THOMAS NASHE [1567-1601] SPRING SPRING, the sweet Spring, is the year's pleasant king; Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring, Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing, Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! The palm and may make country houses gay, The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet, Spring! the sweet Spring! [From SUMMER'S LAST WILL.] THOMAS CAMPION [1567?-1619] CHERRY-RIPE THERE is a garden in her face Where roses and white lilies blow; Wherein all pleasant fruits do flow2: There cherries grow which none may buy Those cherries fairly do enclose Of orient pearl a double row, 1 flowers of the hawthorn. 2 flower (verb). Which when her lovely laughter shows, Her eyes like angels watch them still; Her brows like bended bows do stand, Those sacred cherries to come nigh WHEN TO HER LUTE CORINNA SINGS WHEN to her lute Corinna sings, But when she doth of mourning speak, Led by her passion, so must I: For when of pleasure she doth sing, My thoughts enjoy a sudden spring, But if she doth of sorrow speak, E'en from my heart the strings do break. A RENUNCIATION THOU art not fair, for all thy red and white, Thou art not sweet, though made of mere delight, I will not soothe thy fancies; thou shalt prove Yet love not me, nor seek not to allure My thoughts with beauty, were it more divine: Thy smiles and kisses I cannot endure, I'll not be wrapped up in those arms of thine. Now show it, if thou be a woman right— Embrace and kiss and love me in despite! THE MAN OF LIFE UPRIGHT THE man of life upright, Whose guiltless heart is free From all dishonest deeds, The man whose silent days That man needs neither towers Nor armour for defence, Nor secret vaults to fly From thunder's violence. He only can behold With unaffrighted eyes And terrors of the skies. Thus scorning all the cares Good thoughts his only friends, And quiet pilgrimage. SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI COME, cheerful day, part of my life to me; But O ye nights, ordained for barren rest, SIR HENRY WOTTON [1568-1639] THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE How happy is he born and taught Whose passions not his masters are; Of public fame or private breath; Who envies none that chance doth raise, Who hath his life from rumours freed; Whose state can neither flatterers feed, Who God doth late and early pray With a religious book or friend— This man is freed from servile bands SIR JOHN DAVIES [1569-1626] TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOUL THOU! that hast fashioned twice this soul of ours, Thou only knowst her nature and her powers; To judge herself, she must herself transcend; But she wants power her own powers to extend; But Thou, bright morning Star!' Thou, rising Sun! Thou, like the sun, dost with indifferent ray And showst the soul, both to the clerk and lay, 1 See Revelation xxii, 16. |