Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham Part 41

9 But what was all this business?

For sure it was important; For who rides i' th'wet When affairs are not great, The neighbours make but a sport on't.

10 To a goodly fat sow's baby, O John! thou hadst a malice; The old driver of swine That day sure was thine, Or thou hadst not quitted Calais.

[1] 'Fill of carting': we three riding in a cart from Dunkirk to Calais, with a fat Dutch woman.

NATURA NATURATA.

1 What gives us that fantastic fit, That all our judgment and our wit To vulgar custom we submit?

2 Treason, theft, murder, and all the rest Of that foul legion we so detest, Are in their proper names express'd.

3 Why is it then thought sin or shame Those necessary parts to name, From whence we went, and whence we came?

4 Nature, whate'er she wants, requires; With love inflaming our desires, Finds engines fit to quench those fires.

5 Death she abhors; yet when men die We are present; but no stander by Looks on when we that loss supply.

6 Forbidden wares sell twice as dear; Even sack, prohibited last year, A most abominable rate did bear.

7 'Tis plain our eyes and ears are nice, Only to raise, by that device, Of those commodities the price.

8 Thus reason's shadows us betray, By tropes and figures led astray, From Nature, both her guide and way.

SARPEDON'S SPEECH TO GLAUCUS, IN THE TWELFTH BOOK OF HOMER.

Thus to Glaucus spake Divine Sarpedon, since he did not find Others, as great in place, as great in mind:-- Above the rest why is our pomp, our power?

Our flocks, our herds, and our possessions more?

Why all the tributes land and sea affords Heap'd in great chargers, load our sumptuous boards?

Our cheerful guests carouse the sparkling tears Of the rich grape, while music charms their ears?

Why, as we pa.s.s, do those on Xanthus' sh.o.r.e, 10 As G.o.ds behold us, and as G.o.ds adore?

But that, as well in danger as degree, We stand the first; that when our Licians see Our brave examples, they admiring say, Behold our gallant leaders! These are they Deserve the greatness, and unenvied stand, Since what they act transcends what they command.

Could the declining of this fate (O friend!) Our date to immortality extend?

Or if death sought not them who seek not death, 20 Would I advance? or should my vainer breath With such a glorious folly thee inspire?

But since with Fortune Nature doth conspire, Since age, disease, or some less n.o.ble end, Though not less certain, does our days attend; Since 'tis decreed, and to this period lead A thousand ways, the n.o.blest path we'll tread, And bravely on, till they, or we, or all, A common sacrifice to honour fall.

FRIENDSHIP AND SINGLE LIFE, AGAINST LOVE AND MARRIAGE.

1 Love! in what poison is thy dart Dipp'd, when it makes a bleeding heart?

None know but they who feel the smart.

2 It is not thou, but we are blind, And our corporeal eyes (we find) Dazzle the optics of our mind.

3 Love to our citadel resorts; Through those deceitful sally-ports, Our sentinels betrays our forts.

4 What subtle witchcraft man constrains, To change his pleasure into pains, And all his freedom into chains?

5 May not a prison, or a grave, Like wedlock, honour's t.i.tle have That word makes freeborn man a slave.

6 How happy he that loves not, lives!

Him neither hope nor fear deceives, To Fortune who no hostage gives.

7 How unconcern'd in things to come!

If here uneasy, finds at Rome, At Paris, or Madrid, his home.

8 Secure from low and private ends, His life, his zeal, his wealth attends His prince, his country, and his friends.

9 Danger and honour are his joy; But a fond wife, or wanton boy, May all those gen'rous thoughts destroy.

10 Then he lays by the public care; Thinks of providing for an heir; Learns how to get, and how to spare.

11 Nor fire, nor foe, nor fate, nor night, The Trojan hero did affright, Who bravely twice renew'd the fight.

12 Though still his foes in number grew, Thicker their darts and arrows flew, Yet, left alone, no fear he knew.

13 But Death in all her forms appears, From every thing he sees and hears, For whom he leads, and whom he bears.[1]

14 Love, making all things else his foes, Like a fierce torrent, overflows Whatever doth his course oppose.

15 This was the cause, the poets sung, Thy mother from the sea was sprung; But they were mad to make thee young.

16 Her father, not her son, art thou: From our desires our actions grow; And from the cause th'effect must flow.

17 Love is as old as place or time; 'Twas he the fatal tree did climb, Grandsire of father Adam's crime.

18 Well may'st thou keep this world in awe; Religion, wisdom, honour, law, The tyrant in his triumph draw.

19 'Tis he commands the powers above; Phoebus resigns his darts, and Jove His thunder to the G.o.d of Love.

20 To him doth his feign'd mother yield; Nor Mars (her champion's) flaming shield Guards him, when Cupid takes the field.

21 He clips Hope's wings, whose airy bliss Much higher than fruition is, But less than nothing if it miss.

22 When matches Love alone projects, The cause transcending the effects, That wild fire's quench'd in cold neglects;

23 Whilst those conjunctions prove the best, Where Love's of blindness dispossess'd By perspectives of interest.