FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree, But you may stay yet here awhile, What! were ye born to be An hour or half's delight, But you are lovely leaves, where we May read how soon things have Their end, though ne'er so brave; And after they have shown their pride, Like you, awhile, they glide Into the grave. TO KEEP A TRUE LENT. Is this a fast, to keep The larder lean, From fat of veals and sheep? Is it to quit the dish Of flesh, yet still The platter high with fish? Is it to fast an hour, Or rag'd to go, A downcast look, and sour? GEORGE HERBERT. Where they together, All the hard weather, REST. WHEN God at first made man, Having a glass of blessings standing by, Let us," said he, "pour on him all we can: Let the world's riches, which disperséd lie, Contract into a span." So strength first made a way; Dead to the world, keep house un- Then beauty flowed; then wisdom, honor, known. pleasure: When almost all was out, God made a stay. Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure, Rest in the bottom lay. "For if I should," said he, "Bestow this jewel also on my creature, He would adore my gifts instead of me, And rest in nature, not the God of nature; So both should losers be. "Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness: Let him be rich and weary, that at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast." HENRY VAUGHAN. [1614-1695.] THE BIRD. HITHER thou com'st. The busy wind all night Blew through thy lodging, where thy own warm wing Thy pillow was. Many a sullen storm, For which coarse man seems much the fitter born, Rained on thy bed And harmless head; And now, as fresh and cheerful as the light, Thy little heart in early hymns doth sing Unto that Providence whose unseen arin Curbed them, and clothed thee well and warm. All things that be praise Him; and had Their lesson taught them when first made. So hills and valleys into singing break ; And though poor stones have neither speech nor tongue, For sure if others knew me such, I should have been dispraised as much The praise, therefore, which I have heard, As those things make my heart afeard, So I were blameless made, Though slanders to an innocent And when a virtuous man hath erred, Lord! therefore make my heart upright, Let thankfulness be found in me, By her help I also now Make this churlish place allow ness, In the very gall of sadness. Though thou be to them a scorn, COMPANIONSHIP OF THE MUSE. SHE doth tell me where to borrow |