Hesperus entreats thy light,
Goddess, excellently bright.
Earth, let not thy envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;
Cynthia's shining orb was made
Heav'n to clear, when day did close:
Bless us then with wishèd sight,
Goddess, excellently bright.
Lay thy bow of pearl apart,
And thy crystal shining quiver;
Give unto the flying hart1
Space to breathe, how short soever;
Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddess, excellently bright.
TRUE GROWTH.
It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make Man better be;
Or standing long, an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:1
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night
It was the plant and flower of Light!
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be.
2 Venus, the evening star.
3 Cynthia, another name for the
moon; from Mount Cynthus, in
the island of Delos, the fabled
1 sere,
birth-place of Artemis, or Diana, the moon goddess.
4 Diana is pictured as chasing the hart.
ADVICE TO A YOUTH.
LEARN to be wise, and practise how to thrive;
That would I have you do: and not to spend.
Your coin on every bauble that you fancy,
Or every foolish brain that humours you.
I would not have you to invade each place,
Nor thrust yourself on all societies,
Till men's affections, or your own desert,1
Should worthily invite you to your rank.
He that is so respectless in his courses,
Oft sells his reputation at cheap market.
Nor would I you should melt away yourself
In flashing bravery, lest, while you affect1
To make a blaze of gentry to the world,
A little puff of scorn extinguish it;
And you be left like an unsavoury snuff,
Whose property is only to offend.
I'd have you sober, and contain yourself;
Not that your sail be bigger than your boat;
But moderate your expenses now, at first,
As you may keep the same proportion still:
Nor stand so much on your gentility,
Which is an airy and mere borrowed thing,
From dead men's dust, and bones; and
Except you make, or hold it.
2 respectless, wanting is selfrespect.
3 flashing bravery, in fine dress.
Brave meant orig. gaily dressed,
fine, handsome. Compare Scotch braw and Ger. brav, beautiful.
5 blaze of gentry, to pass off as high born, or rich.
DRINK to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise,
Doth ask a drink divine:
But might I of Jove's nectar1 sup,
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honouring thee,
As giving it a hope that there
It could not wither'd be.
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
And sent'st it back to me :
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, Not of itself, but thee.
1 nectar, the drink of the gods.
JOHN FLETCHER.-Born, 1579; Died, 1625.
His name is for ever associated with that of Francis Beaumont, his friend; the two having written most of their productions jointly. He was the son of a vicar, afterwards Bishop of London. The plays by the two friends are numerous, and full of genius, but licentious. COUNTRY SCENES IN OLDEN DAYS.
SEE the day begins to break,
And the light shoots like a streak
Of subtle fire; the wind blows cold
While the morning doth unfold;
Now the birds begin to rouse,
And the squirrel from the boughs
Leaps, to get him nuts and fruit;
The early lark, that erst1 was mute,
Carols to the rising day
Many a note and many a lay.
UNFOLDING THE FLOCKS.
Shepherds, rise, and shake off sleep—
See the blushing morn doth peep
Through the windows, while the sun
To the mountain-tops is run,
Gilding all the vales below
With his rising flames, which grow
Greater by his climbing still.-
Up! ye lazy swains! and fill
Bag and bottle for the field;
Clasp your cloaks fast, lest they yield
erst, first, super. of ere-(ere-est.)
To the bitter north-east wind.
Call the maidens up, and find
Who lies longest, that she may
Be chidden for untimed delay.
Feed your faithful dogs, and pray
Heaven to keep you from decay;2
So unfold, and then away.
FOLDING THE FLOCKS.
Shepherds all, and maidens fair,
Fold your flocks up; for the air
'Gins to thicken, and the sun
Already his great course hath run.
See the dew-drops how they kiss
Every little flower that is;
Hanging on their velvet heads,
Like a rope of crystal beads.
See the heavy clouds low falling,
And bright Hesperus down calling
The dead Night from underground;
At whose rising, mists unsound,
Damps and vapours, fly apace,
Hovering o'er the wanton3 face
Of these pastures, where they come
Striking dead both bud and bloom:
Therefore from such danger lock
Every one his lovèd flock;
And let your dogs lie loose without,
Lest the wolf come as a scout1
3 wanton, bending in the wind.
4 craftily, as a scout comes, who is
sent out to watch the enemy.
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