lucasta-第28节
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op。
VI。 Thus we unt＇h＇rifty thrive within earth's tomb For some more rav'nous and ambitious jaw： The grain in th' ant's； the ant in the pie's womb； The pie in th' hawk's； the hawk ith' eagle's maw。 So scattering to hord 'gainst a long day； Thinking to save all； we cast all away。
A writer in CENSURA LITERARIA； x。 292 （first edit。）the late E。 V。 Utterson； Esq。highly praises this little poem； and says that it is not unworthy of Cowper。 I think it highly probable that the translation from Martial （lib。 vi。 Ep。 15）； at the end of the present volume； was executed prior to the composition of these lines； and that the latter were suggested by the former。 Compare the beautiful description of the ant in the PROVERBS OF SOLOMON：〃Go to the ant； thou sluggard； consider her ways and be wise： which having no guide； overseer； or ruler； provideth her meat in the summer； and gathereth her food in the harvest。PROVERBS； vi。 6…8。
In the poems of John Cleveland； 1669； is a piece entitled 〃Fuscara； or the Bee Errant；〃 which is of a somewhat similar character； and is by no means a contemptible production； though spoiled by that LUES ALCHYMISTICA which disfigures so much of the poetry of Cleveland's time。 The abilities of Cleveland as a writer seem to have been underrated by posterity； in proportion to the undue praise lavished upon him by his contemporaries。
The Floralia； games antiently celebrated at Rome in honour of Flora。
Here used for DEAD OR FADED VEGETATION； but strictly it means DEAD OR FADED LEAF。 FILEMORT is another form of the same word。
Original has HER。
Original reads ANTS。
Original reads HAWKS。
SONG。
I。 Strive not； vain lover； to be fine； Thy silk's the silk…worm's； and not thine： You lessen to a fly your mistriss' thought； To think it may be in a cobweb caught。 What； though her thin transparent lawn Thy heart in a strong net hath drawn： Not all the arms the god of fire ere made Can the soft bulwarks of nak'd love invade。
II。 Be truly fine； then； and yourself dress In her fair soul's immac'late glass。 Then by reflection you may have the bliss Perhaps to see what a true fineness is； When all your gawderies will fit Those only that are poor in wit。 She that a clinquant outside doth adore； Dotes on a gilded statue and no more。
IN ALLUSION TO THE FRENCH SONG。
N' ENTENDEZ VOUS PAS CE LANGUAGE。
CHORUS。 THEN UNDERSTAND YOU NOT （FAIR CHOICE） THIS LANGUAGE WITHOUT TONGUE OR VOICE？
I。 How often have my tears Invaded your soft ears； And dropp'd their silent chimes A thousand thousand times？ Whilst echo did your eyes； And sweetly sympathize； But that the wary lid Their sluces did forbid。
Cho。 THEN UNDERSTAND YOU NOT （FAIR CHOICE） THIS LANGUAGE WITHOUT TONGUE OR VOICE？
II。 My arms did plead my wound； Each in the other bound； Volleys of sighs did crowd； And ring my griefs alowd； Grones； like a canon…ball； Batter'd the marble wall； That the kind neighb'ring grove Did mutiny for love。
Cho。 THEN UNDERSTAND YOU NOT （FAIR CHOICE） THIS LANGUAGE WITHOUT TONGUE OR VOICE？
III。 The rheth'rick of my hand Woo'd you to understand； Nay； in our silent walk My very feet would talk； My knees were eloquent； And spake the love I meant； But deaf unto that ayr； They； bent； would fall in prayer。
Cho。 YET UNDERSTAND YOU NOT （FAIR CHOICE） THIS LANGUAGE WITHOUT TONGUE OR VOICE？
IV。 No？ Know； then； I would melt On every limb I felt； And on each naked part Spread my expanded heart； That not a vein of thee But should be fill'd with mee。 Whilst on thine own down； I Would tumble； pant； and dye。
Cho。 YOU UNDERSTAND NOT THIS （FAIR CHOICE）； THIS LANGUAGE WANTS BOTH TONGUE AND VOICE。
COURANTE MONSIEUR。
That frown； Aminta； now hath drown'd Thy bright front's pow'r； and crown'd Me that was bound。 No； no； deceived cruel； no！ Love's fiery darts； Till tipt with kisses； never kindle hearts。
Adieu； weak beauteous tyrant； see！ Thy angry flames meant me； Retort on thee： For know； it is decreed； proud fair； I ne'r must dye By any scorching； but a melting； eye。
COURANTE was a favourite dance and dance…tune。 It is still known under the same name。
i。e。 THAT meant me； which was intended for me。
A LOOSE SARABAND。
I。 Nay； prethee； dear； draw nigher； Yet closer； nigher yet； Here is a double fire； A dry one and a wet。 True lasting heavenly fuel Puts out the vestal jewel； When once we twining marry Mad love with wild canary。
II。 Off with that crowned Venice； 'Till all the house doth flame； Wee'l quench it straight in Rhenish； Or what we must not name。 Milk lightning still asswageth； So when our fury rageth； As th' only means to cross it； Wee'l drown it in love's posset。
III。 Love never was well…willer Unto my nag or mee； Ne'r watter'd us ith' cellar； But the cheap buttery。 At th' head of his own barrells； Where broach'd are all his quarrels； Should a true noble master Still make his guest his taster。
IV。 See； all the world how't staggers； More ugly drunk then we； As if far gone in daggers And blood it seem'd to be。 We drink our glass of roses； Which nought but sweets discloses： Then in our loyal chamber Refresh us with love's amber。
V。 Now tell me； thou fair cripple； That dumb canst scarcely see Th' almightinesse of tipple； And th' ods 'twixt thee and thee； What of Elizium's missing； Still drinking and still kissing； Adoring plump October； Lord！ what is man； and sober？
VI。 Now； is there such a trifle As honour； the fools gyant； What is there left to rifle； When wine makes all parts plyant？ Let others glory follow； In their false riches wallow； And with their grief be merry： Leave me but love and sherry。
QU。 a crowned goblet of Venice glass。
i。e。 if。
THE FALCON。
Fair Princesse of the spacious air； That hast vouchsaf'd acquaintance here； With us are quarter'd below stairs； That can reach heav'n with nought but pray'rs； Who； when our activ'st wings we try； Advance a foot into the sky。
Bright heir t' th' bird imperial； From whose avenging penons fall Thunder and lightning twisted spun！ Brave cousin…german to the Sun！ That didst forsake thy throne and sphere； To be an humble pris'ner here； And for a pirch of her soft hand； Resign the royal woods' command。
How often would'st thou shoot heav'ns ark； Then mount thy self into a lark； And after our short faint eyes call； When now a fly； now nought at all！ Then stoop so swift unto our sence； As thou wert sent intelligence！
Free beauteous slave； thy happy feet In silver fetters vervails meet； And trample on that noble wrist； The gods have kneel'd in vain t' have kist。 But gaze not； bold deceived spye； Too much oth' lustre of her eye； The Sun thou dost out stare； alas！ Winks at the glory of her face。
Be safe then in thy velvet helm； Her looks are calms that do orewhelm； Then the Arabian bird more blest； Chafe in the spicery of her breast； And loose you in her breath a wind Sow'rs the delicious gales of Inde。
But now a quill from thine own wing I pluck； thy lofty fate to sing； Whilst we behold the varions fight With mingled pleasure and affright； The humbler hinds do fall to pray'r； As when an army's seen i' th' air； And the prophetick spannels run； And howle thy epicedium。
The heron mounted doth appear On his own Peg'sus a lanceer； And seems； on earth when he doth hut； A proper halberdier on foot； Secure i' th' moore； about to sup； The dogs have beat his quarters up。
And now he takes the open air； Drawes up his wings with tactick care； Whilst th' expert falcon swift doth climbe In subtle mazes serpentine； And to advantage closely twin'd She gets the upper sky and wind； Where she dissembles to invade； And lies a pol'tick ambuscade。
The hedg'd…in heron； whom the foe Awaits above； and dogs below； In his fortification lies； And makes him ready for surprize； When roused with a shrill alarm； Was shouted from beneath： they arm。
The falcon charges at first view With her brigade of talons； through Whose shoots； the wary heron beat With a well counterwheel'd retreat。 But the bold gen'ral； never lost； Hath won again her airy post； Who； wild in this affront； now fryes； Then gives a volley of her eyes。
The desp'rate heron now contracts In one design all former facts； Noble； he is resolv'd to fall； His and his en'mies funerall； And （to be rid of her） to dy； A publick martyr of the sky。
When now he turns his last to wreak The palizadoes of his beak； The raging foe impatient； Wrack'd with revenge； and fury rent； Swift as the thunderbolt he strikes
