To Althea. From Prison. HEN Love with unconfinèd wings Hovers within thy gates; And my divine Althea brings To whisper at the grates : When I lie tangled in her hair, And fettered to her eye; The birds that wanton in the air Know no such liberty. When flowing cups run swiftly round With no allaying Thames, Our careless heads with roses bound, When thirsty grief in wine we steep, When (like committed linnets) I When I shall voice aloud, how good Know no such liberty. Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage; Minds innocent and quiet take That for an hermitage; 164 FUNERAL DIRGE. If I have freedom in my love, RICHARD LOVELACE. و D Funeral Dirge. EAR as thou wert, and justly dear, One thought shall check the starting tear, And thus shall Faith's consoling power The tears of love restrain; Oh! who that saw thy parting hour, Triumphant in thy closing eye Gently the passing spirit fled, And make my end like thine! REV. T. DALE. [From "The Widow of Nain."] 166 THE MARINER'S WIFE. For there's nae luck about the house, There's nae luck about the house, Is this a time to think o' wark, Rise up and mak a clean fireside, Gie little Kate her cotton goun, And mak their shoon as black as slaes, It's a' to pleasure our gudeman- There are twa hens into the crib, Mak haste and thraw their necks about, My Turkey slippers I'll put on, THE MARINER'S WIFE. Sae sweet his voice, sae smooth his tongue; His breath 's like caller air; His very fit has music in't, As he comes up the stair. And will I see his face again? 167 [WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE is chiefly known by his elegant and scholarly translation of the "Lusiade" of Camoens. He also wrote several ballads of more than average merit. The foregoing may be taken as a favourable specimen.] |