The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 79

_Grange_, a farmstead.

1004. LEPROSY IN HOUSES.

When to a house I come, and see The Genius wasteful, more than free: The servants thumbless, yet to eat With lawless tooth the flour of wheat: The sons to suck the milk of kine, More than the teats of discipline: The daughters wild and loose in dress, Their cheeks unstained with shamefac'dness: The husband drunk, the wife to be A bawd to incivility; I must confess, I there descry, A house spread through with leprosy.

_Thumbless_, lazy: cp. painful thumb, _supra_.

1005. GOOD MANNERS AT MEAT.

This rule of manners I will teach my guests: To come with their own bellies unto feasts; Not to eat equal portions, but to rise Farced with the food that may themselves suffice.

_Farced_, stuffed.

1006. ANTHEA'S RETRACTATION.

Anthea laugh'd, and fearing lest excess Might stretch the cords of civil comeliness, She with a dainty blush rebuk'd her face, And call'd each line back to his rule and s.p.a.ce.

1007. COMFORTS IN CROSSES.

Be not dismayed though crosses cast thee down; Thy fall is but the rising to a crown.

1008. SEEK AND FIND.

_Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt; Nothing's so hard but search will find it out._

1009. REST.

On with thy work, though thou be'st hardly press'd: _Labour is held up by the hope of rest_.

1010. LEPROSY IN CLOTHES.

When flowing garments I behold Inspir'd with purple, pearl and gold, I think no other, but I see In them a glorious leprosy That does infect and make the rent More mortal in the vestiment.

_As flowery vestures do descry The wearer's rich immodesty: So plain and simple clothes do show Where virtue walks, not those that flow._

1012. GREAT MALADIES, LONG MEDICINES.

_To an old sore a long cure must go on: Great faults require great satisfaction._

1013. HIS ANSWER TO A FRIEND.

You ask me what I do, and how I live?

And, n.o.ble friend, this answer I must give: Drooping, I draw on to the vaults of death, O'er which you'll walk, when I am laid beneath.

1014. THE BEGGAR.

Shall I a daily beggar be, For love's sake asking alms of thee?

Still shall I crave, and never get A hope of my desired bit?

Ah, cruel maids! I'll go my way, Whereas, perchance, my fortunes may Find out a threshold or a door That may far sooner speed the poor: Where thrice we knock, and none will hear, Cold comfort still I'm sure lives there.

1015. b.a.s.t.a.r.dS.

Our b.a.s.t.a.r.d children are but like to plate Made by the coiners--illegitimate.

1016. HIS CHANGE.

My many cares and much distress Has made me like a wilderness; Or, discompos'd, I'm like a rude And all confused mult.i.tude: Out of my comely manners worn, And, as in means, in mind all torn.

1017. THE VISION.

Methought I saw, as I did dream in bed, A crawling vine about Anacreon's head.

Flushed was his face; his hairs with oil did shine; And, as he spake, his mouth ran o'er with wine.

Tippled he was, and tippling lisped withal; And lisping reeled, and reeling like to fall.

A young enchantress close by him did stand, Tapping his plump thighs with a myrtle wand: She smil'd; he kiss'd; and kissing, cull'd her too, And being cup-shot, more he could not do.

For which, methought, in pretty anger she s.n.a.t.c.hed off his crown, and gave the wreath to me; Since when, methinks, my brains about do swim, And I am wild and wanton like to him.

_Cull'd_, embraced.

_Cup-shot_, drunk.

1018. A VOW TO VENUS.

Happily I had a sight Of my dearest dear last night; Make her this day smile on me, And I'll roses give to thee.

1019. ON HIS BOOK.

The bound, almost, now of my book I see, But yet no end of these therein, or me: Here we begin new life, while thousands quite Are lost, and theirs, in everlasting night.

1020. A SONNET OF PERILLA.

Then did I live when I did see Perilla smile on none but me.

But, ah! by stars malignant crossed, The life I got I quickly lost; But yet a way there doth remain For me embalm'd to live again, And that's to love me; in which state I'll live as one regenerate.