And in his garland, as he stood, Ye might discern a cypress-bud, Once had the early matrons rin To greet her of a lovely son, And now with second hope she goes, And calls Lucina to her throes; But, whether by mischance or blame
Atropos for Lucina came; And with remorseless cruelty: Spoil'd at once both fruit and trees The hapless babe, before his birth, Had burial, yet not laid in earth: And the langaish'd mother's womb Was not long a living tomb.
So have I seen some tender slip, Sav'd with care from Winter's nip, The pride of her carnation train, Pick'd up by some unheedy swain, Who only thought to crop the flowe New shot up from vernal shower; But the fair blossom hangs the hond Side-ways, as on a dying bed And those pearls of dew she wear, Prove to be presaging tears, Which the sad morn had let fall On her bastening funeral.
Gentle lady, may thy grave! Peace and quiet ever have; After this thy travail sore, Sweet rest seize thee evermore That, to give the world increase, Shorten'd hast thy own life's lease Here, besides the sorrowing.. That thy noble house doth bring, Here be tears of perfect moan Wept for thee in Helicon; And some flowers, and some beys For thy hearse, to strew the ways Sent thee from the banks of Came, Devoted to thy virtuous name;
Whilst thou, bright saint, high sitt'st in glory Next her, much like to thee in story, That fair Syrian shepherdess, Who, after years of barrenness, The highly favour'd Joseph bore, To him that serv'd for her before, And at her next birth, much like thee, Through pangs fled to felicity, Far within the bosom bright Of blazing Majesty and Light: There with thee, new-welcome saint, Like fortunes may her soul acquaint With thee there clad in radiant sheen, No marchioness, but now a queen.
Now the bright morning-star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flowery May, who from her green lap throwa The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose. Hail, bounteous May, that dest inspire Mirth, and youth, and warm desire $ Woods and groves are of thy dressing, t Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long
ANNO ÆTATIS XIX.
At a Vacation Exercise in the College, part Latin, part English. The Latin Speeches ended, the English thus began :
HAIL, native language, that by sinews weak D.dst move my first-endeavouring tongue to speak, And madest imperfect words with childish trips, Half-unpronounc'd, slide through my infant lips, Driving dumb silence from the portal door, Where he had mutely sat two years before912 Here I salute thee, and thy pardon ask, w 199 That now I use thee in my latter task: Small loss it is that hence can come unto thee, I know my tongue but little grace can do thee : Thou need'st not be ambitious to be first, Believe me, I have thither pack'd the worst: DAR And, if it happens as I did forecast,.. The daintiest dishes shall be serv'd up last. I pray thee then deny me not thy aid, For this same small neglect that I have made: But haste thee straight to do me once a pleasure: And from thy wardrobe bring thy chiefest treasure Not those new-fangled toys, and trimming slight Which takes our late fantastics with delight; But cull those richest robes, and gayest attire, Which deepest spirits and choicest wits desire:
Inave some naked thoughts which rove that. And loudly knock to have their passage out; And, weary of their place, do only stay Till thou hast deck'd them in thy best array; That so they may, without suspect or fears, Fly swiftly to this fair assembly's ears: Yet I had rather, if I were to choose, My service in some graver subject use, Such as may make thee search thy coffers round, Before thou clothe my fancy in fit sound: Such where the deep transported mind may soor Above the wheeling poles, and at heaven's door ook in, and see each blissful deity, How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, Listening to what unshorn Apollo sings To the touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings Immortal nectar to her kingly sire: Then passing through the spheres of watchful fire, And misty regions of wide air next under, And hills of snow, and lofts of piled thunder, May tell at length how green-ey'd Neptune raves, In heaven's defiance mustering all his waves; Then sing of secret things that came to pass When beldame Nature in her cradle was ; And last of kings, and queens, and heroes old, Such as the wise Demodocus once told In solemn songs at king Alcinous' feast, While sad Ulysses' soul, and all the rest, Are held, with his melodious harmony, In willing chains and sweet captivity. But fie, my wandering muse, how thou dost stray Expectance calls thee now another way; Thou know'st it must be now thy only hent To keep in compass of thy predicament: Then quick about thy purpos'd business come. That to the next I may resign my rouun.
Then Ensis represented as father of the Predicaments his two sons, whereof the eldest stood for Subo stance with his canons, which Ens thus speaking, explains :
Good luck befriend thee, son; for, at thy birth, The faery ladies danc'd upon the hearth; Thy drowsy nurse hath sworn she did them spy Come tripping to the room where thou didst lie, And, sweetly singing round about thy bed, Strew all their blessings on thy sleeping head. She heard them give thee this, that thou shouldst From eyes of mortals walk invisible: [still Yet there is something that doth force my fear : For once it was my dismal hap to hear A Sibyl old, bow-bent with crooked age, That far events full wisely could presage, And in time's long and dark prospective glass, Foresaw what future days should bring to pass; " Your son," said she, "(nor can you it prevent,) Shall subject be to many an accident. O'er all his brethren he shall reign as king, Yet every one shall make him underling; And those, that cannot live from him asunder, Ungratefully shall strive to keep him under; In worth and excellence he shall out-go them; Yet, being above them, he shall be below them; From others he shall stand in need of nothing, Yet on his brothers shall depend for clothing. To find a foe it shall not be his hap, And peace shall lull him in her flowery lap; Yet shall he live in strife, and at his door Devouring war shall never cease to roar: Yea, it shall be bis natural property To hartour those that are at enmity.
Your learned hands, can loose this Gordian knot ?"
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