But O, that women have such hearts, Their tears are drawn* that drop deceit, THE SONG OF A COUNTRY SWAIN AT THE RETURN OF THE silent shade had shadow'd every tree, When thus All things did from their weary labour lin,† "I left the fields and took me to the town, Fold sheep who list, the hook was cast away; Menalcas would not be a country clown, Nor shepherd's weeds, but garments far more gay: Even then, When thus Aspiring thoughts did follow after ruth, Began the faults and follies of my youth. "My suits were silk, my talk was all of state, When thus I lash'd out lavish, then began my ruth, And then I felt the follies of my youth. "I cast mine eye on every wanton face, Love trapp'd me in the fatal bands of ruth, "No cost I spar'd to please my mistress' eye, No time ill-spent in presence of her sight; * His thoughts and dumps befitting well the place: Yet oft she frown'd, and then her love must Even then, When thus SONG. DESCRIPTION OF THE LADY MESIA.‡ HER stature and her shape were passing tall, Diana-like, when 'longst the lawns she goes; A stately pace, like Juno when she brav'd The Queen of Love § 'fore Paris in the vale ; A front beset with love and majesty ; A face like lovely Venus when she blush'd A seely shepherd should be beauty's judge; A lip sweet ruby-red, grac'd with delight; Her eyes two sparkling stars in winter-night When chilling frost doth clear the azur'd sky; Her hairs, in tresses twin'd with threads of silk, Hung waving down like Phoebus' in his prime; Her breasts as white as those two snowy swans That draw to Paphos Cupid's smiling dame; A foot like Thetis' when she tripp'd the sands To steal Neptunus' favour with her || steps; In fine, a piece, despite of beauty, fram'd To show what Nature's cunning could afford. SWEET are the thoughts that savour of content; The quiet mind is richer than a crown; Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent ; The poor estate scorns fortune's angry frown: Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss. [bliss, The homely house that harbours quiet rest; night to the morning; Broken sleeps, sweet dreams, but short, from the [Apollo; Venus dash'd, his mistress' face as bright as Helena stain'd, the golden ball wrong-given by the shepherd; Hairs of gold, eyes twinkling stars, her lips to be rubies; Teeth of pearl, her breasts like snow, her cheeks to be roses; Sugar-candy she is, as I guess, from the waist to the kneestead; Naught is amiss, no fault were found, if soul were amended; All were bliss, if such fond lust led not to repentance. *appaled] Qy. "impell'd"? + mind] The 4to. "mindes." FROM DANTE. ("Il vizio che conduce," &c.) A MONSTER Seated in the midst of men, Which, daily fed, is never satiate; * A hollow gulf of vile ingratitude, FROM THE GROATSWORTH OF WIT. (ED. 1617.) LAMILIA'S SONG. FIE, fie on blind fancy! When Love learn'd first the A B C of delight, Fie, fie, then, on fancy! It hinders youth's joy: Fair virgins, learn by me To count love a toy. For since he learn'd to use the poet's pen, Witching chaste ears with trothless tongues of * vile] The 4to. "vild": but see note t, p. 167, sec. col. VERSES AGAINST ENTICING COURTE ZANS. WHAT mean the poets in* invective verse VERSES. DECEIVING World, that with alluring toys How well are they that die ere they be born, And never see thy sleights, which few men shun Till unawares they helpless are undone ! Oft have I sung of Love and of his fire; What thoughts of love, what motion of delight, Witness my want, the murderer of my wit: O, that a year were granted me to live, Time loosely spent will not again be won; A CONCEITED FABLE OF THE OLD COMEDIAN ESOP. AN ant and a grasshopper, walking together on a green, the one carelessly skipping, the other carefully prying what winter's provision was scattered in the way; the grasshopper scorning (as wantons will) this needless thrift, as he termed it, reproved him thus; "The greedy miser thirsteth still for gain; His thrift is theft, his weal works others woe: That fool is fond which will in caves remain, When 'mongst fair sweets he may at pleasure go." To this, the ant, perceiving the grasshopper's meaning, quickly replied; "The thrifty husband spares what unthrift* spends, His thrift no theft, for dangers to provide: Trust to thyself; small hope in want yield friends: A cave is better than the deserts wide t.” In short time these two parted, the one to his pleasure, the other to his labour. Anon harvest grew on, and reft from the grasshopper his wonted moisture. Then weakly skips he to the meadows' brinks, where till fell winter he abode. But storms continually pouring, he went for succour to the ant, his old acquaintance; to whom he had scarce discovered his estate, but the little worm made this reply; "Pack hence," quoth he, "thou idle, lazy worm; My house doth harbour no unthrifty mates: Thou scorn'dst to toil, and now thou feel'st the storm, And starv'st for food, while I am fed with cates: Use no entreats, I will relentless rest, For toiling labour hates an idle guest." The grasshopper, foodless, helpless, and strengthless, got into the next brook, and in the yielding sand digged himself a pit: by which likewise he engraved this epitaph; "When spring's green prime array'd me with delight, And every power, with youthful vigour fill'd, Gave strength to work whatever fancy will'd, I never fear'd the force of winter's spite. "When first I saw the sun the day begin, And dry the morning's tears from herbs and grass, *unthrift The 4to. "vnthrifts." twide] The 4to. "wilde." tinto] Equivalent to "unto": see note t, p. 111, sec. col. I little thought his cheerful light would pass, wail'd; But neither tears for this or that avail'd. "Then too-too late I prais'd the emmet's pain, That sought in spring a harbour 'gainst the heat, And in the harvest gather'd winter's meat, Perceiving famine, frosts, and stormy rain. "My wretched end may warn green-springing youth To use delights as toys that will deceive, And scorn the world before the world them leave, For all world's trust is ruin without ruth. Then blest are they that, like the toiling ant, Provide in time 'gainst woeful winter's want." With this the grasshopper, yielding to the weather's extremity, died comfortless without remedy. FROM CICERONIS AMOR, TULLY'S LOVE. (ED. 1597.) VERSES. WHEN gods had fram'd the sweet of women's face, And lock'd men's looks within their golden hair, That Phoebus blush'd to see their matchless grace, And heavenly gods on earth did make repair; To quip fair Venus' overweening pride, Love's happy thoughts to jealousy were tied. Then grew a wrinkle on fair Venus' brow; The amber sweet of love is turn'd to gall; Gloomy was heaven; bright Phoebus did avow He could be coy, and would not love at all, Swearing, no greater mischief could be wrought Than love united to a jealous thought. VERSUS. VITA quæ tandem magis est jucunda, Vel viris doctis magis expetenda, Mente quam pura sociam jugalem Semper amare? Vita quæ tandem magis est dolenda, Nulla eam tollit medicina pestem, SONG. MARS in a fury 'gainst Love's brightest Queen, Put on his helm, and took him to his lance; On Erycinus Mount was Mavors seen, And there his ensigns did the god advance, And by heaven's greatest gates he stoutly swore, Venus should die, for she had wrong'd him sore. Cupid heard this, and he began to cry, And wish'd his mother's absence for a while: "Peace, fool," quoth Venus; "is it I must die? Must it be Marst?" with that she coin'd a smile; She trimm'd her tresses, and did curl her hair, And made her face with beauty passing fair. A fan of silver feathers in her hand,+ And in a coach of ebony she went: She pass'd the place where furious Mars did stand, And out her looks a lovely smile she sent ; Then from her brows leap'd out so sharp a frown, That Mars for fear threw all his armour down. He vow'd repentance for his rash misdeed, Blaming his choler that had caus'd his woe: Venus grew gracious, and with him agreed, But charg'd him not to threaten beauty so, For women's looks are such enchanting charms As can subdue the greatest god in arms. I'll wear the bays, and call the wag a boy, Some give him bow and quiver at his back, And sight he hath, but cannot wrong the wise; For use but labour's weapon for defence, He's god in court, but cottage calls him child, LENTULUS'S DESCRIPTION OF TERENTIA QUALIS in aurora splendescit lumine Titan, Lux, Ariadne, tua, et lux tua, Phœbe, jacet. Venustata fuit verbis, spirabat odorem ; Musica vox, nardus spiritus almus erat; Rubea labra, genæ rubræ, faciesque decora, In qua concertant lilius atque rosa; Luxuriant geminæ formoso in pectore mammæ; Circundant niviæ candida colla coma; Denique talis erat divina Terentia, quales Quondam certantes, Juno, Minerva, Venus. ROUNDELAY. FOND, feigning poets make of love a god, And fair Diana Daphne § most allows : *Erycinus] Our author seems to forget here that the mountain, from which Venus had the name of Erycina, was Eryx: it is not likely that he wrote " Erycina's Mount." + Must it be Mars] Qy. "Must I by Mars"? A fan of silver feathers in her hand] The Rev. J. Mitford (Gent. Mag. for March, 1833, p. 218) compares— "A fan of painted feathers in his hand," &c. Collins's Second Oriental Eclogue. § Daphne] The 4to "Daphnis." THUS IN ENGLISH. BRIGHTSOME Apollo in his richest pomp Was not like to the trammels of her hair; Her eyes, like Ariadne's sparkling stars, Shone from the ebon arches of her brows; Her face was like the blushing of the east When Titan charg'd the morning sun to rise; Her cheeks, rich strew'd with roses and with white, Did stain the glory of Anchises' love; column] The 4to. "columns." t perfume] The 4to. "perfumes." |