TO CELIA. * I know thy forms are studied arts, And what thou call'st thy gifts, are baits. 143 TO CELIA. I. Drink to me only with thine eyes, Or leave a kiss within the cup, The thirst, that from the soul doth rise, But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I would not change for thine. II. I sent thee late a rosy wreath, But thou thereon didst only breathe, And sent'st it back to me, Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee.1 1 This song is a translation from a "Collection of Love Letters" by the Greek sophist Philostratus. Help, help to lift Myself up to thee, harrow'd, torn, and bruised II. All-gracious God, the sinner's sacrifice,⚫ For thy acceptance; O behold me right, III. Eternal Father, God, who didst create Eternal God, the Son, who not denied'st IV. Eternal Spirit, God from both proceeding, Increase those acts, O glorious Unity Of seeing your face. V. Beholding One in Three, and Three in One, The gladdest light dark man can think upon. TO THE HOLY TRINITY. Father and Son, and Holy Ghost, you three Distinct in Persons, yet in Unity— One God to see. VI. My Maker, Saviour, and my Sanctifier ! Among thy saints elected to abide, And with thy angels placéd, side by side, Shall I there rest. 145 FROM THE ELEGY ON SHAKESPEARE. Soul of the age! The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage! * * * * Triumph my Britain, thou hast one to show, * * * * Sweet Swan of Avon, what a sight it were And make those flights upon the banks of Thames, But stay, I see thee in the hemisphere Advanced, and made a constellation there. Shine forth, thou star of poets, and with rage Or influence, chide, or cheer the drooping stage, Which, since thy flight from hence, hath mourn'd like night, And despairs day, but for thy volume's light. EPITAPH ON THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE. Underneath this sable hearse, Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother; PHINEAS AND GILES FLETCHER. (PHINEAS, 1584?-1650? GILES, 1588?—1623.) 66 Their THE brothers Fletcher belong to a family eminently poetical. father, Dr. Giles Fletcher, was a poet, and their cousin, John Fletcher, one of the most eminent dramatists of the age of James I. Both of them were clergymen, and were of amiable character. "The two Fletchers," says Southey, 'are the best poets of the school of Spenser." "The Purple Island" of Phineas is an allegorical exposition of the anatomy and physiology of the human body, and of the mental constitution of man. The subject is unhappy; the first cantos are tiresome, and often disgustingly minute; the latter portion of the poem rises to eloquence and beauty of allegory, He published also " Piscatory Eclogues," and miscellaneous poems. The poem of Giles, "Christ's Victory and Triumph," is "rich and picturesque in the highest degree," distinguished by 'energy of style, sublimity of sentiment, opulence of description, and harmony of numbers." Milton has borrowed a feather or two from this work. 66 FROM "THE PURPLE ISLAND." CANTO X. Encrates.-Agneia.-Parthenia.3 "By him the stout Encrates boldly went, Which all on him alone their spite misspent ; For he whole armies, single, bold defies; With him nor might nor cunning slights prevail; Yet still assail him fresh, yet vainly still assail. "His body full of vigour, full of health; His table feeds not lust, but strength and need; On's shield an hand from Heaven an orchard dressing, 46 "His settled mind was written in his face: His heritance he would not lavish sell, 2 Chastity in the married. 1 Temperance. Chastity in the unmarrried. Each virtue is characterised by armorial bearings and devices. FROM THE PURPLE ISLAND. "A lovely pair of twins closed either side: Not those in Heaven, the flowery Geminies, Are half so lovely bright; the one his bride, Agneia chaste, was joined in Hymen's ties, And love, as pure as Heaven's conjunction: That she was his, and he her flesh and bone: So were the two in sight,-in truth entirely one. "Upon her archéd brow, unarmed love Triumphing sat in peaceful victory; Ten thousand more her fairer breast contains "Her sky-like arms glittered in golden beams, A loving pair, still coupled, ne'er alone; 147 Her word, 'Though one when two, yet either two, or none' "With her, her sister went, a warlike maid, "Her goodly armour seemed a garden green, Ever the same, but new in newer date: And underneath was writ, 'Such is chaste single state.' "Thus hid in arms, she seem'd a goodly knight, But when she list lay down her armour bright, 1 The Phoenix.-See note 2, p. 154. |