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The highest honours that the world can boast,
Are subjects far too low for my desire;
The brightest beams of glory are (at most)
But dying sparkles of Thy living fire:

The loudest flames that earth can kindle, be
But nightly glow-worms, if compared to Thee.

Without Thy presence wealth is bags of cares;
Wisdom but folly; joy disquiet-sadness:
Friendship is treason, and delights are snares;
Pleasures but pain, and mirth but pleasing madness;
Without Thee, Lord, things be not what they be,
Nor have they being, when compared with Thee.

In having all things, and not Thee, what have I?
Not having Thee, what have my labours got?
Let me enjoy but Thee, what further crave I?
And having Thee alone, what have I not?

I wish nor sea nor land; nor would I be
Possess'd of heaven, heaven unpossess'd by Thee.

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[WILLIAM BROWNE was born at Tavistock, in Devonshire, in 1590, was educated at Oxford, and entered the Inner Temple, but did not follow the law as a profession. He lived in the family of the Earl of Pembroke, and realized the means of purchasing an estate. He died in 1645.

His best poems were written before he was twenty years of age; and as he published none of them after he was thirty, they contain marks of puerility and imitations of other authors, and are without much vigour.]

NOW great Hyperion left his golden throne

That on the dancing waves in glory shone,

For whose declining on the western shore
The oriental hills black mantles wore,
And thence apace the gentle twilight fled,
That had from hideous caverns usherèd
All-drowsy night; who, in a car of jet,

By steeds of iron-gray (which mainly sweat

Moist drops on all the world) drawn through the sky,
The helps of darkness waited orderly.

First, thick clouds rose from all the liquid plains :
Then mists from marishes, and grounds whose veins
Were conduit pipes to many a crystal spring:
From standing pools and fens were following
Unhealthy fogs: each river, every rill
Sent up their vapours to attend her will.

These pitchy curtains drew 'twixt earth and heaven,
And as Night's chariot through the air was driven,
Clamour grew dumb, unheard was shepherd's song,
And silence girt the woods; no warbling tongue
Talk'd to the echo; satyrs broke their dance,
And all the upper world lay in a trance:
Only the curled streams soft chidings kept;
And little gales, that from the green leaf swept
Dry summer's dust, in fearful whisperings stirr'd,
As loath to waken any singing bird.

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"THRICE HAPPY HE WHO BY SOME SHADY GROVE."

BY WILLIAM DRUMMOND.-1585-1649.

[WILLIAM DRUMMOND was born at Hawthornden, in Scotland, in 1585. He was intended for the bar, and studied civil law for four years

in France; but he abandoned the legal profession when he succeeded to his paternal estate, and returned to Hawthornden, where he wrote some beautiful poetry. The death of a lady to whom he was betrothed affected him very much, and he sought a solace for his grief in travel. On his return, after an absence of some years, he saw a person who strongly resembled the former object of his love, and asking her hand, he obtained it. He died in 1649, it is said of grief, at the execution of Charles I., to whose cause he was greatly attached.

Drummond's poetry is sweet and harmonious.

His chief productions

are remarkable for purity of language not less than for harmony and play of fancy. His sonnets are amongst the finest in the English language.]

'HRICE happy he who by some shady grove,

THRI

Far from the clamorous world, doth live his own. Thou solitary, who is not alone,

But doth converse with that eternal love.

O how more sweet is bird's harmonious moan,

Or the hoarse sobbings of the widow'd dove,

Than those smooth whisperings near a prince's throne,
Which good make doubtful, do the evil approve!
O how more sweet is Zephyr's wholesome breath,
And sighs embalm'd which new-born flowers unfold,
Than that applause vain honour doth bequeath!
How sweet are streams to poison drank in gold!
The world is full of horror, troubles, slights:
Woods' harmless shades have only true delights.

TO THE THRUSH.

A SONNET.

WEET bird! that sing'st away the early hours

SWEET

Of winters past, or coming, void of care;
Well pleased with delights which present are,

Fair seasons, budding sprays, sweet-smelling flowers:
To rocks, to springs, to rills, from leafy bowers,
Thou thy Creator's goodness dost declare,
And what dear gifts to thee He did not spare,
A stain to human sense in sin that low'rs.

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