The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 60

The rose was sick, and smiling died; And, being to be sanctified, About the bed there sighing stood The sweet and flowery sisterhood.

Some hung the head, while some did bring, To wash her, water from the spring.

Some laid her forth, while others wept, But all a solemn fast there kept.

The holy sisters, some among, The sacred dirge and trentall sung.

But ah! what sweets smelt everywhere, As heaven had spent all perfumes there.

At last, when prayers for the dead And rites were all accomplished, They, weeping, spread a lawny loom And clos'd her up, as in a tomb.

_Trentall_, a service for the dead.

687. THE RAINBOW, OR CURIOUS COVENANT.

Mine eyes, like clouds, were drizzling rain; And as they thus did entertain The gentle beams from Julia's sight To mine eyes levell'd opposite, O thing admir'd! there did appear A curious rainbow smiling there; Which was the covenant that she No more would drown mine eyes or me.

688. THE LAST STROKE STRIKES SURE.

Though by well warding many blows we've pa.s.s'd, _That stroke most fear'd is which is struck the last_.

689. FORTUNE.

Fortune's a blind profuser of her own, Too much she gives to some, enough to none.

690. STOOL-BALL.

At stool-ball, Lucia, let us play For sugar-cakes and wine: Or for a tansy let us pay, The loss, or thine, or mine.

If thou, my dear, a winner be At trundling of the ball, The wager thou shall have, and me, And my misfortunes all.

But if, my sweetest, I shall get, Then I desire but this: That likewise I may pay the bet And have for all a kiss.

_Stool-ball_, a game of ball played by girls.

_Tansy_, a cake made of eggs, cream, and herbs.

691. TO SAPPHO.

Let us now take time and play, Love, and live here while we may; Drink rich wine, and make good cheer, While we have our being here; For once dead and laid i' th' grave, No return from thence we have.

692. ON POET PRAT. EPIG.

Prat he writes satires, but herein's the fault, In no one satire there's a mite of salt.

693. UPON TUCK. EPIG.

At post and pair, or slam, Tom Tuck would play This Christmas, but his want wherewith says nay.

_Post and pair, or slam_, old games of cards. Ben Jonson calls the former a "thrifty and right worshipful game".

694. BITING OF BEGGARS.

Who, railing, drives the lazar from his door, Instead of alms, sets dogs upon the poor.

695. THE MAY-POLE.

The May-pole is up!

Now give me the cup, I'll drink to the garlands around it; But first unto those Whose hands did compose The glory of flowers that crown'd it.

A health to my girls, Whose husbands may earls Or lords be, granting my wishes, And when that ye wed To the bridal bed, Then multiply all like to fishes.

696. MEN MIND NO STATE IN SICKNESS.

That flow of gallants which approach To kiss thy hand from out the coach; That fleet of lackeys which do run Before thy swift postillion; Those strong-hoof'd mules which we behold Rein'd in with purple, pearl, and gold, And shod with silver, prove to be The drawers of the axletree.

Thy wife, thy children, and the state Of Persian looms and antique plate; All these, and more, shall then afford No joy to thee, their sickly lord.

697. ADVERSITY.

Adversity hurts none, but only such Whom whitest fortune dandled has too much.

698. WANT.

Need is no vice at all, though here it be With men a loathed inconveniency.

699. GRIEF.

Sorrows divided amongst many, less Discruciate a man in deep distress.

_Discruciate_, torture.

700. LOVE PALPABLE.

I press'd my Julia's lips, and in the kiss Her soul and love were palpable in this.

701. NO ACTION HARD TO AFFECTION.

Nothing hard or harsh can prove Unto those that truly love.