ANNO ÆTATIS XVII. (1626.) ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT O FAIREST flow'r no sooner blown but blasted, That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss By boistrous rape th' Athenian damsel got, Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, 5 ΤΟ Which 'mongst the wanton gods a foul reproach was held. So mounting up in icy-pearled car, Through middle empire of the freezing air He wander'd long, till thee he spi'd from far, 15 20 Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; But then transform'd him to a purple flower: 25 Alack that so to change thee Winter had no power. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, 30 Oh no! for something in thy face did shine Above mortality, that shew'd thou wast divine. Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, (If so it be that thou these plaints dost hear) Tell me, bright Spirit, where'er thou hoverest, Whether above that high first-moving sphere, Or in the Elysian fields (if such there were), ◇ say me true if thou wert mortal wight, And why from us so quickly thou didst take thy flight. 35 40 Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof 45 Of shak't Olympus by mischance didst fall; Of sheeny Heav'n, and thou some goddess fled Or wert thou that just maid who once before 50 And cam'st again to visit us once more? Or wert thou [Mercy] that sweet-smiling youth? Or that crown'd matron, sage white-robed Truth? 55 Let down in cloudy throne to do the world some good? Or wert thou of the golden-winged host, As if to show what creatures Heav'n doth breed ; To scorn the sordid world, and unto Heav'n aspire? But oh why didst thou not stay here below бо 65 To slake his wrath whom sin hath made our foe, To turn swift-rushing black perdition hence, Or drive away the slaughtering pestilence, To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart? But thou canst best perform that office where thou art. Then thou, the mother of so sweet a child, 71 Think what a present thou to God hast sent, And render him with patience what he lent; 75 This if thou do he will an offspring give, That till the world's last end shall make thy name to live. ANNO ÆTATIS XIX. (1628.) 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 5 Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee, The daintest dishes shall be serv'd up last. For this same smail neglect that I have made: IO 15 20 25 30 Such as may make thee search thy coffers round, 35 How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, To th' touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings 40 45 And last, of kings and queens and heroes old; In solemn songs at king Alcinous' feast, Are held with his melodious harmony In willing chains and sweet captivity. But fie my wandring Muse, how thou dost stray! 50 Thou know'st it must be now thy only bent 55 To keep in compass of thy predicament: Then quick about thy purpos'd business come, Then Ens is represented as father of the Predicaments his ten sons, whereof the eldest stood for Substance with his canons, which Ens thus speaking, explains. Good luck befriend thee, son; for at thy birth бо 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 still From eyes of mortals walk invisible. 66 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, 70 And in time's long and dark prospective glass 75 80 |