Then as a bee, which among weeds doth | There is she crowned with garlands of This honey tasted still, is ever sweet; OF this fair volume which we World do The pleasure of her ravished thought is such, As almost here she with her bliss doth meet. But when in heaven she shall his essence see, This is her sovereign good, and perfect bliss, Her longings, wishings, hopes, all finished be, Her joys are full, her motions rest in this. name If we the sheets and leaves could turn Of him who it corrects, and did it frame, - LADY ELIZABETH CAREW. Untied unto the worldly care Of public fame, or private breath; SIR HENRY WOTTON. But silly we, like foolish children, rest Well pleased with colored vellum, leaves of gold, Fair dangling ribbons, leaving what is best, On the great writer's sense ne'er taking hold; 13 Who envies none that chance doth raise, Who hath his life from rumors freed, Whose conscience is his strong retreat; Whose state can neither flatterers feed, Nor ruin make oppressors great; Who God doth late and early pray, This man is freed from servile bands, LADY ELIZABETH CAREW. [About 1613.] REVENGE OF INJURIES. THE fairest action of our human life If we a worthy enemy do find, To yield to worth it must be nobly done; But if of baser metal be his mind, In base revenge there is no honor won. Who would a worthy courage overthrow? And who would wrestle with a worthless foe? We say our hearts are great, and cannot yield; Because they cannot yield, it proves them poor: Great hearts are tasked beyond their power but seld; The weakest lion will the loudest roar. Truth's school for certain doth this same allow; High-heartedness doth sometimes teach to bow. WILLIAM BYRD. Of a clear conscience, that (without all I see how plenty surfeits oft, stain) And hasty climbers soonest fall; I see that such as sit aloft 15 Mishap doth threaten most of all. These get with toil, and keep with fear; Such cares my mind could never bear. No princely pomp nor wealthy store, No shape to win a lover's eye, Some have too much, yet still they crave; And I am rich with little store. They poor, I rich; they beg, I give; I laugh not at another's loss, I grudge not at another's gain; No worldly wave my mind can toss; I brook that is another's bane. I fear no foe, nor fawn on friend; I loathe not life, nor dread mine end. I joy not in no earthly bliss; I weigh not Croesus' wealth a straw; For care, I care not what it is; I fear not fortune's fatal law; My mind is such as may not move For beauty bright, or force of love. I wish but what I have at will; In greatest storms I sit on shore, And laugh at them that toil in vain To get what must be lost again. I kiss not where I wish to kill; I feign not love where most I hate; I break no sleep to win my will; I wait not at the mighty's gate. I scorn no poor, I fear no rich; I feel no want, nor have too much. The court nor cart I like nor loathe; Extremes are counted worst of all; The golden mean betwixt them both Doth surest sit, and fears no fall; This is my choice; for why, I find No wealth is like a quiet mind. My wealth is health and perfect ease; My conscience clear my chief defence; I never seek by bribes to please, Nor by desert to give offence. Thus do I live, thus will I die; Would all did so as well as I! WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. [1564-1616.] SONGS. ARIEL'S SONG. WHERE the bee sucks, there lurk I; In a cowslip's bell I lie; There I couch when owls do cry; After summer merrily, Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough. THE FAIRY TO PUCK. OVER hill, over dale, AMIENS'S SONG. BLOW, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, That dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot: |