JAMES SHIRLEY. Born 1596. Died 1667. THE A DIRGE. HE glories of our blood and state There is no armour against fate; Death lays his icy hand on kings: Must tumble down, And in the dust be equal made With the poor crooked scythe and spade. Some men with swords may reap the field, And plant fresh laurels where they kill: But their strong nerves at last must yield; They tame but one another still: Early or late They stoop to fate, And must give up their murmuring breath The garlands wither on your brow; Then boast no more your mighty deeds; Upon Death's purple altar now See where the victor-victim bleeds: To the cold tomb; Only the actions of the just Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust. THOMAS DEKKER. Born about 1590. Died 1638. A SWEET CONTENT. RT thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers? Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexèd? O, punishment ! Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexèd To add to golden numbers, golden numbers? O, sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content! Work apace, apace, apace, apace; Honest labour bears a lovely face; Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny! Canst drink the waters of the crispèd spring? O, sweet content! Swimm'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears? O, punishment! Then he that patiently want's burden bears No burden bears, but is a king, a king! O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content! Work apace, apace, apace, apace; Honest labour bears a lovely face; Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny! PATIENCE. ATIENCE! why 'tis the soul of peace: PATI Of all the virtues, 'tis nearest kin to heaven : It makes men look like gods. The best of men H RICHARD CRASHAW. Born 1600. Died 1650. THA THE MYSTERIES OF THE INCARNATION. HAT the great angel-blinding light should shrink That the unmeasured God so low should sink, As prisoner in a few poor rags to lie; That from His mother's breast He milk should drink, Who feeds with nectar heaven's fair family; That a vile manger His low bed should prove, That He whom the sun serves, should faintly peep That Glory's Self should serve our griefs and fears, And further, that the Law's eternal Giver, SAMUEL BUTLER. Born 1612. Died 1680. THE WEAKNESS AND MISERY OF MAN. UR pains are real things, and all OUR Our pleasures but fantastical. Diseases of their own accord, But cures come difficult and hard. To hide us from the world's dull eyes, With which our nakedness is decked, HENRY VAUGHAN. Born 1621. Died 1695. BEYOND THE VEIL. HEY are all gone into the world of light; THEY And I alone sit lingering here ; Their very memory is fair and bright, And my sad thoughts doth clear. It glows and glitters in my cloudy breast, Or those faint beams in which this hill is drest, I see them walking in an air of glory, Whose light doth trample on my days: My days, which are at best but dull and hoary, O holy Hope! and high Humility, High as the heavens above! These are your walks, and you have showed them me, To kindle my cold love. Dear, beauteous Death! the jewel of the just, Shining no where, but in the dark; What mysteries do lie beyond thy dust; Could man outlook that mark! O Father of eternal life, and all Created glories under Thee! Resume thy spirit from this world of thrall, Either disperse these mists, which blot and fill H THE RETREAT. APPY those early days, when I Shined in my angel-infancy! Before I understood this place Appointed for my second race, |