1053. SINCERITY.

Wash clean the vessel, lest ye sour
Whatever liquor in ye pour.

1054. TO ANTHEA.

Sick is Anthea, sickly is the spring,
The primrose sick, and sickly everything;
The while my dear Anthea does but droop,
The tulips, lilies, daffodils do stoop:
But when again she's got her healthful hour,
Each bending then will rise a proper flower.

1055. NOR BUYING OR SELLING.

Now, if you love me, tell me,
For as I will not sell ye,
So not one cross to buy thee
I'll give, if thou deny me.

_Cross_, a coin.

1056. TO HIS PECULIAR FRIEND, M. JO. WICKS.

Since shed or cottage I have none,
I sing the more, that thou hast one
To whose glad threshold, and free door,
I may a poet come, though poor,
And eat with thee a savoury bit,
Paying but common thanks for it.
Yet should I chance, my Wicks, to see
An over-leaven look in thee,
To sour the bread, and turn the beer
To an exalted vinegar:
Or should'st thou prize me as a dish
Of thrice-boiled worts, or third-day's fish;
I'd rather hungry go and come,
Than to thy house be burdensome;
Yet, in my depth of grief, I'd be
One that should drop his beads for thee.

_Worts_, cabbages.
_Drop his beads_, _i.e._, pray.

1057. THE MORE MIGHTY, THE MORE MERCIFUL.

_Who may do most, does least: the bravest will
Show mercy there, where they have power to kill._

1058. AFTER AUTUMN, WINTER.

Die ere long, I'm sure, I shall;
After leaves, the tree must fall.

1059. A GOOD DEATH.

For truth I may this sentence tell,
_No man dies ill, that liveth well_.

1060. RECOMPENSE.

Who plants an olive, but to eat the oil?
_Reward, we know, is the chief end of toil_.

1061. ON FORTUNE.

This is my comfort when she's most unkind:
She can but spoil me of my means, not mind.

1062. TO SIR GEORGE PARRY, DOCTOR OF THE CIVIL LAW.

I have my laurel chaplet on my head
If, 'mongst these many numbers to be read,
But one by you be hugg'd and cherished.

Peruse my measures thoroughly, and where
Your judgment finds a guilty poem, there
Be you a judge; but not a judge severe.

The mean pass by, or over, none contemn;
The good applaud; the peccant less condemn,
Since absolution you can give to them.

Stand forth, brave man, here to the public sight;
And