The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 95

How worthy of respect and praise!

How matron-like didst thou go dressed!

How soberly above the rest Of those that prank it with their plumes, And jet it with their choice perfumes!

_Chor._ Thy vestures were not flowing: Nor did the street Accuse thy feet Of mincing in their going.

And though thou here li'st dead, we see A deal of beauty yet in thee.

How sweetly shows thy smiling face, Thy lips with all-diffused grace!

Thy hands, though cold, yet spotless white, And comely as the chrysolite!

_Chor._ Thy belly like a hill is, Or as a neat Clean heap of wheat, All set about with lilies.

Sleep with thy beauties here, while we Will show these garments made by thee; These were the coats, in these are read The monuments of Dorcas dead.

These were thy acts, and thou shall have These hung as honours o'er thy grave; _Chor._ And after us, distressed, Should fame be dumb, Thy very tomb Would cry out, Thou art blessed.

_Deal_, portion.

_Maundy_, the alms given on Thursday in Holy Week.

_Reaming_, drawing out into threads.

_Calamus_, a fragrant plant, the sweet flag.

_Chrysolite_, the topaz.

124. TO G.o.d IN TIME OF PLUNDERING.

Rapine has yet took nought from me; But if it please my G.o.d I be Brought at the last to th' utmost bit, G.o.d make me thankful still for it.

I have been grateful for my store: Let me say grace when there's no more.

125. TO HIS SAVIOUR. THE NEW-YEAR'S GIFT.

That little pretty bleeding part Of foreskin send to me: And I'll return a bleeding heart For New-Year's gift to Thee.

Rich is the gem that Thou did'st send, Mine's faulty too and small; But yet this gift Thou wilt commend Because I send Thee all.

126. DOOMSDAY.

Let not that day G.o.d's friends and servants scare; The bench is then their place, and not the bar.

127. THE POOR'S PORTION.

The sup'rabundance of my store, That is the portion of the poor: Wheat, barley, rye, or oats; what is't But He takes toll of? all the grist.

Two raiments have I: Christ then makes This law; that He and I part stakes.

Or have I two loaves, then I use The poor to cut, and I to choose.

128. THE WHITE ISLAND: OR, PLACE OF THE BLEST.

In this world, the isle of dreams, While we sit by sorrow's streams, Tears and terrors are our themes Reciting:

But when once from hence we fly, More and more approaching nigh Unto young Eternity Uniting:

In that whiter island, where Things are evermore sincere; Candour here, and l.u.s.tre there Delighting:

There no monstrous fancies shall Out of h.e.l.l an horror call, To create, or cause at all, Affrighting.

There in calm and cooling sleep We our eyes shall never steep; But eternal watch shall keep, Attending

Pleasures, such as shall pursue Me immortalised, and you; And fresh joys, as never to Have ending.

129. TO CHRIST.

I crawl, I creep; my Christ, I come To Thee for curing balsamum: Thou hast, nay more, Thou art the tree Affording salve of sovereignty.

My mouth I'll lay unto Thy wound Bleeding, that no blood touch the ground: For, rather than one drop shall fall To waste, my JESU, I'll take all.

130. TO G.o.d.

G.o.d! to my little meal and oil Add but a bit of flesh to boil: And Thou my pipkinet shalt see, Give a wave-off'ring unto Thee.

131. FREE WELCOME.

G.o.d He refuseth no man, but makes way For all that now come or hereafter may.

132. G.o.d'S GRACE.

G.o.d's grace deserves here to be daily fed That, thus increased, it might be perfected.

133. COMING TO CHRIST.

To him who longs unto his Christ to go, Celerity even itself is slow.

134. CORRECTION.

G.o.d had but one Son free from sin; but none Of all His sons free from correction.

135. G.o.d'S BOUNTY.

G.o.d, as He's potent, so He's likewise known To give us more than hope can fix upon.

136. KNOWLEDGE.

Science in G.o.d is known to be A substance, not a quality.