The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 22

Thou fool, said Love, know'st thou not this?

In everything that's sweet she is.

In yond' carnation go and seek, There thou shalt find her lip and cheek: In that enamell'd pansy by, There thou shalt have her curious eye: In bloom of peach and rose's bud, There waves the streamer of her blood.

'Tis true, said I, and thereupon I went to pluck them one by one, To make of parts a union: But on a sudden all were gone.

At which I stopp'd; said Love, these be The true resemblances of thee; For, as these flowers, thy joys must die, And in the turning of an eye: And all thy hopes of her must wither, Like those short sweets, ere knit together.

264. TO THE KING.

If when these lyrics, Caesar, you shall hear, And that Apollo shall so touch your ear As for to make this, that, or any one, Number your own, by free adoption; That verse, of all the verses here, shall be The heir to this _great realm of poetry_.

265. TO THE QUEEN.

_G.o.ddess of youth, and lady of the spring, Most fit to be the consort to a king_, Be pleas'd to rest you in this sacred grove Beset with myrtles, whose each leaf drops love.

Many a sweet-fac'd wood-nymph here is seen, Of which chaste order you are now the queen: Witness their homage when they come and strew Your walks with flowers, and give their crowns to you.

Your leafy throne, with lily-work possess, And be both princess here and poetess.

266. THE POET'S GOOD WISHES FOR THE MOST HOPEFUL AND HANDSOME PRINCE, THE DUKE OF YORK.

May his pretty dukes.h.i.+p grow Like t'a rose of Jericho: Sweeter far than ever yet Showers or suns.h.i.+nes could beget.

May the Graces and the Hours Strew his hopes and him with flowers: And so dress him up with love As to be the chick of Jove.

May the thrice-three sisters sing Him the sovereign of their spring: And ent.i.tle none to be Prince of Helicon but he.

May his soft foot, where it treads, Gardens thence produce and meads: And those meadows full be set With the rose and violet.

May his ample name be known To the last succession: And his actions high be told Through the world, but writ in gold.

267. TO ANTHEA, WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANYTHING.

Bid me to live, and I will live Thy Protestant to be, Or bid me love, and I will give A loving heart to thee.

A heart as soft, a heart as kind, A heart as sound and free As in the whole world thou canst find, That heart I'll give to thee.

Bid that heart stay, and it will stay To honour thy decree: Or bid it languish quite away, And't shall do so for thee.

Bid me to weep, and I will weep While I have eyes to see: And, having none, yet I will keep A heart to weep for thee.

Bid me despair, and I'll despair Under that cypress-tree: Or bid me die, and I will dare E'en death to die for thee.

Thou art my life, my love, my heart, The very eyes of me: And hast command of every part To live and die for thee.

268. PREVISION OR PROVISION.

_That prince takes soon enough the victor's room Who first provides not to be overcome._

269. OBEDIENCE IN SUBJECTS.

_The G.o.ds to kings the judgment give to sway: The subjects only glory to obey._

270. MORE POTENT, LESS PECCANT.

_He that may sin, sins least: leave to transgress Enfeebles much the seeds of wickedness._

271. UPON A MAID THAT DIED THE DAY SHE WAS MARRIED.

That morn which saw me made a bride, The evening witness'd that I died.

Those holy lights, wherewith they guide Unto the bed the bashful bride, Serv'd but as tapers for to burn And light my relics to their urn.

This epitaph, which here you see, Supplied the epithalamy.

274. TO MEADOWS.

Ye have been fresh and green, Ye have been fill'd with flowers, And ye the walks have been Where maids have spent their hours.

You have beheld how they With wicker arks did come To kiss and bear away The richer cowslips home.

Y'ave heard them sweetly sing, And seen them in a round: Each virgin like a spring, With honeysuckles crown'd.

But now we see none here Whose silvery feet did tread, And with dishevell'd hair Adorn'd this smoother mead.

Like unthrifts, having spent Your stock and needy grown, Y'are left here to lament Your poor estates, alone.

_Round_, a rustic dance.

275. CROSSES.

Though good things answer many good intents, _Crosses do still bring forth the best events_.

276. MISERIES.

Though hourly comforts from the G.o.ds we see, _No life is yet life-proof from misery_.

278. TO HIS HOUSEHOLD G.o.dS.

Rise, household G.o.ds, and let us go; But whither I myself not know.

First, let us dwell on rudest seas; Next, with severest savages; Last, let us make our best abode Where human foot as yet ne'er trod: Search worlds of ice, and rather there Dwell than in loathed Devons.h.i.+re.

279. TO THE NIGHTINGALE AND ROBIN REDBREAST.

When I departed am, ring thou my knell, Thou pitiful and pretty Philomel: And when I'm laid out for a corse, then be Thou s.e.xton, redbreast, for to cover me.