30

UPON JULIA'S VOICE

So smooth, so sweet, so silvery is thy voice As, could they hear, the damn'd would make no noise,

But listen to thee, walking in thy chamber, Melting melodious words to lutes of amber.

31

AGAIN

WHEN I thy singing next shall hear,
I'll wish I might turn all to ear,
To drink in notes and numbers such
As blessed souls can't hear too much;
Then melted down, there let me lie
Entranc'd and lost confusedly,
And by thy music stricken mute,
Die and be turn'd into a lute.

32

ALL THINGS DECAY AND DIE

ALL things decay with time: the forest sees The growth and downfall of her aged

trees;

That timber tall, which threescore lusters stood

The proud dictator of the state-like wood, I mean (the sovereign of all plants) the oak, Droops, dies, and falls without the cleaver's stroke.

33

THE SUCCESSION OF THE FOUR SWEET

MONTHS

FIRST, April, she with mellow showers
Opens the way for early flowers;
Then after her comes smiling May,
In a more rich and sweet array;
Next enters June, and brings us more
Gems than those two that went before;
Then (lastly) July comes, and she

More wealth brings in than all those three.

34

UPON HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, MISTRESS

ELIZABETH HERRICK

FIRST, for effusions due unto the dead, My solemn vows have here accomplished: Next, how I love thee, that my grief must

tell,

Wherein thou liv'st forever. Dear, fare

well.

35

TO THE MOST COMELY AND PROPER
MISTRESS ELIZABETH FINCH

HANDSOME you are, and proper you will be
Despite of all your infortunity.

Live long and lovely, but yet grow no less In that your own prefixed comeliness. Spend on that stock; and when your life must fall,

Leave others beauty to set up withal.

36

UPON ROSES

UNDER a lawn, than skies more clear,
Some ruffled roses nestling were;
And, snugging there, they seem'd to lie
As in a flowery nunnery.

They blush'd, and look'd more fresh than flowers

Quicken'd of late by pearly showers,
And all because they were possess'd
But of the heat of Julia's breast,

Which, as a warm and moisten'd spring,
Gave them their ever-flourishing.

37

THE CHEAT OF CUPID, OR THE UNGENTLE GUEST

ONE silent night of late,

When every creature rested,

Came one unto my gate

And, knocking, me molested.

Who 's that, said I, beats there,
And troubles thus the sleepy?
Cast off, said he, all fear,

And let not locks thus keep ye.

For I a boy am, who

By moonless nights have swerved; And all with showers wet through, And e'en with cold half starved.

I pitiful arose,

And soon a taper lighted;

And did myself disclose

Unto the lad benighted.

I saw he had a bow

And wings, too, which did shiver; And, looking down below,

I spied he had a quiver.

I to my chimney's shine

Brought him, as love professes,
And chafed his hands with mine,
And dried his drooping tresses.

But when he felt him warmed:
Let's try this bow of ours,
And string, if they be harmed,
Said he, with these late showers.

Forthwith his bow he bent,

And wedded string and arrow,

And struck me, that it went

Quite through my heart and marrow.

Then, laughing loud, he flew
Away, and thus said, flying:

Adieu, mine host, adieu,

I'll leave thy heart a-dying.

38

DREAMS

HERE we are all by day; by night we 're

hurl'd

By dreams, each one into a several world.