G XCII THE PILGRIMAGE IVE me my scallop-shell of quiet, My gown of glory, hope's true gage; Sir Walter Raleigh XCIII H THE HAPPY LIFE OW happy is he born and taught That serveth not another's will; Whose armor is his honest thought, And simple truth his utmost skill; Whose passions not his masters are, Whose soul is still prepared for death, Untied unto the worldly care Of public fame, or private breath; Who envies none that chance doth raise, Who hath his life from rumors freed, Who God doth late and early pray, This man is freed from servile bands Sir Henry Wotton XCIV THE GOOD LIFE-LONG LIFE T is not growing like a tree It is not to make men better be; Or standing long an oak three hundred year, 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. Ben Jonson XCV SIN LORD, with what care hast thou begirt us round! Parents first season us: then schoolmasters Deliver us to laws; they send us bound Pulpits and Sundays, sorrow dogging sin, Blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness, Yet all these fences, and their whole array, XCVI VIRTUE WEET day, so cool, so calm, so bright, SWEET so so so, The dew shall weep thy fall to-night: Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave, And thou must die. Sweet Spring, full of sweet days and roses, Only a sweet and virtuous soul, But though the whole world turn to coal, G. Herbert XCVII S HOLY HABITS LOWLY fashioned, link by link, Till the spirit never shrink, Save from touch of wrong. Holy habits are thy wealth, Golden, pleasant chains; Passing earth's prime blessing-health, Endless, priceless gains; Holy habits give thee place Holy habits are thy joy, Wisdom's pleasant ways, Yielding good without alloy, Lengthening, too, thy days. Seek them, Christian, night and morn, Seek them till thy soul be born T. Davis |