But soon as once set is our little light, If all would lead their lives in love like me, When timely death my life and fortune ends, Let not my hearse be vext with mourning friends; And with sweet pastimes grace my happy tomb: And crown with love my ever-during night. 1601. ROSE-CHEEKED LAURA, COME Rose-cheeked Laura, come; Sing thou smoothly with thy beauty's Sweetly gracing. Lovely forms do flow From concent divinely framèd; Heav'n is music, and thy beauty's Birth is heavenly. These dull notes we sing Discords need for helps to grace them; Only beauty, purely loving, Knows no discord, But still moves delight, Like clear springs renewed by flowing, Ever perfect, ever in them Selves eternal. THE MAN OF LIFE UPRIGHT The man of life upright Whose guiltless heart is free From all dishonest deeds Or thought of vanity; 1502. The man whose silent days In harmless joys are spent, That man needs neither towers Nor armour for defence, From thunder's violence. He only can behold With unaffrighted eyes The horrors of the deep And terrors of the skies. Thus scorning all the cares That fate or fortune brings, His wisdom heavenly things; Good thoughts his only friends; The earth his sober inn And quiet pilgrimage. About 1613. JACK AND JOAN, THEY THINK NO ILL Jack and Joan, they think no ill, But loving live, and merry still; Do their week-days' work, and pray Devoutly on the holy-day; Skip and trip it on the green, And help to choose the Summer Queen; Lash out at a country feast Their silver penny with the best. 5 ΙΟ 15 20 5 Well can they judge of nappy ale, And tell at large a winter tale; ΙΟ Climb up to the apple loft, And turn the crabs till they be soft. Tib is all the father's joy, And little Tom the mother's boy. All their pleasure is content; And care, to pay their yearly rent. Joan can call by name her cows, And deck her windows with green boughs; She can wreaths and tutties make, Now, you courtly dames and knights, 15 20 25 3390 About 1613. NEVER WEATHER-BEATEN SAIL Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore, Never tired pilgrim's limbs affected slumber more, Than my weary sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled breast. O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest! Ever blooming are the joys of heaven's high paradise: 5 About 1613. NOW WINTER NIGHTS ENLARGE Now winter nights enlarge The number of their hours, And clouds their storms discharge Upon the airy towers. Let now the chimneys blaze, 5 Now yellow waxen lights Shall wait on honey love, While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights Sleep's leaden spells remove. This time doth well dispense The summer hath his joys, And winter his delights; Though love and all his pleasures are but toys, About 1617. ΙΟ 15 20 GOOD WIFE What is it all that men possess, among themselves conversing? befriends us; Sweet or sour, they willing go to share what fortune sends us. What pretty babes with pain they bear, our name and form presenting. 5 What we get, how wise they keep, by sparing, wants preventing, About 1617. THRICE TOSS THESE OAKEN ASHES IN THE AIR Thrice toss these oaken ashes in the air, Thrice sit thou mute in this enchanted chair, And thrice three times tie up this true-love's knot, Go burn these poisoned weeds in yon blue fire, Then come, you fairies, dance with me a round; About 1617. SHALL I, THEN, HOPE WHEN FAITH IS FLED Shall I, then, hope when faith is fled? Poorly he lives that can love none. Her vows are broke, and I am free: When I compare mine own events, Thus I of all complain, since she So my dear freedom have I gained, As she my service did embrace. But she is changed, and I am free: About 1617. 5 10 5 ΙΟ 15 |