body should be fill'd

And (when gay tombs are robb’d) sustain no harm ; With all graces wide enlarg'd :

But keep the wolf far thence, that's foe to men, Nature presently distillid

For with his nails he'll dig them up again. Helen's cheek, but not her heart;

Cleopatra's majesty : Atalanta's better part;

Hark, now every thing is still ; Sad Lucretia's modesty.

The screech-owl, and the whistler shrill, Thus Rosalind of many parts

Call upon our dame aloud, By heavenly synod was devis'd ;

And bid her quickly d'on her shroud. Of many faces, eyes, and hearts,

Much ye had of land and rent ; To have the touches dearest priz'd.

Your length in clay now's competent. Heaven would that she these gifts should have,

A long war disturb’d the mind: And I to live and die her slave.

Here the perfect peace is signed.

Of what is't fools make such vain keeping ?
FROM CYMBELINE.

Sin, their conception ; their birth, weeping : Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,

Their life, a general mist of error,
And Phæbus 'gins arise,

Their death, a hideous storm of terror.
His steeds to water at those springs

Strew the hair with powder sweet,
On chalic'd flowers that lies;

D'on clean linen, bathe the feet:
And winking Mary-buds begin

And (the foul fiend more to check)
To ope their golden eyes;

A crucifix let bless the neck.
With every thing that pretty bin;

'Tis now full tide 'tween night and day:
My lady sweet, arise ;

End the groan, and come away.
Arise, arise !

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.

FROM THE ELDER BROTRER.

:

Guid. Fear no more the heat o' the sun,

Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldiy task hast done,

Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages :
Both golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Arv. Fear no more the frown o' the great,

Thou art past the tyrant's stroke ;
Care no more to clothe, and eat;

To thee the reed is as the oak :
The sceptre, learning, physic, must

All follow this and come to dust.
Guid. Fear no more the lightning-flash,
Aru. Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone ;
Guid. Fear not slander, censure rash;
Aru. Thou hast finish'd joy and moan :
Both. All lovers young, all lovers must

Consign to thee and come to dust.
Guid. No exorciser harm thee!
Arv. Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Guid. Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Aru. Nothing ill come near thee!
Both. Quiet consummation have ;

And renowned be thy grave!

Beauty clear and fair,

Where the air
Rather like a perfume dwells,

Where the violet and the rose

Their blue veins in blush disclose,
And come to honour nothing else :
Where to live near,

And planted there,
Is to live, and still live new ;

Where to gain a favour is

More than light, perpetual bliss,
Make me live by serving you.
Dear, again back recall

To this light,
A stranger to himself and all;

Both the wonder and the story

Shall be yours, and eke the glory:
I am your servant, and your thrall.

FROM THE MAID'S TRAGEDY.
Asp. Lay a garland on my hearse,

Of the dismal yew ;
Maidens willow branches bear;

Say, I died true :
My love was false, but I was firm

From my hour of birth.
Upon my buried body lie

Lightly, gentle earth!

JOHN WEBSTER.

A DIRGE.

Call for the Robin-red-breast, and the wren,
Since o'er shady groves they hover,

FROM ROLLO.

FROM THE LITTLE FRENCH LAWYER.

FROM THE CAPTAIN.

'Tis a grave,

W

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Dula. I could never have the pow'r
To love one above an hour,

Take, oh, take those lips away,
But my heart would prompt mine eye

That so sweetly were forsworn,
On some other man to fly:

And those eyes, the break of day,
Venus, fix thou mine eyes fast,

Lights that do mislead the morn ;
Or if not, give me all that I shall see at last.

But my kisses bring again,
Seals of love, tho' seal'd in vain.

Hide, oh, hide those hills of snow,
This way, this way, come and hear,

Which thy frozen bosom bears, You that hold these pleasures dear;

On whose tops the pinks that grow Fill your ears with our sweet sound,

Are yet of those that April wears; Whilst we melt the frozen ground.

But first set my poor heart free, This way come; make haste, oh,

fairi

Bound in those icy chains by thee.
Let your clear eyes gild the air;
Come, and bless us with your sight;

1. Tell me, dearest, what is love! This way, this way, seek delight!

2. 'Tis a lightning from above;

'Tis an arrow, 'tis a fire, FROM VALENTINIAN.

'Tis a boy they call Desire. Hear ye, ladies that despise,

Both. What the mighty love has done ;

Gapes to have Fear examples, and be wise :

Those poor fools that long to prove. Fair Calista was a nun;

1. Tell me more, are women true! Leda, sailing on the stream To deceive the hopes of man,

2. Yes, some are, and some as you. Love accounting but a dream,

Some are willing, some are strange, Doated on a silver swan;

Since you men first taught to change.

Both. And till troth
Danaë, in a brazen tower,

Be in both,
Where no love was, lov'd a shower.

All shall love, to love anew.
Hear ye, ladies that are coy,

1. Tell me more yet, can they grieve? What the mighty love can do;

2. Yes, and sicken sore, but live: Fear the fierceness of the boy;

And be wise, and delay, The chaste moon he makes to wooe :

When you men are as wise as they. Vesta, kindling holy fires,

Both.

Then I see, Circled round about with spies,

Faith will be,
Never dreaming loose desires,

Never till they both believe.
Doating at the altar dies ;
Ilion, in a short hour, higher

FROM THE NICE VALOUR, OR THE PASSIONATE
He can build, and once more fire.

Hence, all you vain delights,

As short as are the nights
Care-charming Sleep, thou easer of all woes,
Brother to Death, sweetly thyself dispose

Wherein you spend your folly!
On this afflicted prince: fall like a cloud,

There's nought in this life sweet, In gentle showers; give nothing that is loud,

If man were wise to see't, Or painful to his slumbers ; easy, sweet,

But only melancholy; And as a purling stream, thou sou of night,

Oh, sweetest melancholy ! Pass by his troubled senses; sing his pain,

Welcome, folded arms, and fixed eyes, Like hollow murmuring wind, or silver rain.

A sigh that piercing mortifies, Into this prince gently, oh, gently slide,

A look that's fasten'd to the ground, And kiss him into slumbers like a bride!

A tongue chain'd up, without a sound !

Fountain heads and pathless groves, God Lyæus, ever young,

Places which pale passion loves! Ever honour'd, ever sung;

Moonlight walks, when all the fowls Stain'd with blood of lusty grapes,

Are warmly hous'd, save bats and owls! In a thousand lusty shapes,

A midnight bell, a parting groan!

These are the sounds we feed upon ; Dance upon the mazer's brim,

Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley: In the crimson liquor swim;

Nothing's so dainty sweet as lovely melancholy.
From thy plenteous hand divine
Let a river run with wine.

FROM A MASQUE,
God of youth, let this day here

Shake off your heavy trance,
Enter neither care nor fear!

And leap into a dance,

MADMAN.

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