This when the nymph had said, She dived within the flood, Whose face with smiling curls long after staid; Birds sang from every wood, ΝΟ TRUST IN TIME. Look how the flower, which lingeringly doth fade, With swifter speed declines than erst it spread, And, blasted, scarce now shows what it hath been. RETIREMENT. THRICE happy he, who by some shady grove, But doth converse with that eternal love. Oh! how more sweet is bird's harmonious moan, Or the hoarse sobbings of the widowed dove, Than those smooth whisperings near a prince's throne, Which good make doubtful, do the evil approve! Oh! how more sweet is zephyr's wholesome breath, And sighs embalmed which new-born flowers unfold, Than that applause vain honor doth bequeath! THE NIGHTINGALE. SWEET bird, that sing'st away the early hours And what dear gifts on thee he did not spare. (Attired in sweetness) sweetly is not driven APPLES OF SODOM. As are those apples, pleasant to the eye, But full of smoke within, which used to grow Near that strange lake, where God poured from the sky Would color mischief, while within they glow With coals of sin, though none the smoke descry. Bad is that angel that erst fell from heaven, But not so bad as he, nor in worse case, Who hides a traitorous mind with smiling face, And with a dove's white feathers clothes a raven: Each sin some color has it to adorn ; Hypocrisy, Almighty God doth scorn. MADRIGAL. THIS life, which seems so far, Is like a bubble blown up in the air Who chase it everywhere, And strive who can most motion it bequeath. That only is because it is so light. But in that pomp it doth not long appear; For, when 'tis most admired in a thought, Because it erst was naught, it turns to naught. IF in the east, when you do there behold Forth from his crystal bed the sun to rise, Which blaze in heaven's high vault, night's watchful If, seeing how the sea's tumultuous bands Of bellowing billows have their course confined, A king who fixed the poles, made spheres to move, All wisdom, pureness, excellency, might, All goodness, greatness, justice, beauty, love; With fear and wonder hither turn your sight, See, see, alas! Him now, not in that state Thought could forecast Him into reason's light. Now eyes with tears, now hearts with grief make great, Bemoan this cruel death and ruthful case, If ever plaints just wo could aggravate: O unheard pity! love in strange degree! His head bowed to his breast, locks sadly rent, Like a cropped rose that languishing doth fade. Weak nature, weep! astonished world, lament! And thou, my soul, let naught thy griefs relent! Those feet which once must tread on golden stars, For thee with nails would be pierced through and torn ; For thee heaven's king from heaven's self debars : This great heart-quaking dolor wail and mourn, Ye that long since Him saw by might of faith, Ye now that are, and ye yet to be born. Not to behold his great Creator's death, The sun from sinful eyes hath veiled his light, And faintly journeys up heaven's sapphire path; And cutting from her brows her tresses bright, The moon doth keep her Lord's sad obsequies, Impearling with her tears her robe of night; All staggering and lazy lour the skies; The earth and elemental stages quake; The long-since dead from bursted graves arise. And can things wanting sense yet sorrow take, And bear a part with Him who all them wrought, And man (though born with cries) shall pity lack? Think what had been your state, had he not brought To these sharp pangs Himself, and prized so high Your souls, that with his life them life He bought! What woes do you attend, if still ye lie Plunged in your wonted follies, wretched brood! Shall for your sake again God ever die? Oh! leave deluding shows, embrace true good; He on you calls, forego sin's shameful trade; With prayers now seek ye heaven, and not with blood, Let not the lambs more from their dams be had, Nor altars blush for sin; live every thing! That long-time longed-for sacrifice is made. All that is from you craved by this great King, What gift, alas! can we Him meaner bring? His arms, lo! stretched are, you to embrace. When days are done, and life's small spark is spent, So you accept what freely here is given, Like brood of angels deathless, all content, Ye shall forever live with Him in heaven. THE ASCENSION. BRIGHT portals of the sky, Embossed with sparkling stars; Doors of eternity, With diamantine bars, Your arras rich uphold: Loose all your bolts and springs, Ope wide your leaves of gold, That in your roofs may come the King of kings. Scarfed in a rosy cloud, He doth ascend the air, Straight doth the moon Him shroud With her resplendent hair; |