WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY CAPTAIN or Colonel, or Knight in Arms, Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. He can requite thee; for he knows the charms That call fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower: The great Emathian conqueror bid spare The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower Went to the ground; and the repeated air Of sad Electra's poet had the power To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth Wisely hast shunned the broad way and the green, Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure Thou, when the Bridegroom with his feastful friends Passes to bliss at the mid-hour of night, Hast gained thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY DAUGHTER to that good Earl, once President Broke him, as that dishonest victory Killed with report that old man eloquent,. ́ ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON MY WRITING CERTAIN TREATISES A Book was writ of late called Tetrachordon, And woven close, both matter, form, and style; Cries the stall-reader, "Bless us! what a word on Stand spelling false, while one might walk to Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp? Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp. Thy age, like ours, O soul of Sir John Cheek, Hated not learning worse than toad or asp, ON THE SAME I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs When straight a barbarous noise environs me As when those hinds that were transformed to frogs Which after held the Sun and Moon in fee. That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, free. Licence they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that must first be wise and good: But from that mark how far they rove we see, For all this waste of wealth and loss of blood. ON THE NEW FORCERS OF CONSCIENCE BECAUSE you have thrown off your Prelate Lord, To force our consciences that Christ set free, May with their wholesome and preventive shears TO MR. H. LAWES ON HIS AIRS HARRY, whose tuneful and well-measured song H Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng, That with smooth air couldst humour best our tongue. Thou honour'st Verse, and Verse must send her wing ON THE RELIGIOUS MEMORY OF MRS. CATHERINE THOMSON, MY CHRISTIAN FRIEND, DECEASED DEC. 16, 1646 WHEN Faith and Love, which parted from thee never, Had ripened thy just soul to dwell with God, Meekly thou didst resign this earthy load Of death, called life, which us from life doth sever. Thy works, and alms, and all thy good endeavour, Stayed not behind, nor in the grave were trod; Before the Judge; who thenceforth bid thee rest, |