lyrical poems-第19节

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*227*

TO　MUSIC

Begin　to　charm；　and　as　thou　strok'st　mine　ears　With　thine　enchantment；　melt　me　into　tears。　Then　let　thy　active　hand　scud　o'er　thy　lyre；　And　make　my　spirits　frantic　with　the　fire；　That　done；　sink　down　into　a　silvery　strain；　And　make　me　smooth　as　balm　and　oil　again。


*228*

THE　VOICE　AND　VIOL

Rare　is　the　voice　itself：　　but　when　we　sing　To　th'　lute　or　viol；　then　'tis　ravishing。


*229*

TO　MUSIC；　TO　BECALM　HIS　FEVER

Charm　me　asleep；　and　melt　me　so　With　thy　delicious　numbers；　That　being　ravish'd；　hence　I　go　Away　in　easy　slumbers。　Ease　my　sick　head；　And　make　my　bed；　Thou　Power　that　canst　sever　From　me　this　ill；　And　quickly　still；　Though　thou　not　kill　My　fever。

Thou　sweetly　canst　convert　the　same　From　a　consuming　fire；　Into　a　gentle…licking　flame；　And　make　it　thus　expire。　Then　make　me　weep　My　pains　asleep；　And　give　me　such　reposes；　That　I；　poor　I；　May　think；　thereby；　I　live　and　die　'Mongst　roses。

Fall　on　me　like　a　silent　dew；　Or　like　those　maiden　showers；　Which；　by　the　peep　of　day；　do　strew　A　baptism　o'er　the　flowers。　Melt；　melt　my　pains　With　thy　soft　strains；　That　having　ease　me　given；　With　full　delight；　I　leave　this　light；　And　take　my　flight　For　Heaven。


**　MUSAE　GRAVIORES　**


*230*

A　THANKSGIVING　TO　GOD；　FOR　HIS　HOUSE

Lord；　thou　hast　given　me　a　cell；　Wherein　to　dwell；　A　little　house；　whose　humble　roof　Is　weather　proof；　Under　the　spars　of　which　I　lie　Both　soft　and　dry；　Where　thou；　my　chamber　for　to　ward；　Hast　set　a　guard　Of　harmless　thoughts；　to　watch　and　keep　Me；　while　I　sleep。　Low　is　my　porch；　as　is　my　fate；　Both　void　of　state；　And　yet　the　threshold　of　my　door　Is　worn　by　th'　poor；　Who　thither　come；　and　freely　get　Good　words；　or　meat。　Like　as　my　parlour；　so　my　hall　And　kitchen's　small；　A　little　buttery；　and　therein　A　little　bin；　Which　keeps　my　little　loaf　of　bread　Unchipt；　unflead；　Some　brittle　sticks　of　thorn　or　briar　Make　me　a　fire；　Close　by　whose　living　coal　I　sit；　And　glow　like　it。　Lord；　I　confess　too；　when　I　dine；　The　pulse　is　thine；　And　all　those　other　bits　that　be　There　placed　by　thee；　The　worts；　the　purslain；　and　the　mess　Of　water…cress；　Which　of　thy　kindness　thou　hast　sent；　And　my　content　Makes　those；　and　my　beloved　beet；　To　be　more　sweet。　'Tis　thou　that　crown'st　my　glittering　hearth　With　guiltless　mirth；　And　giv'st　me　wassail　bowls　to　drink；　Spiced　to　the　brink。　Lord；　'tis　thy　plenty…dropping　hand　That　soils　my　land；　And　giv'st　me；　for　my　bushel　sown；　Twice　ten　for　one；　Thou　mak'st　my　teeming　hen　to　lay　Her　egg　each　day；　Besides；　my　healthful　ewes　to　bear　Me　twins　each　year；　The　while　the　conduits　of　my　kine　Run　cream；　for　wine：　All　these；　and　better；　thou　dost　send　Me；　to　this　end；　That　I　should　render；　for　my　part；　A　thankful　heart；　Which；　fired　with　incense；　I　resign；　As　wholly　thine；　But　the　acceptance；　that　must　be；　My　Christ；　by　Thee。


*231*

MATINS；　OR　MORNING　PRAYER

When　with　the　virgin　morning　thou　dost　rise；　Crossing　thyself　come　thus　to　sacrifice；　First　wash　thy　heart　in　innocence；　then　bring　Pure　hands；　pure　habits；　pure；　pure　every　thing。　Next　to　the　altar　humbly　kneel；　and　thence　Give　up　thy　soul　in　clouds　of　frankincense。　Thy　golden　censers　fill'd　with　odours　sweet　Shall　make　thy　actions　with　their　ends　to　meet。


*232*

GOOD　PRECEPTS；　OR　COUNSEL

In　all　thy　need；　be　thou　possest　Still　with　a　well　prepared　breast；　Nor　let　the　shackles　make　thee　sad；　Thou　canst　but　have　what　others　had。　And　this　for　comfort　thou　must　know；　Times　that　are　ill　won't　still　be　so：　Clouds　will　not　ever　pour　down　rain；　A　sullen　day　will　clear　again。　First；　peals　of　thunder　we　must　hear；　When　lutes　and　harps　shall　stroke　the　ear。


*233*

PRAY　AND　PROSPER

First　offer　incense；　then；　thy　field　and　meads　Shall　smile　and　smell　the　better　by　thy　beads。　The　spangling　dew　dredged　o'er　the　grass　shall　be　Turn'd　all　to　mell　and　manna　there　for　thee。　Butter　of　amber；　cream；　and　wine；　and　oil；　Shall　run　as　rivers　all　throughout　thy　soil。　Would'st　thou　to　sincere　silver　turn　thy　mould？　Pray　once；　twice　pray；　and　turn　thy　ground　to　gold。


*234*

THE　BELL…MAN

Along　the　dark　and　silent　night；　With　my　lantern　and　my　light　And　the　tinkling　of　my　bell；　Thus　I　walk；　and　this　I　tell：　Death　and　dreadfulness　call　on　To　the　general　session；　To　whose　dismal　bar；　we　there　All　accounts　must　come　to　clear：　Scores　of　sins　we've　made　here　many；　Wiped　out　few；　God　knows；　if　any。　Rise；　ye　debtors；　then；　and　fall　To　make　payment；　while　I　call：　Ponder　this；　when　I　am　gone：　By　the　clock　'tis　almost　One。


*235*

UPON　TIME

Time　was　upon　The　wing；　to　fly　away；　And　I　call'd　on　Him　but　awhile　to　stay；　But　he'd　be　gone；　For　aught　that　I　could　say。

He　held　out　then　A　writing；　as　he　went；　And　ask'd　me；　when　False　man　would　be　content　To　pay　again　What　God　and　Nature　lent。

An　hour…glass；　In　which　were　sands　but　few；　As　he　did　pass；　He　shew'd；and　told　me　too　Mine　end　near　was；　And　so　away　he　flew。


*236*

MEN　MIND　NO　STATE　IN　SICKNESS

That　flow　of　gallants　which　approach　To　kiss　thy　hand　from　out　the　coach；　That　fleet　of　lackeys　which　do　run　Before　thy　swift　postilion；　Those　strong…hoof'd　mules；　which　we　behold　Rein'd　in　with　purple；　pearl；　and　gold；　And　shed　with　silver；　prove　to　be　The　drawers　of　the　axle…tree；　Thy　wife；　thy　children；　and　the　state　Of　Persian　looms　and　antique　plate：　All　these；　and　more；　shall　then　afford　No　joy　to　thee；　their　sickly　lord。


*237*

LIFE　IS　THE　BODY'S　LIGHT

Life　is　the　body's　light；　which；　once　declining；　Those　crimson　clouds　i'　th'　cheeks　and　lips　leave　shining：…　Those　counter…changed　tabbies　in　the　air；　The　sun　once　set；　all　of　one　colour　are：　So；　when　death　comes；　fresh　tinctures　lose　their　place；　And　dismal　darkness　then　doth　smutch　the　face。


*238*

TO　THE　LADY　CREWE；　UPON　THE　DEATH　OF　HER　CHILD

Why；　Madam；　will　ye　longer　weep；　Whenas　your　baby's　lull'd　asleep？　And；　pretty　child；　feels　now　no　more　Those　pains　it　lately　felt　before。

All　now　is　silent；　groans　are　fled；　Your　child　lies　still；　yet　is　not　dead；　But　rather　like　a　flower　hid　here；　To　spring　again　another　year。


*239*

UPON　A　CHILD　THAT　DIED

Here　she　lies；　a　pretty　bud；　Lately　made　of　flesh　and　blood；　Who　as　soon　fell　fast　asleep；　As　her　little　eyes　did　peep。　Give　her　strewings；　but　not　stir　The　earth；　that　lightly　covers　her。


*240*

UPON　A　CHILD

Here　a　pretty　baby　lies　Sung　asleep　with　lullabies；　Pray　be　silent；　and　not　stir　Th'　easy　earth　that　covers　her。


*241*

AN　EPITAPH　UPON　A　CHILD

Virgins　promised　when　I　died；　That　they　would　each　primrose…tide　Duly；　morn　and　evening；　come；　And　with　flowers　dress　my　tomb。　Having　promised；　pay　your　debts　Maids；　and　here　strew　violets。


*242*

AN　EPITAPH　UPON　A　VIRGIN

Here　a　solemn　fast　we　keep；　While　all　beauty　lies　asleep；　Hush'd　be　all　things；　no　noise　here　But　the　toning　of　a　tear；　Or　a　sigh　of　such　as　bring　Cowslips　for　her　covering。


*243*

UPON　A　MAID

Here　she　lies；　in　bed　of　spice；　Fair　as　Eve　in　paradise；　For　her　beauty；　it　was　such；　Poets　could　not　praise　too　much。　Virgins　come；　and　in　a　ring　Her　supremest　REQUIEM　sing；　Then　depart；　but　see　ye　tread　Lightly；　lightly　o'er　the　dead。


*244*

THE　DIRGE　OF　JEPHTHAH'S　DAUGHTER：　SUNG　BY　THE　VIRGINS

O　thou；　the　wonder　of　all　days！　O　paragon；　and　pearl　of　praise！　O　Virgin…martyr；　ever　blest　Above　the　rest　Of　all　the　maiden…train！　　We　come；　And　bring　fresh　strewings　to　thy　tomb。

Thus；　thus；　and　thus；　we　compass　round　Thy　harmless　and　unhaunted　ground；　And　as　we　sing　thy　dirge；　we　will　The　daffadil；　And　other　flowers；　lay　upon　The　altar　of　our　love；　thy　stone。

Thou　wonder　of　all　maids；　liest　here；　Of　daughters　all；　the　dearest　dear；　The　eye　of　virgins；　nay；　the　queen　Of　this　smooth　green；　And　all　sweet　meads；　from　whence　we　get　The　primrose　and　the　violet。

Too　soon；　too　dear　did　Jephthah　buy；　By　thy　sad　loss；　our　liberty；　His　was　the　bond　and　cov'nant；　yet　Thou　paid'st　the　debt；　Lamented　Maid！　　he　won　the　day：　But　for　the　conquest　thou　didst　pay。

Thy　father　brought　with　him　along　The　olive　branch　and　victor's　song；　He　slew　the　Ammonites；　we　know；　But　to　thy　woe；　And　in　the　purchase　of　our　peace；　The　cure　was　worse　than　the　disease。

For　which　obedient　zeal　of　thine；　We　offer　here；　before　thy　shrine；　Our　sighs　for　storax；　tears　for　wine；　And　to　make　fine　And　fresh　thy　hearse…cloth；　we　will　here　Four　times　bestrew　thee　every　year。

Receive；　for　this　thy　praise；　our　tears；　Receive　this　offering　of　our　hairs；　Receive　these　crystal　vials；　fill'd　With　tears；　distill'd　From　teeming　eyes；　to　these　we　bring；　Each　maid；　her　silver　filleting；

To　gild　thy　tomb；　besides；　these　cauls；　These　laces；　ribbons；　and　these　falls；　These　veils；　wherewith　we　use　to　hide　The　bashful　bride；　When　we　conduct　her　to　her　groom；　All；　all　we　lay　upon　thy　tomb。

No　more；　no　more；　since　thou　art　dead；　Shall　we　e'er　bring　coy　brides　to　bed；　No　more；　at　yearly　festivals；　We；　cowslip　balls；　Or　chains　of　columbines　shall　make；　For　this　or　that　occasion's　sake。

No；　no；　our　maiden　pleasures　be　Wrapt　in　the　winding…sheet　with　thee；　'Tis　we　are　dead；　though　not　i'　th'　grave；　Or　if　we　have　One　seed　of　life　left；　'tis　to　keep　A　Lent　for　thee；　to　fast　and　weep。

Sleep　in　thy　peace；　thy　bed　of　spice；　And　make　this　place　all　par