scape painter (1569-1625), or his
father or brother.
_Coxu_, Michael van Coxcie, Flemish painter (1497-1592).
386. A VOW TO MARS.
Store of courage to me grant,
Now I'm turn'd a combatant;
Help me, so that I my shield,
Fighting, lose not in the field.
That's the greatest shame of all
That in warfare can befall.
Do but this, and there shall be
Offer'd up a wolf to thee.
387. TO HIS MAID, PREW.
These summer-birds did with thy master stay
The times of warmth, but then they flew away,
Leaving their poet, being now grown old,
Expos'd to all the coming winter's cold.
But thou, kind Prew, did'st with my fates abide
As well the winter's as the summer's tide;
For which thy love, live with thy master here,
Not one, but all the seasons of the year.
388. A CANTICLE TO APOLLO.
Play, Ph[oe]bus, on thy lute;
And we will all sit mute,
By listening to thy lyre,
That sets all ears on fire.
Hark, hark, the god does play!
And as he leads the way
Through heaven the very spheres,
As men, turn all to ears.
389. A JUST MAN.
A just man's like a rock that turns the wrath
Of all the raging waves into a froth.
390. UPON A HOARSE SINGER.
Sing me to death; for till thy voice be clear,
'Twill never please the palate of mine ear.
391. HOW PANSIES OR HEART'S-EASE CAME FIRST.
Frolic virgins once these were,
Over-loving, living here;
Being here their ends denied,
Ran for sweethearts mad, and died.
Love, in pity of their tears,
And their loss in blooming years,
For their restless here-spent hours,
Gave them heart's-ease turn'd to flowers.
392. TO HIS PECULIAR FRIEND, SIR EDWARD FISH, KNIGHT BARONET.
Since, for thy full deserts, with all the rest
Of these chaste spirits that are here possest
Of life eternal, time has made thee one
For growth in this my rich plantation,
Live here; but know 'twas virtue, and not chance,
That gave thee this so high inheritance.
Keep it for ever, grounded with the good,
Who hold fast here an endless livelihood.
393. LAR'S PORTION AND THE POET'S PART.
At my homely country-seat
I have there a little wheat,
Which I work to meal, and make
Therewithal a holy cake:
Part of which I give to Lar,
Part is my peculiar.
_Peculiar_, his own property.
394. U
|