友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

lyrical poems-第9部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


 together。 Then stately Virgil; witty Ovid; by Whom fair Corinna sits; and doth comply With ivory wrists his laureat head; and steeps His eye in dew of kisses while he sleeps。 Then soft Catullus; sharp…fang'd Martial; And towering Lucan; Horace; Juvenal; And snaky Persius; these; and those whom rage; Dropt for the jars of heaven; fill'd; t' engage All times unto their frenzies; thou shalt there Behold them in a spacious theatre: Among which glories; crown'd with sacred bays And flatt'ring ivy; two recite their plays; Beaumont and Fletcher; swans; to whom all ears Listen; while they; like sirens in their spheres; Sing their Evadne; and still more for thee There yet remains to know than thou canst see By glimm'ring of a fancy; Do but come; And there I'll shew thee that capacious room In which thy father; Jonson; now is placed As in a globe of radiant fire; and graced To be in that orb crown'd; that doth include Those prophets of the former magnitude; And he one chief。  But hark!  I hear the cock; The bell…man of the night; proclaim the clock Of late struck One; and now I see the prime Of day break from the pregnant east:'tis time I vanish:more I had to say; But night determines here; Away!


*56*

THE INVITATION

To sup with thee thou didst me home invite; And mad'st a promise that mine appetite Should meet and tire; on such lautitious meat; The like not Heliogabalus did eat: And richer wine would'st give to me; thy guest; Than Roman Sylla pour'd out at his feast。 I came; 'tis true; and look'd for fowl of price; The bastard Phoenix; bird of Paradise; And for no less than aromatic wine Of maidens…blush; commix'd with jessamine。 Clean was the hearth; the mantle larded jet; Which; wanting Lar and smoke; hung weeping wet; At last i' th' noon of winter; did appear A ragg'd soused neats…foot; with sick vinegar; And in a burnish'd flagonet; stood by Beer small as comfort; dead as charity。 At which amazed; and pond'ring on the food; How cold it was; and how it chill'd my blood; I curst the master; and I damn'd the souce; And swore I'd got the ague of the house。 Well; when to eat thou dost me next desire; I'll bring a fever; since thou keep'st no fire。


*57*

TO SIR CLIPSBY CREW

Since to the country first I came; I have lost my former flame; And; methinks; I not inherit; As I did; my ravish'd spirit。 If I write a verse or two; 'Tis with very much ado; In regard I want that wine Which should conjure up a line。 Yet; though now of Muse bereft; I have still the manners left For to thank you; noble sir; For those gifts you do confer Upon him; who only can Be in prose a grateful man。


*58*

A COUNTRY LIFE: TO HIS BROTHER; MR THOMAS HERRICK

Thrice; and above; blest; my soul's half; art thou; In thy both last and better vow; Could'st leave the city; for exchange; to see The country's sweet simplicity; And it to know and practise; with intent To grow the sooner innocent; By studying to know virtue; and to aim More at her nature than her name; The last is but the least; the first doth tell Ways less to live; than to live well: And both are known to thee; who now canst live Led by thy conscience; to give Justice to soon…pleased nature; and to show Wisdom and she together go; And keep one centre; This with that conspires To teach man to confine desires; And know that riches have their proper stint In the contented mind; not mint; And canst instruct that those who have the itch Of craving more; are never rich。 These things thou knows't to th' height; and dost prevent That plague; because thou art content With that Heaven gave thee with a wary hand; (More blessed in thy brass than land) To keep cheap Nature even and upright; To cool; not cocker appetite。 Thus thou canst tersely live to satisfy The belly chiefly; not the eye; Keeping the barking stomach wisely quiet; Less with a neat than needful diet。 But that which most makes sweet thy country life; Is the fruition of a wife; Whom; stars consenting with thy fate; thou hast Got not so beautiful as chaste; By whose warm side thou dost securely sleep; While Love the sentinel doth keep; With those deeds done by day; which ne'er affright Thy silken slumbers in the night: Nor has the darkness power to usher in Fear to those sheets that know no sin。 The damask'd meadows and the pebbly streams Sweeten and make soft your dreams: The purling springs; groves; birds; and well weaved bowers; With fields enamelled with flowers; Present their shapes; while fantasy discloses Millions of Lilies mix'd with Roses。 Then dream; ye hear the lamb by many a bleat Woo'd to come suck the milky teat; While Faunus in the vision comes; to keep From rav'ning wolves the fleecy sheep: With thousand such enchanting dreams; that meet To make sleep not so sound as sweet; Nor call these figures so thy rest endear; As not to rise when Chanticlere Warns the last watch;but with the dawn dost rise To work; but first to sacrifice; Making thy peace with Heaven for some late fault; With holy…meal and spirting salt; Which done; thy painful thumb this sentence tells us; 'Jove for our labour all things sells us。' Nor are thy daily and devout affairs Attended with those desp'rate cares Th' industrious merchant has; who for to find Gold; runneth to the Western Ind; And back again; tortured with fears; doth fly; Untaught to suffer Poverty; But thou at home; blest with securest ease; Sitt'st; and believ'st that there be seas; And watery dangers; while thy whiter hap But sees these things within thy map; And viewing them with a more safe survey; Mak'st easy fear unto thee say; 'A heart thrice walled with oak and brass; that man Had; first durst plough the ocean。' But thou at home; without or tide or gale; Canst in thy map securely sail; Seeing those painted countries; and so guess By those fine shades; their substances; And from thy compass taking small advice; Buy'st travel at the lowest price。 Nor are thine ears so deaf but thou canst hear; Far more with wonder than with fear; Fame tell of states; of countries; courts; and kings; And believe there be such things; When of these truths thy happier knowledge lies More in thine ears than in thine eyes。 And when thou hear'st by that too true report; Vice rules the most; or all; at court; Thy pious wishes are; though thou not there; Virtue had; and moved her sphere。 But thou liv'st fearless; and thy face ne'er shows Fortune when she comes; or goes; But with thy equal thoughts; prepared dost stand To take her by the either hand; Nor car'st which comes the first; the foul or fair: A wise man ev'ry way lies square; And like a surly oak with storms perplex'd Grows still the stronger; strongly vex'd。 Be so; bold Spirit; stand centre…like; unmoved; And be not only thought; but proved To be what I report thee; and inure Thyself; if want comes; to endure; And so thou dost; for thy desires are Confined to live with private Lar: Nor curious whether appetite be fed Or with the first; or second bread。 Who keep'st no proud mouth for delicious cates; Hunger makes coarse meats; delicates。 Canst; and unurged; forsake that larded fare; Which art; not nature; makes so rare; To taste boil'd nettles; coleworts; beets; and eat These; and sour herbs; as dainty meat: While soft opinion makes thy Genius say; 'Content makes all ambrosia;' Nor is it that thou keep'st this stricter size So much for want; as exercise; To numb the sense of dearth; which; should sin haste it; Thou might'st but only see't; not taste it; Yet can thy humble roof maintain a quire Of singing crickets by thy fire; And the brisk mouse may feast herself with crumbs; Till that the green…eyed kitling comes; Then to her cabin; blest she can escape The sudden danger of a rape。 And thus thy little well…kept stock doth prove; Wealth cannot make a life; but love。 Nor art thou so close…handed; but canst spend; (Counsel concurring with the end); As well as spare; still conning o'er this theme; To shun the first and last extreme; Ordaining that thy small stock find no breach; Or to exceed thy tether's reach; But to live round; and close; and wisely true To thine own self; and known to few。 Thus let thy rural sanctuary be Elysium to thy wife and thee; There to disport your selves with golden measure; For seldom use commends the pleasure。 Live; and live blest; thrice happy pair; let breath; But lost to one; be th' other's death: And as there is one love; one faith; one troth; Be so one death; one grave to both; Till when; in such assurance live; ye may Nor fear; or wish your dying day。


*59*

TO HIS PECULIAR FRIEND; MR JOHN 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…boil'd 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。


*60*

A PARANAETICALL; OR ADVISIVE VERSE TO HIS FRIEND; MR JOHN WICKS

Is this a life; to break thy sleep; To rise as soon as day doth peep? To tire thy patient ox or ass By noon; and let thy good days pass; Not knowing this; that Jove decrees Some mirth; t' adulce man's miseries? No; 'tis a life to have thine oil Without extortion from thy soil; Thy faithful fields to yield thee grain; Although with some; yet little pain; To have thy mind; and nuptial bed; With fears and cares uncumbered A pleasing wife; that by thy side Lies softly panting like a bride; This is to live; and to endear Those minutes Time has lent us here。 Then; while fates suffer; live thou free; As is that air that circles thee; And crown thy temples too; and let Thy servant; not thy own self; sweat; To strut thy barns with sheaves of wheat。 Time steals away like to a stream; And we glide hence away with them: No sound recalls the hours once fled; Or roses; being withered; Nor us; my friend; when we are lost; Like to a dew; or melted frost。 Then live we mirthful while we should; And turn the iron age to gold; Let's feast and frolic; sing and play; And thus less last; than live our day。 Whose life with car
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!