I KNOW that all beneath the moon decays;
And what by mortals, in this world is brought,
In Time's great periods, shall return to nought!
That fairest States have fatal nights and days.
I know how all the Muses' heavenly Lays

(With toil of sp'rit which are so dearly bought!)
As idle sounds, of few, or none, are sought;
And that naught lighter is, than airy praise!
I know frail Beauty, like the purple flower,

To which one morn of birth and death affords! That Love, a jarring is of minds' accords; Where Sense and Will invassal Reason's power!

Know what I list, this all can not me move!
But that, O, me! I both must write, and love!

SWEET Spring! thou turn'st, with all thy goodly Train, Thy head, with flames; thy mantle bright with flowers! The Zephyrs curl the green locks of the plain,

The clouds, for joy, in pearls weep down their showers. Thou turn'st, sweet Youth! but, ah! my pleasant hours And happy days, with thee come not again! The sad memorials only of my pain

Do with thee turn; which turn my sweets in sours! Thou art the same, which still thou wast before,

Delicious, wanton, amiable, fair!

But She, whose breath embalmed thy wholesome air, Is gone! nor gold, nor gems, her can restore! Neglected Virtue! seasons go and come; While thine forgot lie closèd in a tomb!

O, SACRED Blush, impurpling cheeks' pure skies With crimson wings, which spread thee like the Morn! O, bashful Look, sent from those shining eyes;

Which, though cast down on earth, couldst heaven O, Tongue, in which most luscious nectar lies; [adorn! That can, at once, both bless and make forlorn! Dear coral Lip, which Beauty beautifies,

That trembling stood, ere that her words were born.
And you,
her Words! Words, no! but Golden Chains;
Which did captive mine ears, ensnare my soul!
Wise image of her mind! Mind that contains
A power, all power of senses to control.

Ye all from love dissuade so sweetly me,
That I love more! if more my love could be.

SLEEP! Silence's child! Sweet father of soft Rest!
Prince, whose approach, peace to all mortals brings;
Indifferent host to Shepherds and to Kings:
Sole comforter of minds, with grief opprest.
Lo, by thy charming rod, all breathing things
Lie slumb'ring, with forgetfulness possest:
And yet, o'er me to spread thy drowsy wings

Thou spar'st, alas! who cannot be thy guest.
Since I am thine, O, come! but with that face

To inward light, which thou art wont to show. With feigned solace ease a true-felt woe! Or if, deaf God! thou do deny that grace;

Come as thou wilt! and what thou wilt, bequeath! I long to kiss the Image of my Death!

SHE, whose fair flowers no Autumn makes decay,
Whose hue celestial earthly hues doth stain,
Into a pleasant odoriferous plain

Did walk alone, to brave the pride of May.
And whilst, through chequered Lists She made her way;
Which smiled about, her sight to entertain;
Lo, unawares, where LOVE did hid remain
She spied; and sought to make of him her prey.
For which, of golden locks a fairest hair

(To bind the Boy) She took: but he, afraid, At her approach, sprang swiftly in the air;

And, mounting far from reach, looked back, and said, 'Why shouldst thou, Sweet! me seek in chains to Sith in thine eyes I daily am confined!' [bind;

ALEXIS! here, She stayed! Among these pines,
Sweet Hermitress! She did alone repair!

Here, did She spread the treasure of her hair, More rich than that brought from the Colchian mines. She set her by these musket eglantines;

The happy place, the print seems yet to bear! Her voice did sweeten here thy sugared lines;

To which, winds, trees, beasts, birds, did lend their ear.
Me here, She first perceived; and here, a Morn
Of bright carnations did o'erspread her face!
Here, did She sigh! Here, first my hopes were born;
And I first got a pledge of promised grace!

But, ah! what served it to be happy so!
Sith passed pleasures double but new woe!

PANGLORY'S WOOING SONG.

THEREFORE, above the rest, AMBITION sat.

His Court with glitterant pearl was all enwalled; And round about the wall, in Chairs of State

And most majestic splendour, were installed A hundred Kings: whose temples were impaled In golden diadems, set here and there With diamonds, and gemmèd everywhere; And of their golden verges none disceptered were.

High over all, PANGLORY'S blazing throne,

(In her bright turret, all of crystal wrought) Like PHOEBUS' lamp in the midst of heaven shone: Whose starry top (with pride infernal fraught) Self-arching columns, to uphold were taught. In which her image still reflected was, By the smooth crystal; that, most like her glass, In beauty, and in frailty, did all others pass.

A silver wand, the Sorceress did sway:

And for a crown of gold, her hair she wore; Only a garland of rosebuds did play

About her locks; and in her hand she bore
A hollow globe of glass, that long before
She full of emptiness had bladderèd,
And all the world therein depicturèd;

Whose colours, like the rainbow, ever vanished.

Such watʼry orbicles young boys do blow

Out from their soapy shells; and much admire The swimming world, which tenderly they row With easy breath, till it be waved higher : But if they chance but roughly once aspire, The painted bubble instantly doth fall! Here, when she came, she gan for music call; And sang this Wooing Song, to welcome Him withal

'LOVE is the blossom, where there blows
Every thing that lives, or grows!
Love doth make the heavens to move;
And the sun doth burn in love!
Love the strong and weak doth yoke,
And makes the ivy climb the oak;
Under whose shadows lions wild,
Softened by Love, grow tame and mild!
'LOVE no med'cine can appease!
He burns the fishes in the seas.

Not all the skill, his wounds can stench!
Not all the sea, his fire can quench!
'Love did make the bloody spear

Once a leavy coat to wear;
While, in his leaves, there shrouded lay
Sweet birds, for Love that sing and play!
'And of all Love's joyful flame,
I the bud and blossom am!

'Only bend thy knee to me;
Thy Wooing shall thy Winning be!