"AND wilt thou then, Alexis mine, depart,
And leave these flow'ry meads and crystal streams,
These hills as green as great with gold and gems,
Which court thee with rich treasure in each part:
Shall nothing hold thee? not my loyal heart,
That bursts to lose the comforts of thy beams?
Nor yet this pipe, which wildest satyrs tames?
Nor lambkins wailing, nor old Dorus' smart?
O ruthless shepherd! forests strange among
What canst thou else but fearful dangers find?
But, ah! not thou, but honour, doth me wrong;
O cruel honour! tyrant of the mind."
This said sad Erycine, and all the flowers
Impearled as she went with eyes' salt showers.

COMPARISON

OF HIS THOUGHTS TO PEARLS.

Wгr opening shells in seas, on heavenly dew
A shining oyster lusciously doth feed;
And then the birth of that etherial seed
Shows, when conceiv'd, if skies look dark or blue:
So do my thoughts, celestial twins! of you,
At whose aspect they first begin and breed,
When they came forth to light, demonstrate true
If ye then smil'd, or low'r'd in mourning weed.
Pearls then are orient fram'd, and fair in form,
If Heavens in their conceptions do look clear;
But if they thunder or do threat a storm,
They sadly dark and cloudy do appear:
Right so my thoughts, and so my notes do change;
Sweet, if ye smile, and hoarse, if ye look strange.

ALL CHANGETH.

'THE angry winds not aye

Do cuff the roaring deep;

And, though Heavens often weep,

et do they smile for joy when comes dismay; Frosts do not ever kill the pleasant flow'rs; And love bath sweets when gone are all the sours." his said a shepherd, closing in his arms His dear, who blush'd to feel love's new alarms.

SILENUS TO KING MIDAS.

CHE greatest gift that from their lofty thrones The all-governing pow'rs to man can give, , that he never breathe; or, breathing once, suckling end his days, and leave to live; or then he neither knows the woe nor joy f life, nor fears the Stygian lake's annoy.

TO HIS AMOROUS THOUGHT. SWEET Wanton thought, who art of beauty born, And who on beauty feed'st, and sweet desire, Like taper fly, still circling, and still turn About that flame, that all so much admire, That heavenly fair which doth out-blush the morn, Those ivory hands, those threads of golden wire, Thou still surroundest, yet dar'st not aspire; Sure thou dost well that place not to come near, Nor see the majesty of that fair court; For if thou saw'st what wonders there resort, The pure intelligence that moves that sphere, Like souls ascending to those joys above,

Back never wouldst thou turn, nor thence remove.
What can we hope for more; what more enjoy?
Since fairest things thus soonest have their end,
And as on bodies shadows do attend,

Soon all our bliss is follow'd with annoy:
Yet she's not dead, she lives where she did love;
Her memory on Earth, her soul above.

PHILLIS

ON THE DEATH OF HER SPARROW.

AH! if ye ask, my friends, why this salt show'r
My blubber'd eyes upon this paper pour?
Gone is my sparrow! he whom I did train,
And turn'd so toward, by a cat is slain:
No more with trembling wings shall he attend
His watchful mistress. Would my life could end!
No more shall I him hear chirp pretty lays;
Have I not cause to loath my tedious days?
A Dedalus he was to catch a fly;

Nor wrath nor rancour men in him could spy.
To touch or wrong his tail if any dar'd,
He pinch'd their fingers, and against them warr'd:
Then might that crest be seen shake up and down,
Which fixed was unto his little crown;
Like Hector's, Troy's strong bulwark, when in ire
He raged to set the Grecian fleet on fire.
But ah, alas! a cat this prey espies,
Then with a leap did thus our joys surprise.
Undoubtedly this bird was kill'd by treason,
Or otherwise had of that fiend had reason.
Thus was Achilles by weak Paris slain,
And stout Camilla fell by Aruns vain;

So that false horse, which Pallas rais'd 'gainst Troy,
King Priam and that city did destroy.
Thou, now whose heart is big with this frail glory,
Shalt not live long to tell thy honour's story.
If any knowledge resteth after death

In ghosts of birds, when they have left to breathe,
My darling's ghost shall know in lower place
The vengeance falling on the cattish race.
For never cat nor catling I shall find,
But mew shall they in Pluto's palace blind.
Ye, who with gaudy wings, and bodies light,
Do dint the air, turn hitherwards your flight;
To my sad tears comply these notes of yours,
Unto his idol bring an harv'st of flow'rs;
Let him accept from us, as most divine
Sabæan incense, milk, food, sweetest wine;
And on a stone let us these words engrave:
'Pilgrim the body of a sparrow brave

In a fierce glutt'nous cat's womb clos'd remains, Whose ghost now graceth the Elysian plains."

ON THE

SONNET.

WHEN with brave art the curious painter drew
This heavenly shape, the hand why made he bear,
With golden veins, that flow'r of purple hue,
Which follows on the planet of the year?
Was it to show how in our hemisphere

Like him she shines? nay, that effects more true
Of pow'r and wonder do in her appear,
While he but flow'rs, and she doth minds subdue?
Or would he else to virtue's glorious light

III.

IV.

Doth parallel her bliss with Clitra's plight? Right so; and thus he reading in her eye Some lover's end, to grace what he did grave, For cypress tree this mourning flow'r he gave.

MADRIGAL.

I light be not beguil'd,

And eyes right play their part,

This flow'r is not of art, but fairest Nature's child;
And though, when Titan's from our world exil'd,
She doth not look, her leaves, his loss to moan,
To wonder Earth finds now more suns than one.

EPIGRAMS.

I.

THE Scottish kirk the English church do name;
The English church the Scots a kirk do call;
Kirk and not church, church and not kirk, O shame!
Your kappa turn in chi, or perish all.
Assemblies meet, post bishops to the court:
If these two nations fight, 'tis strangers' sport.

II.

AGAINST the king, sir, now why would you fight?
Forsooth, because he dubb'd me not a knight.
And ye, my lords, why arm ye 'gainst king Charles?
Because of lords he would not make us earls.
Earls, why do ye lead forth these warlike bands?
Because we will not quit the church's lands.
Most holy churchmen, what is your intent?
The king our stipends largely did augment.
Commons to tumult thus why are you driven?
Priests us persuade it is the way to Heaven.
Are these just cause of war; good people, grant?
Ho! Plunder! thou ne'er swore our covenant.

Give me a thousand covenants; I'll subscrive
Them all, and more, if more ye can contrive
Of rage and malice; and let every one
Black treason bear, not bare rebellion.

I'll not be mock'd, hiss'd, plunder'd, banish'd hence,
For more years standing for a **** prince.
His castles are all taken, and his crown,
His sword, and sceptre, ensigns of renown,
With that lieutenant Fame did so extol;
And captives carried to the capital.

V.

VI.

A REPLY.

SWADDLED is the baby, and almost two years
(His swaddling time) did neither cry nor stir;
But star'd, smil'd, did lie still, void of all fears,
And sleep'd, though barked at by every cur:
Yea, had not wak'd, if Lesly, that hoarse nurse,
Had not him hardly rock'd-old wives him curse!

VII.

THE king nor band nor host had him to follow,
Of all his subjects; they were given to thee,
[he.
Lesly. Who is the greatest? By Apollo,
The emperor thou; some Palsegrave scarce seems
Couldst thou pull lords, as we do bishops, down,
Small distance were between thee and a crown.

X.

A COUNTRY maid Amazon-like did ride, To sit more sure, with leg on either side: Her mother who her spied, said that ere long She should just penance suffer for that wrong; For when time should on her more years bestow, That horse's hair between her thighs would grow. Scarce winter twice was come, as was her told, When she found all to frizzle there with gold; Which first made her afraid, then turn'd her sick, And forc'd her keep her bed almost a week. At last her mother calls, who scarce for laughter Could hear the pleasant story of her daughter; But, that this phrenzy should no more her vex, She swore thus bearded were their weaker sex; Which when denied, "Think not," said she, "I scorn; Behold the place, poor fool, where thou wast born." The girl that seeing cried, now void of pain, "Ah! mother, you have ridden on the mane !"

XIII.

GoD's judgments seldom use to cease, unless The sins which them procur'd men do confess. Our cries are Baal's priests, our fasting vain; Our pray'rs not heard, nor answer'd us again: Till perjury, wrong, rebellion, be confest, Think not on peace, nor to be freed of pest.

XIV.

THE king gives yearly to his senate gold; Who can deny but justice then is sold?

XV.

HERE Rixus lies, a novice in the laws,

Who 'plains he came to Hell without a cause.

THE CHARACTER

OF AN ANTI-COVENANTER, OR MALIGNANT.
WOULD You know these royal knaves,
Of freemen would turn us slaves;
Who our union do defame

With rebellion's wicked name?
Read these verses, and ye 'll spring 'em
Then on gibbets straight cause hing 'em.
They complain of sin and folly;
In these times so passing holy,
They their substance will not give,
Libertines that we may live.

Hold those subjects too, too wanton,
Under an old king dare canton.

Neglect they do our circ'lar tables,
Scorn our acts and laws as fables;
Of our battles talk but meekly,
With four sermons pleas'd are weekly;
Swear king Charles is neither papist,
Arminian, Lutheran, or atheist.
But that in his chamber-pray'rs,
Which are pour'd 'midst sighs and tears,
Threat'ning us with blood and death;
To avert God's fearful wrath,
Persuade they would the multitude,
This king too holy is and good.

They avouch we'll weep and groan
When hundred kings we serve for one;
That each shire but blood affords,
To serve th' ambition of young lords;
Whose debts ere now had been redoubled,
If the state had not been troubled.

Slow they are our oath to swear,
Slower for it arms to bear:
They do concord love, and peace,
Would our enemies embrace,
Turn men proselytes by the word,
Not by musket, pike, and sword.
They swear that for religion's sake
We may not massacre, burn, sack:
That the beginning of these pleas,
Sprang from the ill-sped A B Cs,
For servants that it is not well
Against their masters to rebel.

That that devotion is but slight,

Doth force men first to swear, then fight.
That our confession is indeed

Not the apostolic creed;

Which of negations we contrive,

Which Turk and Jew may both subscrive.

That monies should men's daughters marry,
They on frantic war miscarry.
Whilst dear the soldiers they pay,
At last who will snatch all away.
And, as times turn worse and worse,
Catechise us by the purse.

That debts are paid with bold stern looks;
That merchants pray on their 'compt books;

That Justice dumb and sullen frowns,

To see in croslets hang'd her gowns;

That preachers' ordinary theme

Is 'gainst monarchy to declaim.

That, since leagues we 'gan to swear,
Vice did ne'er so black appear;
Oppression, bloodshed, ne'er more rife,
Foul jars between the man and wife;
Religion so contemn'd was never,
Whilst all are raging in a fever,

They tell by devils, and some sad chance,
That that detested league of France,
Which cost so many thousand lives,
And two kings, by religious knives,
Is amongst us, though few descry;
Though they speak truth, yet say they lie.

He who says that night is night,
That cripple folk walk not upright,
That the owls into the spring
Do not nightingales out-sing,
That the seas we may not plough,
Ropes make of the rainy bow,
That the foxes keep not sheep,
That men waking do not sleep,

That all's not gold doth gold appear-
Believe him not, although he swear.

To such syrens stop your ear,

Their societies forbear.

Ye may be tossed like a wave,

Verity may you deceive;

Just fools they may make of you;

Then hate them worse than Turk or Jew.

Were it not a dangerous thing,

Should we again obey the king;
Lords lose should sovereignty,
Soldiers hast back to Germany;
Justice should in our towns remain,
Poor men possess their own again;
Brought out of Hell that word of plunder,
More terrible than devil, or thunder,
Should with the covenant fly away,
And charity amongst us stay;
Peace and plenty should us nourish,
True religion 'mongst us flourish?

When you find these lying fellows,
Take and flower with them the gallows.
On others you may too lay hold,
In purse or chest, if they have gold.
Who wise or rich are in this nation,
Malignants are by protestation.

THE FIVE SENSES.

I. SEEING.

FROM such a face, whose excellence
May captivate my sovereign's sense,
And make him (Phœbus like) his throne,
Resign to some young Phaeton,
Whose skilless and unstayed hand
May prove the ruin of the land,
Unless great Jove, down from the sky,
Beholding Earth's calamity,

Strike with his hand that cannot err
The proud usurping charioter;

And cure, though Phoebus grieve, our woe-
From such a face as can work so,

Wheresoever thou 'st a being,

Bless my sovereign and his seeing.

II. HEARING.

FROM jests prophane and flattering tongues,
From baudy tales and beastly songs,
From after-supper suits, that fear
A parliament or council's ear;

From Spanish treaties, that may wound
The country's peace, the gospel's sound;
From Job's false friends, that would entice
My sovereign from Heaven's paradise;
From prophets such as Achab's were,
Whose flatterings sooth my sovereign's ear;
His frowns more than his Maker's fearing,
Pless my sovereign and his bearing.

III. TASTING.

FROM all fruit that is forbidden,

Such for which old Eve was chidden;
From bread of labours, sweat and toil;
From the poor widow's meal and oil;

From blood of innocents oft wrangled

From their estates, and from that's strangled; From the candid poison'd baits

Of Jesuits, and their deceits;

Italian sallads, Romish drugs,

The milk of Babel's proud whore's dugs;
From wine that can destroy the brain;
And from the dangerous figs of Spain;

At all banquets, and all feasting,
Bless my sovereign and his tasting.

IV. FEELING.

FROM prick of conscience, such a sting
As slays the soul, Heav'n bless the king ;
From such a bribe as may withdraw
His thoughts from equity or law;
From such a smooth and beardless chin
As may provoke or tempt to sin;

From such a hand, whose moist palm may
My sovereign lead out of the way;
From things polluted and unclean,
From all things beastly and obscene;
From that may set his soul a reeling,
Bless my sovereign and his feeling.

V. SMELLING.

WHERE myrrh and frankincense are thrown,
The altar's built to gods unknown,
O let my sovereign never dwell;
Such damn'd perfumes are fit for Hell.
Let no such scent his nostrils stain;
From smells that poison can the brain
Heav'ns still preserve him. Next I crave,
Thou wilt be pleas'd, great God! to save
My sov'reign from a Ganymede,
Whose whorish breath hath pow'r to lead
His excellence which way it list-
O let such lips be never kiss'd!
From a breath so far excelling,
Bless my sovereign and his smelling.

THE ABSTRACT.

SEEING.

AND now, just God, I humbly pray, That thou wilt take the slime away

ON ONE NAMED MARGARET.

In shells and gold pearls are not kept alone,
A Margaret here lies beneath a stone;

A Margaret that did excel in worth
All those rich gems the Indies both send forth;
Who, had she liv'd when good was lov'd of men,
Had made the Graces four, the Muses ten;
And forc'd those happy times her days that claim'd,
From her, to be the Age of Pearl still nam'd;
She was the richest jewel of her kind,
Grac'd with more lustre than she left behind,
All goodness, virtue, bounty; and could cheer
The saddest minds; now Nature knowing here
How things but shown, then hidden, are lov'd best,
This Margaret 'shrin'd in this marble chest.

ON A YOUNG LADY.

THIS beauty fair, which death in dust did turn,
And clos'd so soon within a coffin sad,
Did pass like lightning, like the thunder burn,
So little life, so much of worth it had.
Heav'ns, but to show their might, here made it shine;
And, when admir'd, then in the world's disdain,
O tears! O grief! did call it back again,
Lest Earth should vaunt she kept what was divine.
What can we hope for more, what more enjoy,
Sith fairest things thus soonest have their end;
And, as on bodies shadows do attend,
Sith all our bliss is follow'd with annoy?
She is not dead, she lives where she did love,
Her memory on Earth, her soul above.

A REPLY.

WHO love enjoys, and placed hath his mind
Where fairer virtues fairest beauties grace;
Then in himself such store of worth doth find,
That he deserves to find so good a place;
To chilling fears how can he be set forth
Whose fears condemn his own, doubt others' worth?

Desire, as flames of zeal, fear, horrours meets,
They rise who fall of falling never prov'd.
Who is so dainty, satiate with sweets,
To murmur when the banquet is remov'd?
The fairest hopes time in the bud destroys,
When sweet are memories of ruin'd joys.

It is no hill, but Heaven where you remain ;
And whom desert advanced hath so high
To reach the guerdon of his burning pain,
Must not repine to fall, and falling die:
His hopes are crown'd. What years of tedious breath
Can them compare with such a happy death?

UPON THE DEATH OF JOHN EARL OF LAUDER-
DALE.

Of those rare worthies who adorn'd our north,
And shone like constellations, thou alone
Remainedst last, great Maitland! charg'd with worth,
Second, in virtue's theatre, to none.