A title page is this!" and some in file Stand spelling false, while one might walk to MileEnd Green. Why is it harder, Sirs, than Gordon, Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp? Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek, That would have made Quintilian stare and gasp. Thy age, like ours, O soul of Sir John Cheek! Hated not learning worse than toad or asp, When thou taught'st Cambridge, and King Edward, Greek. ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs Which after held the sun and moon in fee. TO MR. H. LAWES, ON HIS AIRS, 1645. HARRY, whose tuneful and well-measur'd song First taught our English music how to span Words with just note and accent, not to scan With Midas' ears, committing short and long; Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng, With praise enough for Envy to look wan; To after age thou shalt be writ the man That with smooth air could humour best our tongue. Thou honour'st verse, and verse must lend her wing ON THE RELIGIOUS MEMORY OF MRS. CATHARINE THOMSON, MY CHRISTIAN FRIEND, Deceased 16th of December, 1646. WHEN faith and love, which parted from thee never, Had ripen'd thy just soul to dwell with God, Meekly thou didst resign this earthly load Of death, call'd life; which us from life doth sever. Thy works, and alms, and all thy good endeavour, Stay'd not behind, nor in the grave were trod; But, as Faith pointed with her golden rod, Follow'd thee up to joy and bliss for ever. Love led them on; and Faith, who knew them best Thy hand-maids, clad them o'er with purple beams And azure wings, that up they flew so dress'd, And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes Before the Judge: who thenceforth bid thee rest, And drink thy fill of pure immortal streams. TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX. FAIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, Thy firm, unshaken virtue, ever brings (For what can war but endless war still breed?) TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL. CROMWELL, Our chief of men, who through a cloud To peace and truth thy glorious way hast plough'd, And on the neck of crowned fortune proud Hast rear'd God's trophies, and his work pursued, While Derwen stream, with blood of Scots imbued, And Dunbar field resounds thy praises loud, And Worcester's laureat wreath. Yet much remains To conquer still; Peace hath her victories No less renown'd than War: new foes arise Threat'ning to bind our souls with secular chains : Help us to save free conscience from the paw Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw. TO SIR HENRY VANE THE YOUNGER.. VANE, young in years, but in sage counsel old, Than whom a better senator ne'er held The helm of Rome, when gowns not arms, repell'd The fierce Epiriot, and th' African bold, Whether to settle peace, or to unfold Both spiritual power and civil, what each means, What severs each, thou hast learn'd, which few have done : The bounds of either sword to thee we owe; ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN AVENGE, O Lord, thy slaughter'd saints, whose bones To Heaven. Their martyr'd blood and ashes sow ON HIS BLINDNESS, WHEN I consider how my light is spent And that one talent which is death to hide, Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he, returning, chide; Doth God exact day-labour, light denied? I fondly ask but Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best; his state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait. TO MR. LAWRENCE LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire TO CYRIAC SKINNER, CYRIAC, whose grandsire, on the royal bench |