On the death of a fair Infant, dying of a cough. I. FAIREST flow'r no sooner blown but blafsted, Summer's chief honor, if thou hadft out-lafted That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, But kill'd, alas, and then bewail'd his fatal blifs. II. For fince grim Aquilo his charioteer By boiftrous rape th’Athenian damsel got, 5 ΙΟ Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, (held. Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was III. So mounting up in icy-pearled car, Through middle empire of the freezing air 20 But all unwares with his cold-kind embrace Unhous'd thy virgin foul from her fair biding place. IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; 25 But then transform'd him to a purple flower: Alack that fo to change thee Winter had no power. V. Yet can I not perfuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corfe corrupts in earth's dark womb, 30 Hid from the world in a low delved tomb; Oh no! for fomething in thy face did fhine Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, 35 Whether Whether above that high first-moving sphere, 40 Oh fay me true, if thou wert mortal wight, Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof, O fheeny Heav'n, and thou some Goddess fled Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head? VIII. Or wert thou that just Maid who once before Or wert thou that sweet smiling Youth? Or that crown'd matron sage white-robed Truth? Or any other of that heav'nly brood 45 50 55 Let down in cloudy throne to do the world fome good? IX. Or wert thou of the golden-winged hoft, Thereby to set the hearts of men on fire 60 To scorn the fordid world, and unto Heav'n aspire? X. But oh why didst thou not stay here below To turn swift-rushing black perdition hence, To ftand 'twixt us and our deserved fmart? 65 69 But thou canst best perform that office where thou art. XI. Then thou the Mother of fo fweet a Child II. 75 Anno AEtatis 19. At a Vacation Exercife in the college, part Latin, part English. The Latin speeches ended, the English thus began. H A IL native Language, that by finews weak Didst move my firft endevoring tongue to speak, And mad'ft imperfect words with childish trips, Half unpronounc'd, flide through my infant-lips, Driving dumb filence from the portal door, Where he had mutely fat two years before: Here I falute thee, and thy pardon ask, That now I use thee in my latter task: 5 Small Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee, 10 15 For this same small neglect that I have made: And from thy wardrobe bring thy chiefeft treasure, Thy service in fome graver subject use, Such as may make thee search thy coffers round, How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, L 3 20 25 30 35 Liftning |