370 O wherefore was my birth from Heaven foretold his god-like presence, and from some great act Why was my breeding ordered and prescribed design'd for great exploits? if I must die to grind in brazen fetters under task 371 with this heaven-gifted strength? O glorious strength put to the labour of a beast, debased lower than bond-slave! Promise was that I had been fulfilled but through mine own default! J. MILTON 372 LIBERTY EQUAL Nature fashioned us all in one mould. The bear serves not the bear, nor the wolf the wolf: 'Twas odds of strength in tyrants, that plucked the first link from the golden chain should the strong serve the weak, the fair deformed or such as know the cause of things pay tribute 373 to ignorant fools? All's but the outward gloss in burning frankincense and myrrh, he shows R. GLOVER 374 EVEN to the utmost I have been to thee 375 a kind and a good Father: and herein I but repay a gift which I myself received at other hands; for, though now old I wished that thou should'st live the life they lived. GRIEF-MEDICINAL HE that lacks time to mourn lacks time to mend. Eternity mourns that. 'Tis an ill cure for life's worst ills, to have no time to feel them. Yet such the barrenness of busy life! From shelf to shelf Ambition clambers up, F. S. III 4 whilst Magnanimity, absolved from toil, H. TAYLOR 376 377 DAY AND NIGHT ISCOMFORTABLE cousin! know'st thou not behind the globe, that lights the lower world, the cloak of night being plucked from off their backs, CAN W. SHAKESPEARE LOVE-HOW TO BE WON AN Love be pleased? Love is a gentle spirit; the wind that blows the April flowers not softer; she's drawn with doves to shew her peacefulness: lions and bloody pards are Mars's servants. Would you serve Love? do it with humbleness, without a noise, with still prayers and soft murmurs; upon her altars offer your obedience, and not your brawls; she's won with tears, not terrors; that fire you kindle to her deity is only grateful when it's blown with sighs, and holy incense flung with white-hand innocence. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER 378 QUEEN MARGARET TO HENRY VI ON HUMPHREY DUKE OF GLOSTER AN you not see? or will ye not observe With what a majesty he bears himself; how proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? and, if we did but glance a far-off look, immediately he was upon his knee. 379 380 381 But meet him now, and, be it in the morn, ORESTES' SOLILOQUY HARK! in the trembling leaves W. SHAKESPEARE mysterious whispers: hark! a rushing sound sweeps through yon twilight depth-e'en now they come, they throng to greet their guest! and who are they rejoicing each with each in stately joy, as a king's children gathered for the hour of some high festival! Exultingly and kindred-like, and godlike, on they pass, LOOK F. HEMANS from Goethe HAMLET TO HIS MOTHER OOK here, upon this picture, and on this,- S% W. SHAKESPEARE ENEAS' REQUEST TO DIDO much have I received at Dido's hands, 382 which piteous wants if Dido will supply, C. MARLOWE LONGING OF ORESTES FOR REPOSE ONE NE draught from Lethe's flood! reach me one one last cool goblet filled with dewy peace! ye dead! Ye dwellers of the eternal cloud, for evermore. 383 RICHES F. HEMANS from Goethe 384 TILL to be rich is still to be unhappy; STILL still to be envied, hated and abus'd: still to commence new law-suits, new vexations, and hoard up riches for a thriftless heir: PROMETHEUS-FURIES R. CUMBERLAND Fur. Wand disappointment, and mistrust, and hate, are the ministers of pain and fear, and clinging crime; and as lean dogs pursue through wood and lake some struck and sobbing fawn, we track all things that weep and bleed and live, when the great King betrays them to our will. Pro. Oh! many fearful natures in one name, I know ye; and these lakes and echoes know |