The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 77

Drowning, drowning, I espy Coming from my Julia's eye: 'Tis some solace in our smart, To have friends to bear a part: I have none; but must be sure Th' inundation to endure.

Shall not times hereafter tell This for no mean miracle?

When the waters by their fall Threaten'd ruin unto all, Yet the deluge here was known Of a world to drown but one.

971. STRENGTH TO SUPPORT SOVEREIGNTY.

Let kings and rulers learn this line from me: _Where power is weak, unsafe is majesty_.

973. CRUTCHES.

Thou see'st me, Lucia, this year droop; Three zodiacs filled more, I shall stoop; Let crutches then provided be To sh.o.r.e up my debility.

Then, while thou laugh'st, I'll sighing cry, "A ruin, underpropp'd, am I".

Don will I then my beadsman's gown, And when so feeble I am grown, As my weak shoulders cannot bear The burden of a gra.s.shopper, Yet with the bench of aged sires, When I and they keep termly fires, With my weak voice I'll sing, or say, Some odes I made of Lucia: Then will I heave my wither'd hand To Jove the mighty, for to stand Thy faithful friend, and to pour down Upon thee many a benison.

_Zodiacs_, used as symbols of the astronomical year.

_Beadsman's_, almshouseman's.

974. TO JULIA.

Holy waters. .h.i.ther bring For the sacred sprinkling: Baptise me and thee, and so Let us to the altar go, And, ere we our rites commence, Wash our hands in innocence.

Then I'll be the Rex Sacrorum, Thou the Queen of Peace and Quorum.

_Quorum_, _i.e._, quorum of justices of the peace, sportively added for the rhyme's sake.

975. UPON CASE.

Case is a lawyer, that ne'er pleads alone, But when he hears the like confusion, As when the disagreeing Commons throw About their House, their clamorous Aye or No: Then Case, as loud as any serjeant there, Cries out: My lord, my lord, the case is clear.

But when all's hush'd, Case, than a fish more mute, Bestirs his hand, but starves in hand the suit.

976. TO PERENNA.

I a dirge will pen to thee; Thou a trentall make for me: That the monks and friars together, Here may sing the rest of either: Next, I'm sure, the nuns will have Candlemas to grace the grave.

_Trentall_, services for the dead.

977. TO HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, M. SUSANNA HERRICK.

The person crowns the place; your lot doth fall Last, yet to be with these a princ.i.p.al.

Howe'er it fortuned; know for truth, I meant You a fore-leader in this testament.

978. UPON THE LADY CREW.

This stone can tell the story of my life, What was my birth, to whom I was a wife: In teeming years, how soon my sun was set.

Where now I rest, these may be known by jet.

For other things, my many children be The best and truest chronicles of me.

979. ON TOMASIN PARSONS.

Grow up in beauty, as thou dost begin, And be of all admired, Tomasin.

980. CEREMONY UPON CANDLEMAS EVE.

Down with the rosemary, and so Down with the bays and mistletoe; Down with the holly, ivy, all, Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas Hall: That so the superst.i.tious find No one least branch there left behind: For look, how many leaves there be Neglected, there (maids, trust to me) So many goblins you shall see.

981. SUSPICION MAKES SECURE.

He that will live of all cares dispossess'd, Must shun the bad, aye, and suspect the best.

983. TO HIS KINSMAN, M. THO. HERRICK, WHO DESIRED TO BE IN HIS BOOK.

Welcome to this my college, and though late Thou'st got a place here (standing candidate) It matters not, since thou art chosen one Here of my great and good foundation.

984. A BUCOLIC BETWIXT TWO: LACON AND THYRSIS.

_Lacon._ For a kiss or two, confess, What doth cause this pensiveness, Thou most lovely neat-herdess?

Why so lonely on the hill?

Why thy pipe by thee so still, That erewhile was heard so shrill?

Tell me, do thy kine now fail To full fill the milking-pail?

Say, what is't that thou dost ail?

_Thyr._ None of these; but out, alas!

A mischance is come to pa.s.s, And I'll tell thee what it was: See, mine eyes are weeping-ripe.

_Lacon._ Tell, and I'll lay down my pipe.

_Thyr._ I have lost my lovely steer, That to me was far more dear Than these kine which I milk here: Broad of forehead, large of eye, Party-colour'd like a pie; Smooth in each limb as a die; Clear of hoof, and clear of horn: Sharply pointed as a thorn, With a neck by yoke unworn; From the which hung down by strings, b.a.l.l.s of cowslips, daisy rings, Interplac'd with ribbonings: Faultless every way for shape; Not a straw could him escape; Ever gamesome as an ape, But yet harmless as a sheep.

Pardon, Lacon, if I weep; _Tears will spring where woes are deep_.

Now, ay me! ay me! Last night Came a mad dog and did bite, Aye, and kill'd my dear delight.

_Lacon._ Alack, for grief!

_Thyr._ But I'll be brief.

Hence I must, for time doth call Me, and my sad playmates all, To his ev'ning funeral.

Live long, Lacon, so adieu!

_Lacon._ Mournful maid, farewell to you; _Earth afford ye flowers to strew_.

_Pie_, _i.e._, a magpie.