As they were not of Nature's family. Yet must I not give Nature all; thy art, My gentle Shakespeare, must enjoy a part; For though the poet's matter nature be, His art doth give the fashion; and that he Who casts to write a living line must sweat, (Such as thine are) and strike the second heat Upon the Muses' anvil, turn the same (And himself with it) that he thinks to frame, Or, for the laurel, he may gain a scorn;
For a good poet's made, as well as born.
And such wert thou; look how the father's face Lives in his issue, even so the race
Of Shakespeare's mind and manners brightly shines In his well turnèd and true filèd lines,
In each of which he seems to shake a lance,
As brandished at the eyes of ignorance.
Sweet Swan of Avon! what a sight it were
To see thee in our waters yet appear,
And make those flights upon the banks of Thames, That so did take Eliza and our James! But stay, I see thee in the hemisphere
Advanced, and made a constellation there! Shine forth, thou Star of poets, and with rage Or influence chide or cheer the drooping stage,
Which, since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night, And despairs day, but for thy volume's light.
Corinna's Going A-Maying
Get up, get up for shame, the blooming morn Upon her wings presents the god unshorn. See how Aurora throws her fair
Fresh-quilted colours through the air: Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and see
The dew bespangling herb and tree,
Each flower has wept and bowed toward the east Above an hour since: yet you not dressed;
Nay! not so much as out of bed?
When all the birds have matins said
And sung their thankful hymns, 'tis sin, Nay, profanation, to keep in,
Whenas a thousand virgins on this day
Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in May.
Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen
To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green, And sweet as Flora. Take no care
For jewels for your gown or hair:
Fear not; the leaves will strew
Gems in abundance upon you:
Besides, the childhood of the day has kept,
Against you come, some orient pearls unwept; Come and receive them while the light
Hangs on the dew-locks of the night :
And Titan on the eastern hill
Retires himself, or else stands still
Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying; Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying.
Come, my Corinna, come; and, coming, mark How each field turns a street, each street a park Made green and trimmed with trees; see how Devotion gives each house a bough Or branch; each porch, each door ere this An ark, a tabernacle is,
Made up of white-thorn, neatly interwove; As if here were those cooler shades of love.
Can such delights be in the street And open fields and we not see't? Come, we'll abroad; and let's obey
The proclamation made for May:
And sin no more, as we have done, by staying; But, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.
There's not a budding boy or girl this day But is got up, and gone to bring in May. A deal of youth, ere this, is come
Back, and with white-thorn laden home. Some have despatched their cakes and cream Before that we have left to dream:
And some have wept, and wooed, and plighted troth, And chose their priest, ere we can cast off sloth: Many a green-gown has been given;
Many a kiss, both odd and even : Many a glance too has been sent From out the eye, love's firmament;
Many a jest told of the keys betraying
This night, and locks picked, yet we're not a-Maying.
✓ Come, let us go while we are in our prime;
And take the harmless folly of the time.
We shall grow old арасе, and die
Before we know our liberty.
Our life is short, and our days run As fast away as does the sun; And, as a vapour or a drop of rain, Once lost, can ne'er be found again, So when or you or I are made A fable, song, or fleeting shade, All love, all liking, all delight
Lies drowned with us in endless night.
Then while time serves, and we are but decaying, Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.
Roses at first were white,
Till they could not agree, Whether my Sapho's breast
Or they more white should be.
Live, live with me, and thou shalt see The pleasures I'll prepare for thee: What sweets the country can afford Shall bless thy bed, and bless thy board. The soft sweet moss shall be thy bed, With crawling woodbine over-spread: By which the silver-shedding streams Shall gently melt thee into dreams. Thy clothing next, shall be a gown Made of the fleeces' purest down. The tongues of kids shall be thy meat; Their milk thy drink; and thou shalt eat The paste of filberts for thy bread With cream of cowslips butterèd : Thy feasting-table shall be hills
With daisies spread, and daffodils ; Where thou shalt sit, and Red-breast by, For meat, shall give thee melody.
I'll give thee chains and carcanets Of primroses and violets.
A bag and bottle thou shalt have, That richly wrought, and this as brave; So that as either shall express The wearer's no mean shepherdess. At shearing-times, and yearly wakes, When Themilis his pastime makes, There thou shalt be; and be the wit, Nay more, the feast, and grace of it. On holydays, when virgins meet To dance the heys with nimble feet, Thou shalt come forth, and then appear
The Queen of Roses for that year. And having danced ('bove all the best) Carry the garland from the rest.
In wicker-baskets maids shall bring
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