A crystal mirror hangeth at her breast, By which men's consciences are searched and drest; On her coach-wheels Hypocrisy lies racked ; And squint-eyed Slander with Vainglory backed Whilst with her fingers fans of stars she twists, That fire and water, earth and air combines. Which bids all sounds in earth and heaven be still. THE SHEPHERDS' HOLIDAY. [From Pan's Anniversary; or, The Shepherds' Holiday: 1625.] First Nymph. Thus, thus begin, the yearly rites Are due to Pan on these bright nights; His morn now riseth and invites To sports, to dances, and delights: All envious and profane, away! Second Nymph. Strew, strew the glad and smiling ground The primrose drop, the spring's own spouse, Third Nymph. Drop, drop you violets, change your hues And in your death go out as well, SONG BEFORE THE ENTRY OF THE MASQUERS. [From The Fortunate Isles and their Union, 1625.] Spring all the graces of the age, And all the loves of time; Add all the softnesses of courts, The looks, the laughters and the sports; ODE TO HIMSELF. [Written after the failure of the comedy The New Inn, 'never acted, but most negligently played by some, the king's servants; and more squeamishly beheld and censured by others, the king's subjects,' January 19, 1629.] Come, leave the loathèd stage, Usurp the chair of wit! Something they call a play. Let their fastidious, vain Commission of the brain Run on and rage, sweat, censure, and condemn ; Say that thou pour'st them wheat, And they will acorns eat; "Twere simple fury still thyself to waste To offer them a surfeit of pure bread No, give them grains their fill, Husks, draff to drink or swill: If they love lees, and leave the lusty wine, Envy them not, their palate's with the swine. 13 BEN JONSON. No doubt some mouldy tale, Like Pericles, and stale As the shrieve's crusts, and nasty as his fish- Thrown forth, and raked into the common tub, There, sweepings do as well As the best-ordered meal; For who the relish of these guests will fit, And much good do't you then : Brave plush-and-velvet-men Can feed on orts; and, safe in your stage-clothes, Dare quit, upon your oaths, The stagers and the stage-wrights too, your peers, Of larding your large ears With their foul comic socks, Wrought upon twenty blocks; Which if they are torn, and turned, and patched enough, The gamesters share your gilt, and you their stuff. Leave things so prostitute, And take the Alcaic lute; Or thine own Horace, or Anacreon's lyre; Warm thee by Pindar's fire : And though thy nerves be shrunk, and blood be cold, Strike that disdainful heat As curious fools, and envious of thy strain, But when they hear thee sing The glories of thy king, His zeal to God, and his just awe o'er men : 14 THE ENGLISH POETS. In sound of peace or wars, In tuning forth the acts of his sweet reign, SONG. TO CELIA1. [From The Forest.] Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; The thirst that from the soul doth rise, But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I sent thee late a rosy wreath, But thou thereon didst only breathe, Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, EPIGRAMS. TO MY MERE ENGLISH CENSURER. To thee, my way in Epigrams seems new, BEN JONSON. If thou'dst but use thy faith as thou didst then, ON COURT-WORM. All men are worms, but this no man. In silk Which was a caterpillar. So 'twill die. TO FOOL, OR KNAVE. Thy praise or dispraise is to me alike: ON LUCY, COUNTESS OF Bedford'. This morning, timely rapt with holy fire, To honour, serve, and love, as Poets use. Only a learned, and a manly soul I purposed her that should, with even powers, = thind howl of Redford 15 $ Compare Pope's 'Sporus.' Sh |