So have I seen some tender slip, And some flowers, and some bays, 47 Lady] Cymbeline, act iv. sc. 2. 'Quiet consummation have, And renowned be thy grave! Warton. Whilst thou, bright Saint, high sitt'st in glory, Who, after years of barrenness, To him that serv'd for her before, And at her next birth much like thee 65 70 SONG. ON MAY MORNING. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. 1 star] 'Of the bright morning star.' Hen. More's Poems, p. 322. 1 harbinger] Shakesp. Mids. N. Dream, act iii. sc. ult. 'And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger.' Warton. 2 dancing] Spenser's F. Q. i. v. 2. 'At last the golden oriental gate Of greatest heaven gan to open faire; And Phoebus fresh as bridgroome to his mate, Came dancing forth, shaking his dewy hair.' Warton. Hail bounteous May, that dost inspire Mirth, and youth, and warm desire; Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. 10 5 AN EPITAPH ON THE ADMIRABLE DRAMATIC POET W. SHAKESPEARE.* WHAT needs my Shakespeare for his honour'd bones, Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid Dear son of memory, great heir of fame, 5 What need'st thou such weak witness of thy name? Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thyself a live-long monument. For whilst to th' shame of slow-endeavouring art Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued book Those Delphic lines with deep impression took, 10 welcome] Chaucer's Knight's Tale, ver. 1511. 'O Maye! with all thy floures and thy grene, Right welcome be thou, fair freshe May.' Todd. 10 These lines were prefixed to the folio ed. of Shakespeare's Plays in 1632, but without Milton's name or initials. It is, therefore, the first of his pieces that was published. Warton. 11 unvalued] Invaluable. Rich. III. act i. sc. 4. 'Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels.' Todd. Then thou our fancy of itself bereaving, Dost make us marble with too much conceiving; And so sepulchred in such pomp dost lie, That kings for such a tomb would wish to die. 15 ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER, Who sickened in the time of his vacancy, being forbid to go to London, by reason of the Plague. HERE lies old Hobson; Death hath broke his girt, 15 sepulchred] So accented in Shakesp. Rape of Lucrece. 5 10 1 Hobson] Seven Champions of Christendom, p. 50. 'Is Hobson there, or Dawson, or Tom Long?' Ellis's Lett. on Engl. History, 1st Ser. iii. 207. Our Hobson and the rest should have been forbidden.' Taylor's (W. Poet.) Works, fol. part ii. p. 188. Oh! quoth hec, I could have gone thither with my neighbour Hobson on foot, like a foole as I was, and I might have rid backe upon my neighbour Jobson's mare, like an asse as I am.' But lately finding him so long at home, And thinking now his journey's end was come, In the kind office of a chamberlin Show'd him his room where he must lodge that night, Pull'd off his boots, and took away the light: Hobson has supp'd, and's newly gone to bed. 15 ANOTHER ON THE SAME. HERE lieth one, who did most truly prove While he might still jog on and keep his trot, Until his revolution was at stay. Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime Too long vacation hasten'd on his term. 5 10 Merely to drive the time away he sicken'd, 15 Fainted, and died, nor would with ale be quicken'd; |