lyrical poems-第18部分

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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　paradise；　May　sweets　grow　here；　and　smoke　from　hence　Fat　frankincense；　Let　balm　and　cassia　send　their　scent　From　out　thy　maiden…monument。

May　no　wolf　howl；　or　screech　owl　stir　A　wing　about　thy　sepulchre！　No　boisterous　winds　or　storms　come　hither；　To　starve　or　wither　Thy　soft　sweet　earth；　but；　like　a　spring；　Love　keep　it　ever　flourishing。

May　all　shy　maids；　at　wonted　hours；　Come　forth　to　strew　thy　tomb　with　flowers；　May　virgins；　when　they　come　to　mourn；　Male…incense　burn　Upon　thine　altar；　then　return；　And　leave　thee　sleeping　in　thy　urn。


*245*

THE　WIDOWS'　TEARS；　OR；　DIRGE　OF　DORCAS

Come　pity　us；　all　ye　who　see　Our　harps　hung　on　the　willow…tree；　Come　pity　us；　ye　passers…by；　Who　see　or　hear　poor　widows'　cry；　Come　pity　us；　and　bring　your　ears　And　eyes　to　pity　widows'　tears。　CHOR。　　And　when　you　are　come　hither；　Then　we　will　keep　A　fast；　and　weep　Our　eyes　out　all　together；

For　Tabitha；　who　dead　lies　here；　Clean　wash'd；　and　laid　out　for　the　bier。　O　modest　matrons；　weep　and　wail！　For　now　the　corn　and　wine　must　fail；　The　basket　and　the　bin　of　bread；　Wherewith　so　many　souls　were　fed；　CHOR。　　Stand　empty　here　for　ever；　And　ah！　　the　poor；　At　thy　worn　door；　Shall　be　relieved　never。

Woe　worth　the　time；　woe　worth　the　day；　That　reft　us　of　thee；　Tabitha！　For　we　have　lost；　with　thee；　the　meal；　The　bits；　the　morsels；　and　the　deal　Of　gentle　paste　and　yielding　dough；　That　thou　on　widows　did　bestow。　CHOR。　　All's　gone；　and　death　hath　taken　Away　from　us　Our　maundy；　thus　Thy　widows　stand　forsaken。

Ah；　Dorcas；　Dorcas！　　now　adieu　We　bid　the　cruise　and　pannier　too；　Ay；　and　the　flesh；　for　and　the　fish；　Doled　to　us　in　that　lordly　dish。　We　take　our　leaves　now　of　the　loom　From　whence　the　housewives'　cloth　did　come；　CHOR。　　The　web　affords　now　nothing；　Thou　being　dead；　The　worsted　thread　Is　cut；　that　made　us　clothing。

Farewell　the　flax　and　reaming　wool；　With　which　thy　house　was　plentiful；　Farewell　the　coats；　the　garments；　and　The　sheets；　the　rugs；　made　by　thy　hand；　Farewell　thy　fire　and　thy　light；　That　ne'er　went　out　by　day　or　night：　CHOR。　　No；　or　thy　zeal　so　speedy；　That　found　a　way；　By　peep　of　day；　To　feed　and　clothe　the　needy。

But　ah；　alas！　　the　almond…bough　And　olive…branch　is　wither'd　now；　The　wine…press　now　is　ta'en　from　us；　The　saffron　and　the　calamus；　The　spice　and　spikenard　hence　is　gone；　The　storax　and　the　cinnamon；　CHOR。　　The　carol　of　our　gladness　Has　taken　wing；　And　our　late　spring　Of　mirth　is　turn'd　to　sadness。

How　wise　wast　thou　in　all　thy　ways！　How　worthy　of　respect　and　praise！　How　matron…like　didst　thou　go　drest！　How　soberly　above　the　rest　Of　those　that　prank　it　with　their　plumes；　And　jet　it　with　their　choice　perfumes！　CHOR。　　Thy　vestures　were　not　flowing；　Nor　did　the　street　Accuse　thy　feet　Of　mincing　in　their　going。

And　though　thou　here　liest　dead；　we　see　A　deal　of　beauty　yet　in　thee。　How　sweetly　shews　thy　smiling　face；　Thy　lips　with　all　diffused　grace！　Thy　hands；　though　cold；　yet　spotless；　white；　And　comely　as　the　chrysolite。　CHOR。　　Thy　belly　like　a　hill　is；　Or　as　a　neat　Clean　heap　of　wheat；　All　set　about　with　lilies。

Sleep　with　thy　beauties　here；　while　we　Will　shew　these　garments　made　by　thee；　These　were　the　coats；　in　these　are　read　The　monuments　of　Dorcas　dead：　These　were　thy　acts；　and　thou　shalt　have　These　hung　as　honours　o'er　thy　grave：　CHOR。　　And　after　us；　distressed；　Should　fame　be　dumb；　Thy　very　tomb　Would　cry　out；　Thou　art　blessed。


*246*

UPON　HIS　SISTER…IN…LAW；　MISTRESS　ELIZABETH　HERRICK

First；　for　effusions　due　unto　the　dead；　My　solemn　vows　have　here　accomplished；　Next；　how　I　love　thee；　that　my　grief　must　tell；　Wherein　thou　liv'st　for　ever。Dear；　farewell！


*247*

TO　HIS　KINSWOMAN；　MISTRESS　SUSANNA　HERRICK

When　I　consider；　dearest；　thou　dost　stay　But　here　awhile；　to　languish　and　decay；　Like　to　these　garden　glories；　which　here　be　The　flowery…sweet　resemblances　of　thee：　With　grief　of　heart；　methinks；　I　thus　do　cry；　Would　thou　hadst　ne'er　been　born；　or　might'st　not　die！


*248*

ON　HIMSELF

I'll　write　no　more　of　love；　but　now　repent　Of　all　those　times　that　I　in　it　have　spent。　I'll　write　no　more　of　life；　but　wish　'twas　ended；　And　that　my　dust　was　to　the　earth　commended。


*249*

HIS　WISH　TO　PRIVACY

Give　me　a　cell　To　dwell；　Where　no　foot　hath　A　path；　There　will　I　spend；　And　end；　My　wearied　years　In　tears。


*250*

TO　HIS　PATERNAL　COUNTRY

O　earth！　　earth！　　earth！　　hear　thou　my　voice；　and　be　Loving　and　gentle　for　to　cover　me！　Banish'd　from　thee　I　live；ne'er　to　return；　Unless　thou　giv'st　my　small　remains　an　urn。


*251*

COCK…CROW

Bell…man　of　night；　if　I　about　shall　go　For　to　deny　my　Master；　do　thou　crow！　Thou　stop'st　Saint　Peter　in　the　midst　of　sin；　Stay　me；　by　crowing；　ere　I　do　begin；　Better　it　is；　premonish'd；　for　to　shun　A　sin；　than　fall　to　weeping　when　'tis　done。


*252*

TO　HIS　CONSCIENCE

Can　I　not　sin；　but　thou　wilt　be　My　private　protonotary？　Can　I　not　woo　thee；　to　pass　by　A　short　and　sweet　iniquity？　I'll　cast　a　mist　and　cloud　upon　My　delicate　transgression；　So　utter　dark；　as　that　no　eye　Shall　see　the　hugg'd　impiety。　Gifts　blind　the　wise；　and　bribes　do　please　And　wind　all　other　witnesses；　And　wilt　not　thou　with　gold　be　tied；　To　lay　thy　pen　and　ink　aside；　That　in　the　mirk　and　tongueless　night；　Wanton　I　may；　and　thou　not　write？　It　will　not　be：　　And　therefore；　now；　For　times　to　come；　I'll　make　this　vow；　From　aberrations　to　live　free：　So　I'll　not　fear　the　judge；　or　thee。


*253*

TO　HEAVEN

Open　thy　gates　To　him　who　weeping　waits；　And　might　come　in；　But　that　held　back　by　sin。　Let　mercy　be　So　kind；　to　set　me　free；　And　I　will　straight　Come　in；　or　force　the　gate。


*254*

AN　ODE　OF　THE　BIRTH　OF　OUR　SAVIOUR

In　numbers；　and　but　these　few；　I　sing　thy　birth；　oh　JESU！　Thou　pretty　Baby；　born　here；　With　sup'rabundant　scorn　here；　Who　for　thy　princely　port　here；　Hadst　for　thy　place　Of　birth；　a　base　Out…stable　for　thy　court　here。

Instead　of　neat　enclosures　Of　interwoven　osiers；　Instead　of　fragrant　posies　Of　daffadils　and　roses；　Thy　cradle；　kingly　stranger；　As　gospel　tells；　Was　nothing　else；　But；　here；　a　homely　manger。

But　we　with　silks；　not　cruels；　With　sundry　precious　jewels；　And　lily…work　will　dress　thee；　And　as　we　dispossess　thee　Of　clouts；　we'll　make　a　chamber；　Sweet　babe；　for　thee；　Of　ivory；　And　plaster'd　round　with　amber。

The　Jews；　they　did　disdain　thee；　But　we　will　entertain　thee　With　glories　to　await　here；　Upon　thy　princely　state　here；　And　more　for　love　than　pity：　From　year　to　year　We'll　make　thee；　here；　A　free…born　of　our　city。


*255*

TO　HIS　SAVIOUR；　A　CHILD；　A　PRESENT；　BY　A　CHILD

Go；　pretty　child；　and　bear　this　flower　Unto　thy　little　Saviour；　And　tell　him；　by　that　bud　now　blown；　He　is　the　Rose　of　Sharon　known。　When　thou　hast　said　so；　stick　it　there　Upon　his　bib　or　stomacher；　And　tell　him；　for　good　handsel　too；　That　thou　hast　brought　a　whistle　new；　Made　of　a　clean　straight　oaten　reed；　To　charm　his　cries　at　time　of　need；　Tell　him；　for　coral；　thou　hast　none；　But　if　thou　hadst；　he　should　have　one；　But　poor　thou　art；　and　known　to　be　Even　as　moneyless　as　he。　Lastly；　if　thou　canst　win　a　kiss　From　those　melifluous　lips　of　his；　Then　never　take　a　second　on；　To　spoil　the　first　impression。


*256*

GRACE　FOR　A　CHILD

Here；　a　little　child；　I　stand；　Heaving　up　my　either　hand：　Cold　as　paddocks　though　they　be；　Here　I　lift　them　up　to　thee；　For　a　benison　to　fall　On　our　meat；　and　on　us　all。　Amen。


*257*

HIS　LITANY；　TO　THE　HOLY　SPIRIT

In　the　hour　of　my　distress；　When　temptations　me　oppress；　And　when　I　my　sins　confess；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　I　lie　within　my　bed；　Sick　in　heart；　and　sick　in　head；　And　with　doubts　discomforted；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　house　doth　sigh　and　weep；　And　the　world　is　drown'd　in　sleep；　Yet　mine　eyes　the　watch　do　keep；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　artless　doctor　sees　No　one　hope；　but　of　his　fees；　And　his　skill　runs　on　the　lees；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　his　potion　and　his　pill；　Has；　or　none；　or　little　skill；　Meet　for　nothing　but　to　kill；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　passing…bell　doth　toll；　And　the　furies　in　a　shoal　Come　to　fright　a　parting　soul；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　tapers　now　burn　blue；　And　the　comforters　are　few；　And　that　number　more　than　true；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　priest　his　last　hath　pray'd；　And　I　nod　to　what　is　said；　'Cause　my　speech　is　now　decay'd；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When；　God　knows；　I'm　tost　about　Either　with　despair；　or　doubt；　Yet；　before　the　glass　be　out；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　tempter　me　pursu'th　With　the　sins　of　all　my　youth；　And　half　damns　me　with　untruth；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　flames　and　hellish　cries　Fright　mine　ears；　and　fright　mine　eyes；　And　all　terrors　me　surprise；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！

When　the　Judgment　is　reveal'd；　And　that　open'd　which　was　seal'd；　When　to　Thee　I　have　appeal'd；　Sweet　Spirit；　comfort　me！


*258*

TO　DEATH

Thou　bidst　me　come　away；　And　I'll　no　longer　stay；　Than　for　to　shed　some　tears　For　faults　of　former　years；　And　to　repent　some　crimes　Done　in　the　present　times；　And　next；　to　take　a　bit　Of　bread；　and　wine　with　it；　To　don　my　robes　of　love；　Fit　for　the　place　above；　To　gird　my　loins　a