s: Fury was ev'rywhere raging, and artful, cowardly weakness.


s: May I never again see men in such wretched confusion!


s: Even the raging wild beast is a better object to gaze on.


s: "Excellent man," replied the pastor, with emphasis speaking


s: "If you're mistaken in man, 'tis not for me to reprove you.


s: Evil enough have you suffer'd indeed from his cruel proceedings!


s: Would you but look back, however, on days so laden with sorrow,


s: Till by danger 'tis stirr'd, and till necessity makes man


s: Show himself as an angel, a tutelar God unto others."


s: Then with a smile replied the worthy old magistrate, saying


s: "Your reminder is wise, like that which they give to the suff'rer


s: Gold and silver are lying, though melted and cover'd with ashes.


s: Little, indeed, it may be, and yet that little is precious,


s: Yes, I will not deny it, I saw late foemen uniting


s: So as to save the town from harm; I saw with devotion


s: Parents, children and friends impossible actions attempting,


s: Saw how the youth of a sudden became a man, how the greybeard


s: By a high-spirited girl accomplish'd, an excellent maiden,


s: Who in the great farmhouse remain'd behind with the servants,


s: Plund'ring and forcing their way inside the rooms of the women.


s: On the trembling band, and on the high-spirited maiden.


s: But she instantly seized the sword from the side of a ruffian,


s: When the pastor heard the praise of the maiden thus utter'd


s: Feelings of hope for his friend forthwith arose in his bosom,


s: And he prepared to ask what had been the fate of the damsel,


s: Whether she, in the sorrowful flight, form'd one of the people?


s: At this moment, however, the druggist nimbly approach'd them,


s: Pull'd the sleeve of the pastor, and whisper'd to him as follows


s: "I have at last pick'd out the maiden from many a hundred


s: But the pastor forthwith the druggist accompanied, till they


s: Came to a gap in the hedge, when the latter pointed with slyness,


s: Cover of blue, which Hermann took in the bundle and gave her.


s: For a bodice red her well-arch'd bosom upraises,


s: Which, with modest grace, her chin so round is encircling;


s: Free and joyously rises her head, with its elegant oval,


s: 'Tis she, beyond all doubt. So come, that we may examine


s: Whether she be both a good and a frugal and virtuous maiden."


s: Then the pastor rejoin'd, the sitting damsel inspecting


s: "That she enchanted the youth, I confess is no matter of wonder,


s: For she stands the test of the gaze of a man of experience.


s: Happy the person to whom Mother Nature the right face has given!


s: She recommends him at all times, he never appears as a stranger,


s: Each one gladly approaches, and each one beside him would linger,


s: Yes, I assure you the youth has indeed discover'd a maiden


s: Who the whole of the days of his life will enliven with gladness,


s: Thus a perfect body preserves the soul also in pureness,


s: And a vigorous youth of a happy old age gives assurance.


s: After reflecting a little, the druggist made answer as follows:--


s: Do not trust him too readily; time will make you more certain


s: Unto whom the maiden is known, who can tell us about her."


s: "Well, of a truth I commend your prudence," the pastor continued


s: "Not for ourselves are we wooing! To woo for others is serious."


s: So they started to meet the worthy magistrate seeing


s: Of that noble deed which was done by the maiden I spoke of,


s: Of her betroth'd's sad death, a noble young man who, incited


s: By the first fire of noble thoughts to struggle for freedom,


s: Went himself to Paris, and soon found a terrible death there.


s: Thus the magistrate spoke. The others departed and thanked him,


s: And the pastor produced a gold piece (the silver his purse held


s: He some hours before had with genuine kindness expended


s: When he saw the fugitives passing in sorrowful masses).


s: But the man refused to accept it, and said:--"I assure you,


s: Then continued the pastor, the gold in his hand once more placing


s: Ought to refuse to receive what is offer'd with liberal kindness.


s: "Bravo!" added in turn the druggist, with eagerness speaking


s: Yet I'll not leave you without a present, if only to show you


s: My good will, and I hope you will take the will for the action."


s: "Good tobacco is always a welcome present to trav'llers."


s: Then the druggist began his canister to praise very highly.


s: But the pastor drew him away, and the magistrate left them.


s: "Friend, I wish you joy! Your eye so true and your true heart


s: That we may reach without delay the end of the village,


s: And shall probably go back home ashamed and but slowly;


s: For, since I have been waiting care has fallen upon me,


s: Just because we are rich, and she poor and wandering in exile?


s: Poverty, when undeserved, itself makes proud. The fair maiden


s: Can have grown up without exciting love in man's bosom?


s: Then for their son themselves the bride the parents selected,


s: And a friend of the house was secretly call'd in the first place.


s: Of the selected bride; and, dress'd in his gayest apparel,


s: Went after dinner some Sunday to visit the excellent burgher,


s: And began by exchanging polite remarks on all subjects,


s: Cleverly turning and bending the talk in the proper direction.


s: After long beating about the bush, he flatter'd the daughter,


s: And spoke well of the man and the house that gave his commission.


s: Play'd the first fiddle at every family feast and rejoicing.


s: For the married couple remember'd the whole of their lifetime


s: Whose was the skilful hand by which the marriage knot tied was.


s: All this now is chang'd, and with many an excellent custom


s: Has gone quite out of fashion. Each person woos for himself now.


s: Everyone now must bear the weight of a maiden's refusal


s: "Let that be as it may," then answered the young man who scarcely


s: "I will go myself, and out of the mouth of the maiden


s: I would once more see, which my arm so longs to encircle:


s: But now leave me alone! Wait here no longer. Return you


s: Straight to my father and mother, in order to tell them in person


s: And so leave me alone! I myself shall return by the footpath


s: Nimbly mounted the carriage, and took the seat of the driver.


s: But you still delay'd, good cautious neighbour, and spoke thus


s: When the hand of a parson such worldly matters as reins grasps!"


s: But you smiled in return, you sensible pastor, replying


s: "Pray jump in, nor fear with both body and spirit to trust me,


s: For this hand to hold the reins has long been accustom'd,


s: And these eyes are train'd to turn the corner with prudence.


s: For we were wont to drive the carriage, when living at Strasburg,


s: Driven by me, through the echoing gateway thunder'd the carriage


s: By the dusty roads to distant meadows and lindens,


s: Partially comforted, then his neighbour mounted the carriage,


s: Sitting like one prepared to make a wise jump, if needs be,


s: Saw the dust disperse; but still he stood there, unthinking.


s: As the man on a journey, who, just at the moment of sunset,


s: Fixes his gaze once more on the rapidly vanishing planet,


s: Fixedly gazed he; it was no phantom in truth; she herself 'twas


s: In her hands by the handle she carried two pitchers,--one larger,


s: And he joyfully went to meet her; the sight of her gave him


s: Then the good maiden the youth in friendly fashion saluted,


s: Saying:--"Already my walk to the fountain is fully rewarded,


s: Come and see for yourself the persons who tasted your kindness,


s: And receive the tranquil thanks of all you have aided.


s: But that you may know the reason why I have come here,


s: Wade about in the spring which give the inhabitants water.


s: He the other pitcher took up, and bent himself over,


s: And in the blue of the heavens they saw their figures reflected,


s: "Say, why find I you here without your carriage and horses,


s: Hermann thoughtfully gazed on the ground, but presently lifted


s: Soon he collected his thoughts, and quietly said to the maiden:--


s: "'Tis for your sake alone I have come,--why seek to conceal it?


s: For I happily live with two affectionate parents,


s: Whom I faithfully help to look after our house and possessions,


s: Being an only son, while numerous are our employments.


s: I look after the field work; the house is carefully managed


s: By my father; my mother the hostelry cheers and enlivens.


s: But you also have doubtless found out how greatly the servants,


s: In the place of the daughter she lost, alas, prematurely.


s: And I hasten'd back home, deservedly praising the stranger


s: Both to my parents and friends. And now I come to inform you


s: What they desire, as I do. Forgive my stammering language!"


s: "Do not hesitate," said she, "to tell me the rest of your story


s: I have with gratitude felt that you have not sought to insult me.


s: You would fain hire me now as maid to your father and mother,


s: To look after the house, which now is in excellent order.


s: And you think that in me you have found a qualified maiden,


s: One that is able to work, and not of a quarrelsome nature.


s: Your proposal was short, and short shall my answer be also


s: Yes! with you I will go, and the voice of my destiny follow.


s: I have fulfill'd my duty, and brought the lying-in woman


s: Back to her friends again, who all rejoice at her rescue.


s: Most of them now are together, the rest will presently join them.


s: In these sad days which promise still sadder days in the future


s: If in the house of so worthy a man I can earn my own living,


s: Serving under the eye of his excellent wife, I will do so;


s: For a wandering girl bears not the best reputation.


s: Yes! with you I will go, as soon as I've taken the pitcher


s: Joyfully heard the youth the willing maiden's decision,


s: Doubting whether he now had not better tell her the whole truth;


s: But it appear'd to him best to let her remain in her error,


s: First to take her home, and then for her love to entreat her.


s: Ah! but now he espied a golden ring on her finger,


s: And so let her speak, while he attentively listen'd:--


s: "Let us now return," she continued, "the custom is always


s: To admonish the maidens who tarry too long at the fountain,


s: Yet how delightful it is by the fast-flowing water to chatter!"


s: Then they both arose, and once more directed their glances


s: Into the fountain, and then a blissful longing came o'er them.


s: Gaze not so earnestly at me, as if my fate were still doubtfull!


s: Women should learn betimes to serve, according to station,


s: For by serving alone she attains at last to the mast'ry,


s: To the due influence which she ought to possess in the household.


s: And her life is ever a ceaseless going and coming,


s: Or a lifting and carrying, working and doing for others.


s: Well for her, if she finds no manner of life too offensive,


s: And if to her the hours of night and of day all the same are,


s: So that her work never seems too mean, her needle too pointed,


s: So that herself she forgets, and liveth only for others!


s: For as a mother in truth she needs the whole of the virtues,


s: When the suckling awakens the sick one, and nourishment calls for


s: Twenty men together could not endure such a burden,


s: And they ought not,--and yet they gratefully ought to behold it."


s: Thus she spoke, and with her silent companion advanced she


s: Through the garden, until the floor of the granary reach'd they,


s: Both of them enter'd the room, and from the other direction,


s: Then on Dorothea they sprang, and greeted her warmly,


s: Then with a serious look continued the maiden, and spoke thus


s: And in the shade you enjoy repose and a fountain unsullied,


s: Then remember me, and all my friendly assistance,


s: I unwillingly leave you; but each one is now to each other


s: Rather a burden than comfort. We all must shortly be scatter'd


s: Over a foreign land, unless to return we are able.


s: And I have not refused him, for serving appears my vocation,


s: And to be served by others at home would seem like a burden.


s: So I'll go willingly with him; the youth appears to be prudent,


s: In your living infant, who looks so healthily at you.


s: "Warmly I thank for so often acting the part of a father."


s: Then she knelt herself down before the lying-in patient,


s: Kiss'd the weeping woman, her whisper'd blessing receiving.


s: Meanwhile the worthy magistrate spoke to Hermann as follows


s: "You deserve, my friend to be counted amongst the good landlords


s: Who are anxious to manage their house through qualified people.


s: For I have often observed how cautiously men are accustom'd


s: Sheep and cattle and horses to watch, when buying or bart'ring


s: But a man, who's so useful, provided he's good and efficient,


s: And who does so much harm and mischief by treacherous dealings,


s: Him will people admit to their houses by chance and haphazard,


s: And too late find reason to rue an o'erhasty decision.


s: This you appear to understand, for a girl you have chosen


s: Other persons now enter'd, the patient's nearest relations,


s: Many articles bringing, and better lodgings announcing.


s: And one secretly whispered into the ear of another


s: Hermann drew her away; they still continued to greet her.


s: Next the children, with screams and terrible crying attack'd her,


s: But first one of the women, and then another rebuked them


s: "Children, hush! to the town she is going, intending to bring you


s: And she'll soon return, with papers prettily gilded."


s: Out-of his veil now here, now there, with fiery glances


s: Beaming over the plain with rays foreboding and lurid.


s: And they both rejoiced in the corn so lofty and waving,


s: "Generous youth, to whom I shall owe a kind destiny shortly,


s: Whom I intend to serve with all my soul from hence-forward;


s: Knowing one's master, 'tis easier far to give satisfaction,


s: Tell me, then, how best I can win your father and mother."


s: Then the good and sensible youth made answer as follows


s: "You are indeed quite right, my kind and excellent maiden,


s: To begin by asking about the tastes of my parents!


s: For I have hitherto striven in vain to satisfy Father,


s: When I look'd after the inn, as well as my regular duty,


s: Working early and late in the field, and tending the vineyard.


s: Mother indeed was contented; she knew how to value my efforts;


s: And she will certainly hold you to be an excellent maiden,


s: Gentle maiden, deem me not cold and void of all feeling,


s: If I disclose my father's nature to you, who're a stranger.


s: Yes, such words have never before escaped, I assure von


s: Wishes for outward signs of love, as well as of rev'rence,


s: And would doubtless be satisfied with an inferior servant


s: Who understood this fancy, and hate a better, who did not."


s: Cheerfully she replied, with gentle movement increasing


s: Through the darkening path the speed at which she was walking:


s: I in truth shall hope to satisfy both of your parents,


s: For your mother's character my own nature resembles,


s: And to external graces have I from my youth been accustom'd.


s: And to peasants, and each enjoin'd it on all his acquaintance.


s: To salute their parents, and always to act with politeness.


s: All that I have learnt, and all I have practised since childhood,


s: Thus she spoke, and at that moment they came to the peartree.


s: Down from the skies the moon at her full was shining in glory;


s: Lights as clear as the day, and shadows of night and of darkness.


s: Under the shade of the noble tree at the spot which he loved so


s: Which that day had witness'd his tears at the fate of the exile.


s: Was the moment; he feard that a No would be her sole answer,


s: Ah! and he felt the ring on her finger, that sorrowful token.


s: So by the side of each other they quietly sat and in silence,


s: But the maiden began to speak, and said, "How delightful


s: Is the light of the moon! The clearness of day it resembles.


s: Yonder I see in the town the houses and courtyards quite plainly,


s: And that window yonder belongs to my room in the attic,


s: Which will probably soon be yours, as we're making great changes.


s: Here in the shade we are wont to rest, enjoying our meal-time.


s: But let us now descend across the vineyard and garden,


s: For observe how the threatening storm is hitherward rolling,


s: Lightening first, and then eclipsing the beautiful full moon."


s: So the pair arose, and wauder'd down by the corn-field,


s: Through the powerful corn, in the nightly clearness rejoicing;


s: And held up his beloved one; she gently sank on his shoulders,


s: He embraced her no closer, thoughall her weight he supported;


s: So he felt his noble burden, the warmth of her bosom,


s: And her balmy breath, against his warm lips exhaling,


s: Bearing with manly feelings the woman's heroical greatness.


s: For the foot to give way on entering a house, near the threshold.


s: Let us tarry a little, for fear your parents should blame you


s: O YE Muses, who gladly favour a love that is heartfelt,


s: Who on his way the excellent youth have hitherto guided,


s: Who have press'd the maid to his bosom before their betrothal,


s: Help still further to perfect the bonds of a couple so loving,


s: Drive away the clouds which over their happiness hover!


s: But begin by saying what now in the house has been passing.


s: For the third time the mother impatiently enter'd the chamber


s: Where the men were sitting, which she had anxiously quitted,


s: To my late father, who when I was young all seeds of impatience


s: In my mind uprooted, and left no fragment remaining,


s: And I learnt how to wait, as well as the best of the wise men.


s: "Tell us what legerdemain he employ'd," the pastor made answer.


s: "I will gladly inform you, and each one may gain by the lesson,"


s: Which was to carry us out to the fountain under the lime-trees;


s: But it came not; I ran like a weasel now hither, now thither,


s: Up and down the stairs, and from the door to the window;


s: Both my hands were prickling, I scratch'd away at the tables,


s: Carried my folly too far, by the arm he quietly took me,


s: Led me up to the window, and used this significant language


s: But remember this: the rimming will soon be arriving,


s: When the master, together with all his men, will be busy


s: In preparing and finishing quickly and deftly your coffin,


s: And which is destined to carry a roof that's unpleasantly heavy.


s: And I always think of the coffin whenever I see men


s: Running about in a state of doubtful and wild expectation."


s: Back into life it urges the former, and teaches him action,


s: When to the sensitive boy he pointed out death in its own form.


s: Unto the youth should be shown the worth of a noble and ripen'd


s: Age, and unto the old man, youth, that both may rejoice in


s: The eternal circle, and life may in life be made perfect!"


s: Here the door was open'd. The handsome couple appear'd there,


s: And the friends were amazed, the loving parents astonish'd


s: At the form of the bride, the form of the bridegroom resembling.


s: Yes! the door appear'd too small to admit the tall figures


s: Which now cross'd the threshold, in company walking together.


s: To his parents Hermann presented her, hastily saying:--


s: "Here is a maiden just of the sort you are wishing to have here,


s: That you may see how well she deserves to form one of our party."


s: Saying:--" Kind sir, I entreat you to help me out of this trouble


s: But she believes she's to be a maid in the house, and I fear me


s: She will in anger depart, as soon as we talk about marriage.


s: But it must be decided at once! no longer in error


s: Shall she remain, and I no longer this doubt can put up with.


s: Hasten and once more exhibit that wisdom we all hold in honour."


s: So the pastor forthwith turn'd round to the rest of the party,


s: But the maiden's soul was, unhappily, troubled already


s: By the talk of the father, who just had address'd her as follows,


s: "Yes, I'm well satisfied, child! I joyfully see that my son has


s: What kind of spirit his is, and whether he knows his own value.


s: But you will surely need but a short time to form your decision,


s: For I verily think he will find it full easy to follow."


s: Hermann but partially heard the words; the whole of his members


s: Inwardly quivered, and all the circle were suddenly silent.


s: But the excellent maiden, by words of such irony wounded,


s: (As she esteem'd them to be) and deeply distress'd in her spirit,


s: "Truly I was not prepared by your son for such a reception,


s: When he described his father's nature,--that excellent burgher,


s: And I know I am standing before you, a person of culture,


s: Who behaves himself wisely to all, in a suitable manner.


s: How far removed my lot from your son's and that of yourself is.


s: But I know myself well, and feel the whole situation.


s: Is it generous thus to greet me with language so jeering,


s: Hermann uneasily moved about, and signed to the pastor


s: To interpose without delay, and clear up the error.


s: Then his spirit advised him to solve not at once the confusion,


s: But, on the contrary, prove the excited mind of the maiden.


s: When you made up your mind to serve a stranger so quickly,


s: What it really is to enter the house of a master;


s: For a shake of the hand decides your fate for a twelvemonth,


s: And a single word Yes to much endurance will bind you.


s: But the worst part of the service is not the wearisome habits,


s: Nor the bitter toil of the work, which seems never-ending;


s: For the active freeman works hard as well as the servant.


s: But to suffer the whims of the master, who blames you unjustly,


s: Or who calls for this and for that, not knowing his own mind,


s: And the mistress's violence, always so easily kindled,


s: With the children's rough and supercilious bad manners,--


s: This is indeed hard to bear, whilst still fulfilling your duties


s: Promptly and actively, never becoming morose or ill-natured;


s: Yet for such work you appear little fit, for already the father's


s: Thus he spoke, and the maiden felt the weight of his language,


s: And no more restrain'd herself; mightily all her emotions


s: Show'd themselves, her bosom heaved, and a deep sigh escaped her,


s: "Ne'er does the clever man, who seeks to advise us in sorrow,


s: Think how little his chilling words our hearts can deliver


s: From the pangs which an unseen destiny fastens upon us.


s: You are happy and merry. How then should a jest ever wound you?


s: But the slightest touch gives torture to those who are suff'ring.


s: Let me at once disclose what later would deepen my sorrow,


s: And consign me perchance to agony mute and consuming.


s: Let me depart forthwith! No more in this house dare I linger;


s: I must hence and away, and look once more for my poor friends


s: Whom I left in distress, when seeking to better my fortunes.


s: This is my firm resolve; and now I may properly tell you


s: That which had else been buried for many a year in my bosom.


s: Yes, the father's jest has wounded me deeply, I own it,


s: Not that I'm proud and touchy, as ill becometh a servant,


s: But because in truth in my heart a feeling has risen


s: For the youth, who to-day has fill'd the part of my Saviour.


s: For when first in the road he left me, his image remain'd still


s: Firmly fix'd in my mind; and I thought of the fortunate maiden


s: Whom, as his betroth'd one, he cherish'd perchance in his bosom.


s: And I follow'd him willingly, when as a servant he sought me,


s: If I became in the house an indispensable pillar.


s: But, alas, I now see the dangers I well nigh fell into,


s: When I bethought me of living so near a silently-loved one.


s: Now for the first time I feel how far removed a poor maiden


s: Is from a richer youth, however clever she may be.


s: I have told you all this, that you my heart may mistake not,


s: Which an event that in thought I foreshadow has wounded already.


s: For I must have expected, my secret wishes concealing,


s: Happily I am warn'd in time, and out of my bosom


s: Has my secret escaped, whilst curable still is the evil.


s: But no more of the subject! I now must tarry no longer


s: In this house, where I now am standing in pain and confusion,


s: All my foolish hopes and my feelings freely confessing.


s: Not the night which, with sinking clouds, is spreading around us,


s: Not the falling rain, which outside is descending in torrents,


s: Not the blustering storm. All this I had to encounter


s: In that sorrowful flight, while the enemy follow'd behind Us.


s: And once more I go on my way, as I long have been wont to,


s: Thus she spoke, and towards the door she hastily turn'd her,


s: Holding under her arm the bundle she brought when arriving.


s: But the mother seized by both of her arms the fair maiden,


s: For there is nothing I hate so much as the tears of a woman,


s: And their passionate cries, set up with such heat and excitement,


s: Truly, I find the sight of these whimsical doings a nuisance.


s: "Father, don't go in a hurry, and be not amniote with the maiden!


s: Which our friend has increased by his unexpected dissembling.


s: Speak then, honour'd Sir! for to you the affair I confided;


s: If you play practical jokes, instead of displaying true wisdom."


s: Thereupon the worthy pastor smilingly answer'd


s: "What kind of wisdom could have extracted the charming confession


s: Speak out, then, for yourself! Why need explanations from others


s: Hermann then stepped forward, and gently address'd her as follows


s: I came not to the fountain, to hire so noble a maiden


s: As a servant, I came to seek to win you affections.


s: But, alas! my timid gaze had not strength to discover


s: But you now make it complete! May every blessing be yours, then!"


s: And avoided not kiss or embrace, the summit of rapture,


s: When they also are to the loving the long-wish'd-for pledges


s: Of approaching bliss in a life which now seems to them endless.


s: Then the pastor told the others the whole of the story;


s: But the maiden came and gracefully bent o'er the father,


s: Kissing the while his hand, which he to draw back attempted.


s: And let me fully enjoy the bliss that has now been vouchsafed me!


s: Also be the last! The loving service which lately


s: And the father, his tears concealing, straightway embraced her;


s: Lovingly came the mother in turn, and heartily kiss'd her,


s: Warmly shaking her hand; and silently wept they together.


s: Then in a hasty manner, the good and sensible pastor


s: Saying:--"Once more may it be these golden hoops' destination


s: Firmly to fasten a bond altogether resembling the old one!


s: For this youth is deeply imbued with love for the maiden,


s: And the maiden confesses that she for the youth has a liking.


s: And the neighbour bent forward, and added his own benediction;


s: And which Hermann before at the fountain had anxiously noticed.


s: Whereupon he spoke in words at once friendly and jesting


s: "What! You are twice engaging yourself? I hope that the first one


s: But she said in reply:--"O let me devote but one moment


s: And a desire to play his part in the new-found Existence,


s: Fundamental laws in the steadiest countries are loosen'd,


s: And possessions are parted from those who used to possess them,


s: Every person has now become more a stranger than ever.


s: You of my heart have possession, and if we shall ever here-after


s: For what fetters can bind down those who survive such a period!


s: But if we are destined not to escape from these dangers,


s: If we are never again to embrace each other with raptures


s: O then fondly keep in your thoughts my hovering image,


s: Then enjoy with thanks whatever your destiny offers,


s: Purely loving the loving, and grateful to him who thus loves you.


s: For the fresh pangs of a second loss will behind you be lurking.


s: Deem each day as sacred; but value not life any higher


s: Than any other possession, for all possessions are fleeting.'


s: Thus he spoke; and the noble youth and I parted for ever:


s: Pardon me, dearest friend, for trembling e'en at the moment


s: "All the firmer, amidst the universal disruption,


s: Be, Dorothea, our union! We'll show ourselves bold and enduring,


s: Firmly hold our own, and firmly retain our possessions.


s: For the man who in wav'ring times is inclined to be wav'ring


s: Only increases the evil, and spreads it wider and wider;


s: But the man of firm decision the universe fashions.


s: 'Tis not becoming the Germans to further this fearful commotion,


s: And in addition to waver uncertainly hither and thither.


s: 'This is our own!' we ought to say, and so to maintain it!


s: For the world will ever applaud those resolute nations


s: Who for God and the Law, their wives, and parents, and children


s: Struggle, and fall when contending against the foeman together.


s: You are mine; and now what is mine, is mine more than ever.


s: Not with anxiety will I preserve it, or timidly use it,


s: But with courage and strength. And if the enemy threaten


s: I shall expose my breast to the enemy, void of all terror;


s: THE Poems comprised in this collection are written in the


s: Persian style, and are greatly admired by Oriental scholars, for


s: the truthfulness with which the Eastern spirit of poetry is


s: reproduced by the Western minstrel. They were chiefly composed


s: between the years 1814 and 1819, and first given to the world in


s: the latter year. Of the twelve books into which they are divided,


s: many graceful love-songs which it contains. The following is


s: Hanoi's account of the Divan, and may well serve as a substitute


s: for anything I could say respecting it:--


s: It contains opinions and sentiments on the East, expressed in a


s: series of rich cantos and stanzas full of sweetness and spirit,


s: and all this as enchanting as a harem emitting the most delicious


s: with eyebrows painted black, eyes piercing as those of the


s: antelope, arms white as alabaster, and of the most graceful and


s: perfectly-formed shapes, while the heart of the reader beats and


s: grows faint, as did that of the happy Gaspard Debaran, the clown,


s: into the Seraglio of Constantinople--that recess concealed from


s: the inspection of man. Sometimes also the reader may imagine


s: himself indolently stretched on a carpet of Persian softness,


s: luxuriously smoking the yellow tobacco of Turkistan through a


s: long tube of jessamine and amber, while a black slave fans him


s: with a fan of peacock's feathers, and a little boy presents him


s: with a cup of genuine Mocha. Goethe has put these enchanting and


s: voluptuous customs into poetry, and his verses are so perfect, so


s: language to this state of suppleness. The charm of the book is


s: inexplicable; it is a votive nosegay sent from the West to the


s: East, composed of the most precious and curious plants: red


s: roses, hortensias like the breast of a spotless maiden, purple


s: digitalis like the long finger of a man, fantastically formed


s: ranunculi, and in the midst of all, silent and tastefully


s: concealed, a tuft of German violets. This nosegay signifies that


s: the West is tired of thin and icy-cold spirituality, and seeks


s: warmth in the strong and healthy bosom of the East."


s: Translations are here given of upwards of sixty of the best


s: Poems embraced in the Divan, the number in the original exceeding


s: A sword, which, more than rocks and walls


s: THAT thou can't never end, doth make thee great,


s: And that thou ne'er beginnest, is thy fate.


s: Thy song is changeful as yon starry frame,


s: And what the middle bringeth, but contains


s: What was at first, and what at last remains.


s: Thou art of joy the true and minstrel-source,


s: From thee pours wave on wave with ceaseless force.


s: And what though all the world should sink!


s: Like thee to love, like thee to drink,--


s: Now, Song, with thine own fire be sung,--


s: Tow'rd thee, songs, light, graceful, free,


s: Though neither wealth nor power are thine,


s: They'll tell not of them,--they'll but give


s: Their names, which now are all that live.


s: The deeds they did, the toils they proved


s: By Heaven she could not straightened be.


s: If left alone, more crooked grows madam;


s: What well could be worse, my good friend, Adam?--


s: 'Twere grievous, if thy rib should break!


s: OH world, with what baseness and guilt thou art rife!


s: Thou nurtures, trainest, and illest the while.


s: He only whom Allah doth bless with his smile


s: Is train'd and is nurtured with riches and life.


s: Thou sayest, to grow old my fate will be.


s: Nought in God's presence changeth e'er,--


s: Love him, for this one moment, then, in me.


s: And yet 'tis done by each whose deeds are kind;


s: And if there's no deceit in what he says,


s: Let, then, ye fools, that wise man taste


s: CALL on the present day and night for nought,


s: BE stirring, man, while yet the day is clear;


s: The night when none can work fast Draweth near.


s: How vast is mine inheritance, how glorious and sublime!


s: For time mine own possession is, the land I till is time!


s: UNWARY saith,--ne'er lived a man more true;


s: The deepest heart, the highest head he knew,--


s: "In ev'ry place and time thou'lt find availing


s: Uprightness, judgment, kindliness unfailing."


s: THOUGH the bards whom the Orient sun bath bless'd


s: Are greater than we who dwell in the west,


s: Yet in hatred of those whom our equals we find.


s: BY those who themselves more bravely have fought


s: By those who have suffer'd both heat and cold.


s: "WHEREFORE is truth so far from our eyes,


s: Truth would appear in her own sweet guise,


s: That we both to these times should belong,


s: At the communion kneel both friend and foe.


s: THE flood of passion storms with fruitless strife


s: It throws poetic pearls upon the strand,


s: And with threat'ning voice address'd him:--


s: But shall hearts be scorch'd much longer


s: Nought, O greybeard, shall protect thee,


s: Not the hearth's broad coalfire's ardour,


s: ONCE, methought, in the night hours cold,


s: He was young, youth pleaseth the eyes,--


s: Fair was she, and so great was their pleasure.


s: Soon wilt bless me, thy love now dost show me,


s: Come, my sweet moon, cling thou round me!


s: And e'en though fled (what thought divine!)


s: On the soft couch, on whose sweet shrine


s: Spring's soft breath and summer's flame.


s: Ah, what makes the heart's truth known,--


s: His heavenly path with pride doth tread,


s: Looks round, beneath him, high o'er head.


s: Heaven's child, the daughter of the clouds,--


s: Thus wreath'd with bows, with hues thus grac'd,


s: IN thousand forms mayst thou attempt surprise,


s: Yet, all-beloved-one, straight know I thee;


s: Thou mayst with magic veils thy face disguise,


s: And yet, all-present-one, straight know I thee.


s: All-beauteous-growing-one, straight know I thee;


s: When spreads the water-column, rising proud,


s: All-sportive one, how gladly know I thee;


s: When, e'en in forming, is transform'd the cloud,


s: All-figure-changing-one, there know I thee.


s: Veil in the meadow-carpet's flowery charms,


s: All-checkered-starry-fair-one, know I thee;


s: And if a plant extend its thousand arms,


s: O, all-embracing-one, there know I thee.


s: When on the mount is kindled morn's sweet light,


s: Straightway, all-gladdening-one, salute I thee,


s: The arch of heaven o'er head grows pure and bright,--


s: All-heart-expanding-one, then breathe I thee.


s: That which my inward, outward sense proclaims,


s: Thou all-instructing-one, I know through thee;


s: A name with each one echoes, meant for thee.


s: Yet that the book of all books it must be,


s: That from Eternity wine, though, must be,


s: That 'twas ordain'd, ere the Angels, to be,


s: Love, song, and wine's sweet drunkenness,


s: FROM heaven there fell upon the foaming wave


s: A timid drop; the flood with anger roared,--


s: Strength to the drop and firm endurance gave.


s: The pearl now glistens in our monarch's crown,


s: BULBUL'S song, through night hours cold,


s: For he whose gaze whole worlds bath bless'd


s: And in the middle they take their place,


s: And wield their scissors with wondrous grace.


s: "What a most shameful thing," they say,--


s: "They've crush'd a mighty palace to-day."


s: There lay they now, on earth's fair shrine,


s: God's two most beauteous thoughts divine.--


s: When this He saw, He cried:--'Tis Good!!!


s: And scarce could move from where He stood.


s: When this blest thought of rapture moves us--


s: Thou'rt clasp'd within these arms of mine,


s: BRETHREN, what bequest to you should come


s: Whom ye younger ones with patience tended,


s: Whose last days ye honour'd and defended?


s: Thickly strewed as hailstones when they fall,


s: And not felt your gaze become more bright,


s: When the sun was, on the wings of morning,


s: As he, bow-like, rose? How each eye dwelt


s: Thousand times, as life's days fleeted by,


s: Borne with him, the coming one, on high.


s: Him, the life-fount's mighty Lord, to name,


s: There I stood, as though in darkness, blind,


s: Beat my breast, my quicken'd members threw


s: On the earth, brow-foremost, at the view.


s: Move, then straightway turn it tow'rd the sun,--


s: Then each morning's favour 'twill acquire.


s: O'er the beast let earth and dust be spread,


s: What ye deem impure, conceal from sight.


s: When ye plant, your trees in rows contrive,


s: E'en the floods that through the channel rush


s: Salamander, snake, and rush, and reed,--


s: All destroy,--each monster and each weed.


s: Through the air the sun will gladly peep,


s: When the flame burns joyously and bright,


s: On the hearth when fire with ardour glows,


s: Ripe the sap of plants and creatures grows.


s: See the nobler light's resplendent stamp,


s: Ne'er will Fate prevent you, void of feeling,


s: At God's throne at morningtide from kneeling.


s: Each word lisped the Highest's praise to sound,


s: As He dawns, with joy to greet His light,


s: hundred and thirteen, possessing two horses and seventy camels,


s: and the 'idolaters,' or Meccans, whose forces amounted to nine


s: hundred and fifty, including two hundred cavalry. The victory


s: remained with Mahomet, who lost fourteen men, while seventy of


s: the enemy were slain. A great accession of strength ensued in


s: consequence to the Prophet, who pretended that miracles were


s: wrought in his behalf in the battle, God having sent angels to


s: fight on his side, and having also made his army to appear larger


s: For they dwell above yon spheres so bright.


s: All their metal doors with mighty shock,


s: There they find, with bliss ne'er dream'd before,


s: Glories that my flight first show'd to eye,


s: In one second through the realms on high.


s: Wisdom's trees, in cypress-order growing,


s: Trees of life, their spreading shadows throwing,


s: Shade each blossoming plant, each flow'ry seat.


s: Brings the heavenly maidens to thy view;


s: With the eye thou now dost taste the feast,


s: Soon the sight pervades thee through and through.


s: There they stand, to ask thee thy career:


s: Thou'rt a hero, know they,--for Thourt here,


s: By thy wounds soon clearly this is shown,


s: Wounds that write thy fame's undying story;


s: When have perish'd joy and earthly glory.


s: Fill'd with checkered marble columns bright;


s: To the noble grape-juice, solace-fraught,


s: Youth! Thou'rt welcome more than e'er was youth


s: When thou tak'st one to thine heart with truth,


s: Of thy band she'll be the friend and queen.


s: Maids like these will ever make thee blest,


s: Wines like these will never harm thy brain.


s: And the sheep-dog will not leave them,--


s: And the prince, whom they had fled from,


s: Keep their cheeks in youthful freshness."


s: And, with forepaws sound and scatheless,


s: "Rogue!" thus cried the baker--"hast thou,


s: Leads to wealth he said 'twould lead to.


s: YE shadowy forms, again ye're drawing near,


s: So wont of yore to meet my troubled gaze!


s: Were it in vain to seek to keep you here?


s: Loves still my heart that dream of olden days?


s: Oh, come then! and in pristine force appear,


s: Parting the vapor mist that round me plays!


s: My bosom finds its youthful strength again,


s: Feeling the magic breeze that marks your train.


s: Ye bring the forms of happy days of yore,


s: And many a shadow loved attends you too;


s: Like some old lay, whose dream was well nigh o'er,


s: First-love appears again, and friendship true;


s: Is heard the sigh, and grief revives anew;


s: The friends are told, who, in their hour of pride,


s: Deceived by fortune, vanish'd from my side.


s: No longer do they hear my plaintive song,


s: The souls to whom I sang in life's young day;


s: Scatter'd for ever now the friendly throng,


s: And mute, alas! each sweet responsive lay.


s: My strains but to the careless crowd belong,


s: Their smiles but sorrow to my heart convey;


s: And all who heard my numbers erst with gladness,


s: If living yet, roam o'er the earth in sadness.


s: Long buried yearnings in my breast arise,


s: Yon calm and solemn spirit-realm to gain;


s: My murmuring song breathes forth its changeful strain.


s: A trembling seizes me, tears fill mine eyes,


s: The spheres whirl round in endless motion.


s: Who dares to say that he believes in God?


s: Go, bid the priest a truthful answer give,


s: Go, ask the wisest who on earth e'er trod,--


s: Then thou dost not believe? This sayest thou?


s: Sweet love, mistake not what I utter now!


s: Hang not the heavens their arch overhead?


s: And round thee twine, in mystery eterne,


s: Fill, then, thy heart, however vast, with this,


s: And when the feeling perfecteth thy bliss,


s: MARGARET, Placing fresh flowers in the flower-pots.


s: O'er his and thy distress, thou holy One!


s: (A wonderful noise proclaims the approach of the sun.)


s: Spirits felt love's pangs with pleasure,


s: (Once named Margaret, pressing near them.)


s: Come! raise thyself to spheres more glorious,


s: He'll follow when thou matzoth his sight.


s: CLARA winds a skein, and sings with Brackenburg.


s: death, was altered and recast by Goethe in 1815, on the occasion


s: of the performance on the stage of the Song of the Bell. Hence


s: AND so it proved! The nation felt, ere long,


s: That peaceful signal, and, with blessings fraught,


s: A new-born joy appear'd; in gladsome song


s: To hail the youthful princely pair we sought;


s: Mingled the crowds from ev'ry region brought,


s: And on the stage, in festal pomp array'd


s: The HOMAGE OF THE ARTS * we saw displayed.


s: (* The title of a lyric piece composed by Schiller in honour of


s: the marriage of the hereditary Prince of Weimar to the Princess


s: Maria of Russia, and performed in 1804.)


s: When, lo! a fearful midnight sound I hear,


s: That with a dull and mournful echo rings.


s: And can it be that of our friend so dear


s: It tells, to whom each wish so fondly clings?


s: Shall death overcome a life that all revere?


s: How such a loss to all confusion brings!


s: The world is weeping,--shall not we weep too?


s: He was our own! How social, yet how great


s: Seem'd in the light of day his noble mind!


s: How was his nature, pleasing yet sedate,


s: Then swiftly changing, spirit-fraught, elate,


s: Life's plan with deep-felt meaning it design'd,


s: This have we proved, this tasted, in our need.


s: He was our own! O may that thought so blest


s: Overcome the voice of wailing and of woe


s: He might have sought the Lasting, safe at rest


s: In harbour, when the tempest ceased to blow.


s: Meanwhile his mighty spirit onward press'd


s: Where goodness, beauty, truth, for ever grow;


s: And in his rear, in shadowy outline, lay


s: Where the stars' language first illuded his soul,


s: On the eterne, the living sense it stole;


s: And to his own, and our great profit, there


s: Thus nobly doth he vanquish, with renown,


s: The twilight and the night that weigh us down.


s: Brighter now glow'd his cheek, and still more bright.


s: With that unchanging, ever-youthful glow,--


s: That courage which overcomes, in hard-fought fight,


s: That faith which, soaring to the realms of light,


s: Now boldly Presseth on, now bendeth low,


s: So that the good may work, wax, thrive amain,


s: Yet, though so skill'd, of such transcendent worth,


s: This boarded scaffold doth he not despise;


s: The fate that on its axis turns the earth


s: From day to night, here shows he to our eyes,


s: Raising, through many a work of glorious birth,


s: Art and the artist's fame up tow'rd the skies.


s: He fills with blossoms of the noblest strife,


s: Measured the circle of the will and deed,


s: Each country's changing thoughts and morals too,


s: The darksome book with clearness could he read;


s: Yet how he, breathless 'midst his friends so true,


s: Despaired in sorrow, scarce from pain was freed,--


s: For he was ours, bewailed with feeling tears.


s: He raised his eyes upon the world again,


s: We show'd him how his thoughts might find relief


s: From the uncertain present's heavy chain,


s: Gave his fresh-kindled mind a respite brief,


s: And e'en at eve, when setting was his sun,


s: From his wan cheeks a gentle smile we won.


s: Full early had he read the stern decree,


s: Sorrow and death to him, alas, were known;


s: Dread tidings, that our hearts had fear'd to own!


s: Itself, e'en here on earth, transfigured grown.


s: What his own age reproved, and deem'd a crime,


s: Hath been ennobled now by death and time.


s: And many a soul that with him strove in fight,


s: And his great merit grudged to recognise,


s: Now feels the impress of his wondrous might,


s: E'en to the highest bath he winged his flight,


s: In close communion link'd with all we prize.


s: Extol him then! What mortals while they live


s: Ten years, alas, already!--turn'd from earth;


s: We all, to our great joy, his precepts know,


s: Oh may the world confess their priceless worth!


s: In swelling tide tow'rd every region flow


s: The thoughts that were his own peculiar birth;


s: He gleams like some departing meteor bright,


s: Now, gentle reader, is our journey ended,


s: Mute is our minstrel, silent is our song;


s: Sweet the bard's voice whose strains our course attended,


s: Now must we part,--Oh word all full of sadness,


s: Changing to pensive retrospect our gladness!


s: Reader, farewell! we part perchance for ever,


s: Scarce may I hope to meet with thee again;


s: But e'en though fate our fellowship may sever,


s: Reader, will aught to mark that tie remain?


s: Yes! there is left one sad sweet bond of union,--


s: Sorrow at parting links us in communion.


s: But of the twain, the greater is my sorrow,--


s: Reader, and why?--Bethink thee of the sun,


s: How, when he sets, he waiteth for the morrow,


s: Proudly once more his giant-race to run,--


s: Yet, e'en when set, a glow behind him leaving,


s: Gladdening the spirit, which had else been grieving.


s: Thus mayst thou feel, for thou to GOETHE only


s: Baldest farewell, nor camest aught for me.


s: Twofold my parting, leaving me all lonely,--


s: I now must part from GOETHE and from thee,


s: Parting at once from comrade and from leader,--


s: Farewell, great minstrel! farewell, gentle reader!


s: Hush'd is the harp, its music sunk in slumbers,


s: FOR this Anthology I have tried to range over the whole field of


s: English Verse from the beginning, or from the Thirteenth Century


s: to this closing year of the Nineteenth, and to choose the best.


s: Nor have I sought in these Islands only, but wheresoever the Muse


s: delights to honour. To bring home and render so great a spoil


s: love poetry and to implant that love in some young minds not yet


s: My scheme is simple. I have arranged the poets as nearly as


s: possible in order of birth, with such groupings of anonymous


s: pieces as seemed convenient. For convenience, too, as well as to


s: avoid a dispute-royal, I have gathered the most of the Ballads


s: into the middle of the Seventeenth Century; where they fill a


s: languid interval between two winds of inspiration--the Italian


s: dying down with Milton and the French following at the heels of


s: the restored Royalists. For convenience, again, I have set myself


s: and spelling are structural, and to modernize is to destroy. But


s: as old inflections fade into modern the old spelling becomes less


s: into line with that sanctioned by use and familiar. To do this


s: seemed wiser than to discourage many readers for the sake of


s: diverting others by a scent of antiquity which--to be essential--


s: Glosses of archaic and otherwise difficult words are given at


s: the foot of the page: but the text has not been disfigured with


s: reference-marks. And rather than make the book unwieldy I have


s: eschewed notes--reluctantly when some obscure passage or allusion


s: temptation was to criticize or 'appreciate.' For the function of


s: the anthologist includes criticizing in silence.


s: Care has been taken with the texts. But I have sometimes thought


s: it consistent with the aim of the book to prefer the more


s: beautiful to the better attested reading. I have often excised


s: is one which, in my judgement, the anthologist ought to take. A


s: few small corrections have been made, but only when they were


s: The numbers chosen are either lyrical or epigrammatic. Indeed I


s: am mistaken if a single epigram included fails to preserve at


s: least some faint thrill of the emotion through which it had to


s: pass before the Muse's lips let it fall, with however exquisite


s: deliberation. But the lyrical spirit is volatile and notoriously


s: hard to bind with definitions; and seems to grow wilder with the


s: years. With the anthologist--as with the fisherman who knows the


s: enough to frame one, comes by after-thought. I don't know that it


s: Having set my heart on choosing the best, I resolved not to be


s: dissuaded by common objections against anthologies--that they


s: repeat one another until the proverb [Greek] loses all


s: application--or perturbed if my judgement should often agree with


s: recondite. To be sure, a man must come to such a task as mine


s: haunted by his youth and the favourites he loved in days when he


s: Lurks in the legend told my infant years


s: Than lies upon that truth we live to learn.


s: Few of my contemporaries can erase--or would wish to erase--the


s: poem appealed to him, and even how it lies on the page. To Mr.


s: Bullen's Lyrics from the Elizabethan Song Books and his other


s: treasuries I own a more advised debt. Nor am I free of obligation


s: English Poetry, Mr. Henley's English Lyrics, Mrs. Sharp's Lyra


s: trifling proportion to the labour, special and desultory, which


s: For the anthologist's is not quite the dilettante business for


s: which it is too often and ignorantly derided. I say this, and


s: My thanks are here tendered to those who have helped me with


s: permission to include recent poems: to Mr. A. C. Benson, Mr.


s: Mrs. Woods, and Mr. W. B. Yeats; to the Earl of Crewe for a poem


s: by the late Lord Houghton; to Lady Ferguson, Mrs. Allingham, Mrs.


s: Lady Betty Balfour and the Lady Victoria Buxton for poems by the


s: late Earl of Lytton and the Hon. Roden Noel; to the executors of


s: FitzGerald (Mr. Aldis Wright), William Bell Scott (Mrs. Sydney


s: Morse and Miss Boyd of Penkill Castle, who has added to her


s: kindness by allowing me to include an unpublished 'Sonet' by her


s: sixteenth-century ancestor, Mark Alexander Boyd), William Philpot


s: for two poems from his own works, and leave to use his redaction


s: of Quia Amore Langueo; to Mssrs. Macmillan for confirming


s: permission for the extracts from FitzGerald, Christina Rossetti,


s: and T. E. Brown, and particularly for allowing me to insert the


s: latest emendations in Lord Tennyson's non-copyright poems; to the


s: Smith, Elder & Co. for a similar favour, also for a copyright


s: Mr. Bliss Carman; to Mr. John Lane for two poems by William


s: for two extracts from Christina Rossetti's Verses; and to Mr.


s: Bertram Dobell, who allows me not only to select from James


s: Thomson but to use a poem of Traherne's, a seventeenth-century


s: singer rediscovered by him. To mention all who in other ways have


s: bestowed, and to Professor F. York Powell, whose help and wise


s: on hyre lud] in her language.  ich libbe] I live.  semlokest]


s: hair.  lossum] lovesome.  loh] laughed.  bote he] unless


s: she.  buen] be.  make] mate.  feye] like to die.  nihtes] at


s: rob.  y-yerned yore] long been distressed.  tholien] to


s: endure.  geynest under gore] comeliest under woman's


s: to toune] in its turn.  him threteth oo] is aye chiding


s: them.  huere] their.  woderove] woodruff.  ferly fele] marvellous


s: males.  murgeth] make merry.  makes] mates.  striketh] flows,


s: trickles.  mody meneth] the moody man makes moan.  so doth mo] so


s: dews.  donketh] make dank.  deores] dears, lovers.  huere derne


s: wole forgon] I will forgo.  wyht] wight.  fleme] banished.


s: Ichot] I know.  burde] maiden.  menskful] worshipful.  feir]


s: fair.  fonde] take, prove.  wurhliche] noble.  won] multitude.  y


s: earth.  suetyng] sweetheart.  lefliche] lovely.  fonge] take


s: between hands.  murthes] mirths, joys.  mote heo monge] may she


s: neck.  forte] for to.  hue, heo] she.  clannesse] cleanness,


s: purity.  parvenke] periwinkle.  solsecle] sunflower.  won] wan.


s: Of this worldes joie, hou hit goth al to noht.


s: For y not whider y shal, ne hou longe her duelle.


s: on] one.  levedy] lady.  thuster] dark.  pris] prize.


s: LESTENYT, lordynges, both elde and yinge,


s: lestenyt] listen.  word] world.  xuld] should.  schen]


s: beautiful.  hevene qwyn] heaven's queen.  bote] salvation.


s: nevene] name.  glew] gladden.  hurde] flock.


s: In which that love up groweth with your age,


s: Yow made, and thinketh al nis but a fayre


s: This world, that passeth sone as floures fayre.


s: And loveth him, the which that right for love


s: First starf, and roos, and sit in hevene a-bove;


s: That wol his herte al hoolly on him leye.


s: And sin he best to love is, and most meke,


s: Hyde ye your beautes, Isoude and Eleyne;


s: My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.


s: Lavyne; and thou, Lucresse of Rome toun,


s: And Polixene, that boghten love so dere,


s: Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun;


s: And thou, Tisbe, that hast of love swich peyne;


s: Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun;


s: My lady cometh, that al this may distevne.


s: So woundeth hit through-out my herte kene.


s: My hertes wounde, whyl that hit is grene,


s: That ye ben of my lyf and deeth the quene;


s: For with my deeth the trouthe shal be sene.


s: So hath your beaute fro your herte chaced


s: Pitee, that me ne availeth not to pleyne;


s: For Daunger halt your mercy in his cheyne.


s: Giltles my deeth thus han ye me purchaced;


s: I sey yow sooth, me nedeth not to feyne;


s: Pitee, that me ne availeth not to pleyne.


s: Allas! that nature hath in yow compassed


s: So greet beaute, that no man may atteyne


s: To mercy, though he sterve for the peyne.


s: I never thenk to ben in his prison lene;


s: I never thenk to ben in his prison lene.


s: Love hath my name y-strike out of his sclat,


s: Despoiled hath this land of the swetnesse


s: Thou combre-worlde that the my maister slow--


s: Wolde I slayn were!--Deth, was to hastyf


s: To renne on thee and reve the thi lyf...


s: She myghte han taried hir vengeance a while


s: Nay, lat be that! sche knew wel that this y1e


s: God bad hir so, I truste as for the beste;


s: O maister, maister, God thi soule reste!


s: hier] heir.  combre-worlde] encumberer of earth.  slow] slew.


s: Hast on thy weye, and be of ryght good chere.


s: Thynke howe short tyme thou hast abyden here.


s: Thy place is bygged above the sterres clere,


s: Noon erthly palys wrought in so statly wyse.


s: Come on, my frend, my brother most entere!


s: For the I offered my blood in sacryfice.


s: WORSCHIPPE ye that loveris bene this May,


s: For of your blisse the Kalendis are begonne,


s: Cum, Somer, cum, the suete sesoun and sonne!


s: Awake for schame! that have your hevynnis wonne,


s: Thank Lufe that list you to his merci call!


s: 'Ga luve, Makyne, quhair-evir thow list,


s: He fallowit hir fast thair till assaill,


s: kepand] keeping.  fe] sheep, cattle.  him till] to him.  dule in


s: dern] sorrow in secret.  dill] soothe.  but dreid] without dread,


s: row.  lude] loved.  leir] learn.  lair] lore.  heynd]


s: gentle.  feir] demeanour.  deir] daunt.  dre] endure.  preiss]


s: deal.  mawgre haif I] I am uneasy.  reivis] robbest.  roiff]


s: quiet.  drest] beset.  lemman] mistress.  sicht] sigh.  in hir


s: intent] in her inward thought.  brayd] strode.  bent] coarse


s: grass.  schent] destroyed.  alis] ails.  be that] by the time


s: talebearer.  wend] weened.  howp] hope.  but lett] without


s: hindrance.  anneuche] enough.  holttis hair] grey


s: woodlands.  leuche] laughed.  wreuch] peevish.  huche] heuch,


s: hinder yeir] last year.  ring] reign.  fald] enfold.  ying]


s: young.  fairheid] beauty.  air] heir.  laitis] manners.  bot and]


s: awin persoun] himself.  withouten feir] without companion.  the


s: There saw I flowris that fresche were of hew;


s: Baith quhyte and reid most lusty were to seyne,


s: And halesome herbis upon stalkis greene;


s: Yet leaf nor flowr find could I nane of rew.


s: I doubt that Merche, with his cauld blastis keyne,


s: Has slain this gentil herb, that I of mene;


s: Quhois piteous death dois to my heart sic paine


s: That I would make to plant his root againe,--


s: rois] rose.  wenit] weened, esteemed.  garth] garden-close.  to


s: seyne] to see.  that I of mene] that I complain of, mourn for.


s: Soveraign of cities, seemliest in sight,


s: Of lordis, barons, and many a goodly knyght;


s: Of famous prelatis, in habitis clericall;


s: Of merchauntis full of substaunce and of myght:


s: London, thou art the flour of Cities all.


s: Citie that some tyme cleped was New Troy;


s: In all the erth, imperiall as thou stant,


s: Pryncesse of townes, of pleasure and of joy,


s: Fourmeth none fairer sith the flode of Noy:


s: Most myghty carbuncle of vertue and valour;


s: Strong Troy in vigour and in strenuytie;


s: Above all ryvers thy Ryver hath renowne,


s: Whose beryall stremys, pleasaunt and preclare,


s: Where many a swan doth swymme with wyngis fair;


s: Where many a barge doth saile and row with are;


s: Where many a ship doth rest with top-royall.


s: O, towne of townes! patrone and not compare,


s: Upon thy stretis goeth many a semely knyght


s: In velvet gownes and in cheynes of gold.


s: Whose artillary with tonge may not be told:


s: Strong be thy wallis that about thee standis;


s: Wise be the people that within thee dwellis;


s: Fresh is thy ryver with his lusty strandis;


s: Blith be thy chirches, wele sownyng be thy bellis;


s: Rich be thy merchauntis in substaunce that excellis;


s: Fair be their wives, right lovesom, white and small;


s: Clere be thy virgyns, lusty under kellis:


s: London, thou art the flour of Cities all.


s: Thy famous Maire, by pryncely governaunce,


s: With sword of justice thee ruleth prudently.


s: In dignitye or honour goeth to hym nigh.


s: Above all Maires as maister most worthy:


s: gladdith] rejoice.  Troynovaunt] Troja nova or


s: Trinovantum.  fourmeth] appeareth.  geraflour] gillyflower.  are]


s: The cleir Sone, quhom no cloud devouris,


s: Archangellis, angellis, and dompnationis,


s: schouris] showers.  cumin] come, entered.  seir] various.  erd]


s: The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee:--


s: Now sound, now sick, now blyth, now sary,


s: Playis here their padyanis, syne gois to grave;


s: The Monk of Bury, and Gower, all three:--


s: Quhilk Patrick Johnstoun might nought flee:--


s: heill] health.  bruckle] brittle, feeble.  slee] sly.  dansand]


s: dancing.  sicker] sure.  wicker] willow.  wannis] wanes.  mellie]


s: fight.  piscence] puissance.  straik] stroke.  supplee]


s: save.  makaris] poets.  the lave] the leave, the rest.  padyanis]


s: inditing.  fallowis] fellows.  wichtis] wights, persons.  man]


s: 'This is a mery mornyng,' said Litulle Johne,


s: My sister, man's soul, I loved her thus.


s: I saved her from beating, and she hath me bet;


s: I clothed her in grace and heavenly light;


s: For longing of love yet would I not let;


s: I crowned her with bliss and she me with thorn;


s: I brought her to worship and she me to scorn;


s: These gloves were given me when I her sought;


s: Embroidered with blood my spouse them brought.


s: With sharpe nails (well thou may'st wait!)


s: This is her chamber, here shall she rest,


s: Come when she will, she shall have cheer


s: If thou be foul, I shall thee make clean;


s: Why wilt thou not, fair love, with me deal?


s: Her chamber is chosen; is there none mo.


s: Look out on me at the window of kindeness


s: My love is in her chamber: hold your peace!


s: This wound in my side had ne'er be so deep


s: Thou weepest, thou gladdest, I sit thee by:


s: Yet wouldst thou once, love, look unto me!


s: yede] went.  het] promised.  bait] resting-place.  weet] wet.  in


s: He. BE it right or wrong, these men among


s: Laboureth for naught; for from her thought


s: Mine own heart dear, with you what cheer?


s: She. O Lord, what is this worldis bliss,


s: Why should ye ought? for, to make thought,


s: She. Now, sith that ye have showed to me


s: Theirs be the charge that speak so large


s: He. Yet take good hede; for ever I drede


s: Which soon should grieve you, I believe;


s: None other house, but leaves and boughs,


s: She. Among the wild deer such an archere,


s: Which sometime proveth such as He loveth,


s: never a dele] never a bit.  than] then.  in fere] in company


s: together.  rede I can] counsel I know.  part with] share


s: Who like a nymph, like a queen, did appear


s: What 's the cause that she leaves you alone


s: And when thou wak'st thoo'le sweetly smile:


s: He. O Bell my wife, why dost thou flyte?


s: She has helped us to butter and cheese, I trow,


s: 'Tis now but a sigh clout, as you may see:


s: We have brought them up to women and men:


s: They are clad in black, green, yellow and blue,


s: It 's pride that puts this country down:


s: It 's not for a man with a woman to threap,


s: flyte] scold.  cloth in grain] scarlet cloth.  sigh clout] a rag


s: Isaphill] Hypsipyle.  coliander] coriander seed, an


s: aromatic.  pomander] a ball of perfume.  Cassander] Cassandra.


s: FOR knighthood is not in the feats of warre,


s: As for to fight in quarrel right or wrong,


s: But in a cause which truth can not defarre:


s: He ought himself for to make sure and strong,


s: But for a truth, or for the common's sake.


s: How I lie here, sometime a mighty knight;


s: Is death at last, thorough his course and might:


s: After the day there cometh the dark night,


s: THEY flee from me that sometime did me seek,


s: With naked foot stalking within my chamber:


s: Once have I seen them gentle, tame, and meek,


s: That now are wild, and do not once remember


s: That sometime they have put themselves in danger


s: To take bread at my hand; and now they range,


s: Thanked be fortune, it hath been otherwise


s: Twenty times better; but once especial--


s: When her loose gown did from her shoulders fall,


s: And she me caught in her arms long and small,


s: And softly said, 'Dear heart, how like you this?'


s: It was no dream; for I lay broad awaking:


s: But all is turn'd now, through my gentleness,


s: 'How like you this?'--what hath she now deserved?


s: Wherein each thing renews, save only the Lover


s: THE soote season, that bud and bloom forth brings,


s: With green hath clad the hill and eke the vale:


s: The nightingale with feathers new she sings;


s: The turtle to her make hath told her tale.


s: Summer is come, for every spray now springs:


s: The hart hath hung his old head on the pale;


s: The buck in brake his winter coat he flings;


s: The fishes flete with new repaired scale.


s: The adder all her slough away she slings;


s: The swift swallow pursueth the flies smale;


s: Winter is worn that was the flowers' bale.


s: And thus I see among these pleasant things


s: Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs.


s: Good ladies, help to fill my mourning voice.


s: But when I find the lack, Lord! how I mourn!


s: --Now he comes! Will he come? Alas! no, no.


s: drencheth] i. e. is drenched or drowned.


s: WHAT sweet relief the showers to thirsty plants we see,


s: What dear delight the blooms to bees, my true love is to me!


s: As fresh and lusty Ver foul Winter doth exceed--


s: So doth my love surmount them all, whom yet I hap to see!


s: The oak shall olives bear, the lamb the lion fray,


s: The owl shall match the nightingale in tuning of her lay,


s: Or I my love let slip out of mine entire heart,


s: So deep reposed in my breast is she for her desart!


s: For many blessed gifts, O happy, happy land!


s: Where Mars and Pallas strive to make their glory most to stand!


s: Yet, land, more is thy bliss that, in this cruel age,


s: A Venus' imp thou hast brought forth, so steadfast and so sage.


s: Among the Muses Nine a tenth if Jove would make,


s: And to the Graces Three a fourth, her would Apollo take.


s: Let some for honour hunt, and hoard the massy gold:


s: With her so I may live and die, my weal cannot be told.


s: HENCE, heart, with her that must depart,


s: hald] keep.  sen] since.  belappit] downtrodden.  perigall] made


s: IN a harbour grene aslepe whereas I lay,


s: The byrdes sang swete in the middes of the day,


s: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.


s: IN going to my naked bed as one that would have slept,


s: I heard a wife sing to her child, that long before had wept;


s: She sighed sore and sang full sweet, to bring the babe to rest,


s: That would not cease but cried still, in sucking at her breast.


s: She was full weary of her watch, and grieved with her child,


s: She rocked it and rated it, till that on her it smiled.


s: Then did she say, Now have I found this proverb true to prove,


s: The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.


s: Then took I paper, pen, and ink, this proverb for to write,


s: In register for to remain of such a worthy wight:


s: As she proceeded thus in song unto her little brat,


s: Much matter utter'd she of weight, in place whereas she sat:


s: And proved plain there was no beast, nor creature bearing life,


s: Could well be known to live in love without discord and strife:


s: Then kissed she her little babe, and sware by God above,


s: She said that neither king nor prince nor lord could live aright,


s: Then weary works make warriors each other to embrace,


s: She said she saw no fish nor fowl, nor beast within her haunt,


s: That met a stranger in their kind, but could give it a taunt:


s: Since flesh might not endure, but rest must wrath succeed,


s: And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feed,


s: So noble nature can well end the work she hath begun,


s: And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some:


s: Thus in song she oft rehearsed, as did her well behove,


s: The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.


s: I marvel much pardy (quoth she) for to behold the rout,


s: To see man, woman, boy and beast, to toss the world about:


s: And some embrace others in arm, and there think many a wile,


s: Some stand aloof at cap and knee, some humble and some stout,


s: Yet are they never friends in deed until they once fall out:


s: Thus ended she her song and said, before she did remove,


s: Wherewith they bring their babes to rest;


s: Let reason's rule now reign thy thought;


s: shroudis] dress themselves.  shawis] woods.  skaillis]


s: clears.  gowans] daisies.  low] flame.  rone] rowan.  pairty]


s: partner, mate.  tursis] carry.  tyndis] antlers.  grone] groan,


s: bell.  hurchonis] hedgehogs, 'urchins.' maikis] mates.  fone]


s: foes.  stoned steed] stallion.  crampis] prances.  lampis]


s: But, belly, God send thee good ale enough,


s: Now let them drink till they nod and wink,


s: And all poor souls that have scour'd bowls


s: God save the lives of them and their wives,


s: o'erfret] adorned.  shawis] woods.  sheen] beautiful.  mene]


s: mourn.  hyd] skin.  blinkis] gets a glimpse.  dulce amene] gentle


s: And schouris are shed forth of their sicht


s: sheen] bright.  til] into.  schouris] showers.  bewis]


s: MY heart is high above, my body is full of bliss,


s: For I am set in luve as well as I would wiss


s: I luve my lady pure and she luvis me again,


s: She is my very heart, I am her howp and heill,


s: She is my joy invart, I am her luvar leal;


s: I am her bond and thrall, she is at my command;


s: I am perpetual her man, both foot and hand;


s: The thing that may her please my body sall fulfil;


s: Quhatever her disease, it does my body ill.


s: My bird, my bonny ane, my tender babe venust,


s: My luve, my life alane, my liking and my lust!


s: We interchange our hairtis in others armis soft,


s: Spriteless we twa depairtis, usand our luvis oft.


s: We mourn when licht day dawis, we plain the nicht is short,


s: We curse the cock that crawis, that hinderis our disport.


s: I glowffin up aghast, quhen I her miss on nicht,


s: And in my oxter fast I find the bowster richt;


s: Then languor on me lies like Morpheus the mair,


s: Quhilk causes me uprise and to my sweet repair.


s: And then is all the sorrow forth of remembrance


s: That ever I had a-forrow in luvis observance.


s: Thus never I do rest, so lusty a life I lead,


s: Quhen that I list to test the well of womanheid.


s: Luvaris in pain, I pray God send you sic remeid


s: As I have nicht and day, you to defend from deid!


s: Therefore be ever true unto your ladies free,


s: And they will on you rue as mine has done on me.


s: wiss] wish.  heill] health.  invart] inward.  venust]


s: Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books


s: SHALL I thus ever long, and be no whit the neare?


s: And shall I still complain to thee, the which me will not hear?


s: But open thou thy manly mouth and say that thou wilt come:


s: Whereby my heart may think, although I see not thee,


s: That thou wilt come--thy word so sware--if thou a live man be.


s: The roaring hugy waves they threaten my poor ghost,


s: And toss thee up and down the seas in danger to be lost.


s: Shall they not make me fear that they have swallowed thee?


s: --But as thou art most sure alive, so wilt thou come to me.


s: Whereby I shall go see thy ship ride on the strand,


s: And think and say Lo where he comes and Sure here will he land:


s: And then I shall lift up to thee my little hand,


s: Each vein to every joint the lively blood shall spread


s: As minutes in the clock do strike so call for death I shall:


s: To please both thy false heart and rid myself from woe,


s: That rather had to die in troth than live forsaken so!


s: Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books


s: Scorched the fruits in vale and mountain,


s: Your mind is light, soon lost for new love.


s: I was your heart, your soul, your treasure;


s: Corydon. Who is it that calleth Corydon?


s: Phyl. Phyllida, thy true love, calleth thee,


s: Phyl. Here are cherries ripe for my Corydon;


s: Cor. Here 's my oaten pipe, my lovely one,


s: Phyl. Here are threads, my true love, fine as silk,


s: Cor. Here are reeds, my true love, fine and neat,


s: Phyl. I will gather flowers, my Corydon,


s: Cor. I will gather pears, my lovely one,


s: Phyl. I will buy my true love garters gay,


s: Cor. I will buy my true love yellow say,


s: Cor. When my lovely one goes to her wheel,


s: Phyl. Sure methinks my true love doth excel


s: Cor. And methinks my true love bears the bell


s: Phyl. Say to her thy true love was not here;


s: Cor. Doubt me not, my true love, do not fear;


s: Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books


s: John Dowland's Second Book of Songs or Airs


s: FINE knacks for ladies! cheap, choice, brave, and new,


s: Good pennyworths--but money cannot move:


s: I keep a fair but for the Fair to view--


s: Though all my wares be trash, the heart is true,


s: Great gifts are guiles and look for gifts again;


s: My trifles come as treasures from my mind:


s: Sometimes in shell the orient'st pearls we find:--


s: by Unnamed or Uncertain Authors. 16th Cent.


s: And say 'I'll be your guest to-morrow night,'


s: How should we stir ourselves, call and command


s: All hands to work! 'Let no man idle stand!


s: 'Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall;


s: And order taken that there want no meat.


s: See every sconce and candlestick made bright,


s: That without tapers they may give a light.


s: 'Look to the presence: are the carpets spread,


s: And all the candles lighted on the stairs?


s: Let each man give attendance in his place!'


s: Thus, if a king were coming, would we do;


s: So he be pleased, to think no labour lost.


s: Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn.


s: We entertain Him always like a stranger,


s: And, as at first, still lodge Him in the manger.


s: Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books


s: There grows such sweet and pleasant flowers


s: Quite through the streets, with silver sound,


s: Robert Jones's Second Book of Songs and Airs


s: LOVE wing'd my Hopes and taught me how to fly


s: Far from base earth, but not to mount too high:


s: Blinded they into folly run and grief for pleasure take.


s: But my vain Hopes, proud of their new-taught flight,


s: Enamour'd sought to woo the sun's fair light,


s: And none but Love their woeful hap did rue,


s: For Love did know that their desires were true;


s: It was the purest light of heav'n for whose fair love they fell.


s: MY Love in her attire doth show her wit,


s: For every season she hath dressings fit,


s: AT her fair hands how have I grace entreated


s: Heart, let her go, for she'll not be converted--


s: She is most fair, though she be marble-hearted.


s: How often have my sighs declared my anguish,


s: Heart, let her go, for I can not endure it--


s: She gave the wound, and she alone must cure it.


s: But shall I still a true affection owe her,


s: Which prayers, sighs, tears do show her,


s: Heart, let her go, if they no grace can gain me--


s: She made me hers, and hers she will retain me.


s: But if the love that hath and still doth burn me


s: Heart, let her go, O heart I pray thee, let her!


s: Fix'd in the heart, how can the heart forget her?


s: Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books


s: John Dowland's Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs


s: In those fair eyes where all perfections keep.


s: But such a woe (believe me) as wins more hearts


s: Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts.


s: And Passion wise; Tears a delightful thing;


s: Silence beyond all speech, a wisdom rare:


s: And all things with so sweet a sadness move


s: As made my heart at once both grieve and love.


s: The world can show, leave off in time to grieve!


s: Enough, enough: your joyful look excels:


s: Which only breeds your beauty's overthrow.


s: Thomas Bateson's First Set of English Madrigals


s: See the clear sun, the world's bright eye,


s: Captain Tobias Hume's The First Part of Airs, &c.


s: SINCE first I saw your face I resolved to honour and renown ye;


s: If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye.


s: What? I that loved and you that liked, shall we begin to wrangle?


s: The Sun, whose beams most glorious are, rejecteth no beholder,


s: And your sweet beauty past compare made my poor eyes the bolder:


s: Numbers from Elizabethan Miscellanies & Song-books


s: But change she earth, or change she sky,


s: Said to her shepherd, 'Sweet, how do ye?


s: Kiss me this once and then God be with ye,


s: Op'ning her lips, rich perfumes blowing,


s: With that the shepherd waked from sleeping,


s: No doubt thou wouldst soon purchase grace,


s: PASSIONS are liken'd best to floods and streams:


s: So, when affection yields discourse, it seems


s: The bottom is but shallow whence they come.


s: They that are rich in words, in words discover


s: That they are poor in that which makes a lover.


s: But from this earth, this grave, this dust,


s: FRESH Spring, the herald of loves mighty king,


s: In whose cote-armour richly are displayd


s: All sorts of flowers, the which on earth do spring,


s: Goe to my love, where she is carelesse layd,


s: Yet in her winters bowre not well awake;


s: Tell her the joyous time wil not be staid,


s: Unlesse she doe him by the forelock take;


s: Bid her therefore her selfe soone ready make,


s: To wayt on Love amongst his lovely crew;


s: Where every one, that misseth then her make,


s: Shall be by him amearst with penance dew.


s: Make hast, therefore, sweet love, whilest it is prime;


s: For none can call againe the passed time.


s: In praise of Eliza, Queen of the Shepherds


s: SEE where she sits upon the grassie greene,


s: With Damaske roses and Daffadillies set:


s: Tell me, have ye seene her angelick face


s: Her heavenly haveour, her princely grace,


s: The Redde rose medled with the White yfere,


s: In either cheeke depeincten lively chere:


s: Where have you seene the like but there?


s: Bene they not Bay braunches which they do beare,


s: Wants not a fourth Grace to make the daunce even?


s: Bring hether the Pincke and purple Cullambine,


s: Strowe me the ground with Daffadowndillies,


s: And Cowslips, and Kingcups, and loved Lillies:


s: Shall match with the fayre flowre Delice.


s: I feare I have troubled your troupes to longe:


s: medled] mixed.  yfere] together.  soote] sweet.  coronations]


s: carnations.  sops-in-wine] striped pinks.  pawnce]


s: pansy.  chevisaunce] wallflower.  flowre delice] iris.


s: CALME was the day, and through the trembling ayre


s: Sweete-breathing Zephyrus did softly play


s: Hot Titans beames, which then did glyster fayre;


s: Through discontent of my long fruitlesse stay


s: Of idle hopes, which still doe fly away,


s: Like empty shaddowes, did afflict my brayne,)


s: Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes;


s: Whose rutty Bancke, the which his River hemmes,


s: And all the meades adornd with daintie gemmes


s: Against the Brydale day, which is not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.


s: All lovely Daughters of the Flood thereby,


s: With goodly greenish locks, all loose untyde,


s: And each one had a little wicker basket,


s: Made of fine twigs, entrayl`d curiously,


s: In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket,


s: And with fine Fingers cropt full feateously


s: Of every sort, which in that Meadow grew,


s: They gathered some; the Violet, pallid blew,


s: The little Dazie, that at evening closes,


s: The virgin Lillie, and the Primrose trew,


s: Against the Brydale day, which was not long:


s: With that I saw two Swannes of goodly hewe


s: Come softly swimming downe along the Lee;


s: The snow, which doth the top of Pindus strew,


s: Nor Jove himselfe, when he a Swan would be,


s: Yet not so white as these, nor nothing neare;


s: That even the gentle streame, the which them bare,


s: Seem'd foule to them, and bad his billowes spare


s: To wet their silken feathers, least they might


s: Soyle their fayre plumes with water not so fayre,


s: Against their Brydale day, which was not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.


s: Eftsoones the Nymphes, which now had Flowers their fill,


s: Ran all in haste to see that silver brood,


s: As they came floating on the Christal Flood;


s: Whom when they sawe, they stood amazed still,


s: Them seem'd they never saw a sight so fayre,


s: Of Fowles, so lovely, that they sure did deeme


s: Them heavenly borne, or to be that same payre


s: Which through the Skie draw Venus silver Teeme;


s: Yet were they bred of Somers-heat, they say,


s: In sweetest Season, when each Flower and weede


s: Even as their Brydale day, which was not long:


s: Then forth they all out of their baskets drew


s: Great store of Flowers, the honour of the field,


s: That to the sense did fragrant odours yield,


s: All which upon those goodly Birds they threw


s: That like old Peneus Waters they did seeme,


s: When downe along by pleasant Tempes shore,


s: Scattred with Flowres, through Thessaly they streeme,


s: That they appeare, through Lillies plenteous store,


s: Two of those Nymphes, meane while, two Garlands bound


s: Of freshest Flowres which in that Mead they found,


s: Their snowie Foreheads therewithall they crownd,


s: Against their Brydale day, which was not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.


s: 'Ye gentle Birdes! the worlds faire ornament,


s: And heavens glorie, whom this happie hower


s: Doth leade unto your lovers blisfull bower,


s: Joy may you have, and gentle hearts content


s: And let faire Venus, that is Queene of love,


s: With her heart-quelling Sonne upon you smile,


s: Whose smile, they say, hath vertue to remove


s: All Loves dislike, and friendships faultie guile


s: Let endlesse Peace your steadfast hearts accord,


s: And blessed Plentie wait upon your bord;


s: And let your bed with pleasures chast abound,


s: Upon your Brydale day, which is not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softlie, till I end my Song.'


s: Which said their brydale daye should not be long:


s: And gentle Eccho from the neighbour ground


s: So forth those joyous Birdes did passe along,


s: Adowne the Lee, that to them murmurde low,


s: As he would speake, but that he lackt a tong,


s: Yet did by signes his glad affection show,


s: And all the foule which in his flood did dwell


s: Gan flock about these twaine, that did excell


s: The lesser starres. So they, enranged well,


s: Against their wedding day, which was not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.


s: That to me gave this Lifes first native sourse,


s: Though from another place I take my name,


s: There when they came, whereas those bricky towres


s: The which on Themmes brode aged backe doe ryde,


s: Where now the studious Lawyers have their bowers,


s: There whylome wont the Templer Knights to byde,


s: Next whereunto there standes a stately place,


s: Where oft I gayned giftes and goodly grace


s: Of that great Lord, which therein wont to dwell,


s: Whose want too well now feeles my freendles case;


s: Against the Brydale daye, which is not long:


s: Yet therein now doth lodge a noble Peer,


s: Great Englands glory, and the Worlds wide wonder,


s: Whose dreadfull name late through all Spaine did thunder,


s: Faire branch of Honor, flower of Chevalrie!


s: That fillest England with thy triumphes fame,


s: And endlesse happinesse of thine owne name


s: That through thy prowesse, and victorious armes,


s: Thy country may be freed from forraine harmes;


s: And great Elisaes glorious name may ring


s: Through al the world, fil'd with thy wide Alarmes,


s: Upon the Brydale day, which is not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softly till I end my Song.


s: From those high Towers this noble Lord issuing,


s: Like Radiant Hesper, when his golden hayre


s: In th' Ocean billowes he hath bathed fayre,


s: Two gentle Knights of lovely face and feature,


s: Beseeming well the bower of anie Queene,


s: With gifts of wit, and ornaments of nature,


s: That like the twins of Jove they seem'd in sight,


s: Which decke the Bauldricke of the Heavens bright;


s: They two, forth pacing to the Rivers side,


s: Received those two faire Brides, their Loves delight;


s: Against their Brydale day, which is not long:


s: Sweete Themmes! runne softly, till I end my Song.


s: YE learned sisters, which have oftentimes


s: Whom ye thought worthy of your gracefull rymes,


s: That even the greatest did not greatly scorne


s: To heare theyr names sung in your simple layes,


s: And when ye list your owne mishaps to mourne,


s: Which death, or love, or fortunes wreck did rayse,


s: Your string could soone to sadder tenor turne,


s: And teach the woods and waters to lament


s: Now lay those sorrowfull complaints aside;


s: And, having all your heads with girlands crownd,


s: Helpe me mine owne loves prayses to resound;


s: The woods shall to me answer, and my Eccho ring.


s: Early, before the worlds light-giving lampe


s: His golden beame upon the hils doth spred,


s: Having disperst the nights unchearefull dampe,


s: Doe ye awake; and, with fresh lusty-hed,


s: And long since ready forth his maske to move,


s: With his bright Tead that flames with many a flake,


s: Bid her awake therefore, and soone her dight,


s: That shall, for all the paynes and sorrowes past,


s: That all the woods may answer, and your eccho ring.


s: Bring with you all the Nymphes that you can heare


s: Both of the rivers and the forrests greene,


s: And of the sea that neighbours to her neare:


s: Al with gay girlands goodly wel beseene.


s: And let them also with them bring in hand


s: For my fayre love, of lillyes and of roses,


s: Bound truelove wize, with a blew silke riband.


s: And let them make great store of bridale poses,


s: And let them eeke bring store of other flowers,


s: And let the ground whereas her foot shall tread,


s: For feare the stones her tender foot should wrong,


s: Be strewed with fragrant flowers all along,


s: Which done, doe at her chamber dore awayt,


s: The whiles doe ye this song unto her sing,


s: The woods shall to you answer, and your Eccho ring.


s: Ye Nymphes of Mulla, which with carefull heed


s: The silver scaly trouts doe tend full well,


s: And greedy pikes which use therein to feed;


s: (Those trouts and pikes all others doo excell;)


s: And ye likewise, which keepe the rushy lake,


s: Bynd up the locks the which hang scatterd light,


s: And in his waters, which your mirror make,


s: Behold your faces as the christall bright,


s: That when you come whereas my love doth lie,


s: And eke, ye lightfoot mayds, which keepe the deere,


s: That on the hoary mountayne used to towre;


s: And the wylde wolves, which seeke them to devoure,


s: With your steele darts doo chace from comming neer;


s: To helpe to decke her, and to help to sing,


s: That all the woods may answer, and your eccho ring.


s: Wake now, my love, awake! for it is time;


s: The Rosy Morne long since left Tithones bed,


s: And Phoebus gins to shew his glorious hed.


s: Hark! how the cheerefull birds do chaunt theyr laies


s: The merry Larke hir mattins sings aloft;


s: The Thrush replyes; the Mavis descant playes;


s: The Ouzell shrills; the Ruddock warbles soft;


s: So goodly all agree, with sweet consent,


s: Ah! my deere love, why doe ye sleepe thus long?


s: When meeter were that ye should now awake,


s: T' awayt the comming of your joyous make,


s: And hearken to the birds love-learned song,


s: Nor they of joy and pleasance to you sing,


s: That all the woods them answer, and theyr eccho ring.


s: My love is now awake out of her dreames,


s: And her fayre eyes, like stars that dimmed were


s: With darksome cloud, now shew theyr goodly beams


s: More bright then Hesperus his head doth rere.


s: Come now, ye damzels, daughters of delight,


s: But first come ye fayre houres, which were begot


s: In Joves sweet paradice of Day and Night;


s: Which doe the seasons of the yeare allot,


s: And al, that ever in this world is fayre,


s: And ye three handmayds of the Cyprian Queene,


s: The which doe still adorne her beauties pride,


s: Helpe to addorne my beautifullest bride:


s: And, as ye her array, still throw betweene


s: The whiles the woods shal answer, and your eccho ring.


s: Let all the virgins therefore well awayt:


s: And ye fresh boyes, that tend upon her groome,


s: Prepare your selves; for he is comming strayt.


s: Set all your things in seemely good aray,


s: The joyfulst day that ever sunne did see.


s: Faire Sun! shew forth thy favourable ray,


s: Or sing the thing that mote thy mind delight,


s: Doe not thy servants simple boone refuse;


s: But let this day, let this one day, be myne;


s: Then I thy soverayne prayses loud wil sing,


s: That all the woods shal answer, and theyr eccho ring.


s: Harke! how the Minstrils gin to shrill aloud


s: Their merry Musick that resounds from far,


s: The pipe, the tabor, and the trembling Croud,


s: That well agree withouten breach or jar.


s: But, most of all, the Damzels doe delite


s: And thereunto doe daunce and carrol sweet,


s: That all the sences they doe ravish quite;


s: The whyles the boyes run up and downe the street,


s: Crying aloud with strong confused noyce,


s: That even to the heavens theyr shouting shrill


s: Doth reach, and all the firmament doth fill;


s: That al the woods them answer, and theyr eccho ring.


s: Loe! where she comes along with portly pace,


s: Lyke Phoebe, from her chamber of the East,


s: Clad all in white, that seemes a virgin best.


s: So well it her beseemes, that ye would weene


s: Her long loose yellow locks lyke golden wyre,


s: Sprinckled with perle, and perling flowres atweene,


s: And, being crowned with a girland greene,


s: Ne dare lift up her countenance too bold,


s: But blush to heare her prayses sung so loud,


s: Nathlesse doe ye still loud her prayses sing,


s: That all the woods may answer, and your eccho ring.


s: Tell me, ye merchants daughters, did ye see


s: So fayre a creature in your towne before;


s: So sweet, so lovely, and so mild as she,


s: Adornd with beautyes grace and vertues store?


s: Her goodly eyes lyke Saphyres shining bright,


s: Her cheekes lyke apples which the sun hath rudded,


s: Her lips lyke cherryes charming men to byte,


s: Her brest like to a bowle of creame uncrudded,


s: Her snowie necke lyke to a marble towre;


s: Ascending up, with many a stately stayre,


s: To honors seat and chastities sweet bowre.


s: Whiles ye forget your former lay to sing,


s: To which the woods did answer, and your eccho ring?


s: But if ye saw that which no eyes can see,


s: The inward beauty of her lively spright,


s: Garnisht with heavenly guifts of high degree,


s: Much more then would ye wonder at that sight,


s: And stand astonisht lyke to those which red


s: There dwels sweet love, and constant chastity,


s: There vertue raynes as Queene in royal throne,


s: Thereto approch to tempt her mind to ill.


s: Had ye once seene these her celestial threasures,


s: Then would ye wonder, and her prayses sing,


s: That al the woods should answer, and your echo ring.


s: And all the postes adorne as doth behove,


s: And all the pillours deck with girlands trim,


s: For to receyve this Saynt with honour dew,


s: With trembling steps, and humble reverence,


s: She commeth in, before th' Almighties view;


s: Bring her up to th' high altar, that she may


s: The praises of the Lord in lively notes;


s: That al the woods may answere, and their eccho ring.


s: Behold, whiles she before the altar stands,


s: Hearing the holy priest that to her speakes,


s: And blesseth her with his two happy hands,


s: How the red roses flush up in her cheekes,


s: And the pure snow, with goodly vermill stayne


s: Ofte peeping in her face, that seems more fayre,


s: But her sad eyes, still fastened on the ground,


s: That suffers not one looke to glaunce awry,


s: Which may let in a little thought unsownd.


s: Why blush ye, love, to give to me your hand,


s: That all the woods may answere, and your eccho ring.


s: Now al is done: bring home the bride againe;


s: Bring home with you the glory of her gaine;


s: With joyance bring her and with jollity.


s: Never had man more joyfull day then this,


s: Make feast therefore now all this live-long day;


s: Poure out the wine without restraint or stay,


s: Poure not by cups, but by the belly full,


s: And sprinkle all the postes and wals with wine,


s: That they may sweat, and drunken be withall.


s: And Hymen also crowne with wreathes of vine;


s: And let the Graces daunce unto the rest,


s: The whiles the maydens doe theyr carroll sing,


s: To which the woods shall answer, and theyr eccho ring.


s: Ring ye the bels, ye yong men of the towne,


s: And leave your wonted labors for this day:


s: This day is holy; doe ye write it downe,


s: This day the sunne is in his chiefest hight,


s: He somewhat loseth of his heat and light,


s: When once the Crab behind his back he sees.


s: To chose the longest day in all the yeare,


s: And shortest night, when longest fitter weare:


s: Yet never day so long, but late would passe.


s: Ring ye the bels, to make it weare away,


s: And daunce about them, and about them sing,


s: That all the woods may answer, and your eccho ring.


s: Ah! when will this long weary day have end,


s: And lende me leave to come unto my love?


s: How slowly do the houres theyr numbers spend?


s: How slowly does sad Time his feathers move?


s: Hast thee, O fayrest Planet, to thy home,


s: Thy tyred steedes long since have need of rest.


s: Long though it be, at last I see it gloome,


s: And the bright evening-star with golden creast


s: Fayre childe of beauty! glorious lampe of love!


s: That all the host of heaven in rankes doost lead,


s: And guydest lovers through the nights sad dread,


s: How chearefully thou lookest from above,


s: And seemst to laugh atweene thy twinkling light,


s: Of these glad many, which for joy doe sing,


s: That all the woods them answer, and their echo ring!


s: Now ceasse, ye damsels, your delights fore-past;


s: Enough it is that all the day was youres:


s: Now day is doen, and night is nighing fast,


s: Now bring the Bryde into the brydall boures.


s: The night is come, now soon her disaray,


s: And odourd sheetes, and Arras coverlets.


s: Behold how goodly my faire love does ly,


s: Twixt sleepe and wake, after she weary was,


s: And leave likewise your former lay to sing:


s: The woods no more shall answere, nor your echo ring.


s: Now welcome, night! thou night so long expected,


s: That long daies labour doest at last defray,


s: And all my cares, which cruell Love collected,


s: Hast sumd in one, and cancelled for aye:


s: Spread thy broad wing over my love and me,


s: From feare of perrill and foule horror free.


s: Let no false treason seeke us to entrap,


s: But let the night be calme, and quietsome,


s: Without tempestuous storms or sad afray:


s: Lyke as when Jove with fayre Alcmena lay,


s: When he begot the great Tirynthian groome:


s: Or lyke as when he with thy selfe did lie


s: And let the mayds and yong men cease to sing;


s: Ne let the woods them answer nor theyr eccho ring.


s: Let no lamenting cryes, nor dolefull teares,


s: Be heard all night within, nor yet without:


s: Ne let false whispers, breeding hidden feares,


s: Breake gentle sleepe with misconceived dout.


s: Let no deluding dreames, nor dreadfull sights,


s: Ne let house-fyres, nor lightnings helpelesse harmes,


s: Ne let the Pouke, nor other evill sprights,


s: Ne let mischivous witches with theyr charmes,


s: Ne let hob Goblins, names whose sence we see not,


s: Let not the shriech Oule nor the Storke be heard,


s: Nor the night Raven, that still deadly yels;


s: Nor damned ghosts, cald up with mighty spels,


s: Nor griesly vultures, make us once affeard:


s: Ne let th' unpleasant Quyre of Frogs still croking


s: Let none of these theyr drery accents sing;


s: Ne let the woods them answer, nor theyr eccho ring.


s: But let stil Silence trew night-watches keepe,


s: That sacred Peace may in assurance rayne,


s: And tymely Sleep, when it is tyme to sleepe,


s: May poure his limbs forth on your pleasant playne;


s: The whiles an hundred little winged loves,


s: Shall fly and flutter round about your bed,


s: And in the secret darke, that none reproves,


s: Their prety stealthes shal worke, and snares shal spread


s: To filch away sweet snatches of delight,


s: Ye sonnes of Venus, play your sports at will!


s: For greedy pleasure, carelesse of your toyes,


s: All night therefore attend your merry play,


s: Now none doth hinder you, that say or sing;


s: Ne will the woods now answer, nor your Eccho ring.


s: Who is the same, which at my window peepes?


s: Or whose is that faire face that shines so bright?


s: Is it not Cinthia, she that never sleepes,


s: But walkes about high heaven al the night?


s: For thou likewise didst love, though now unthought,


s: And for a fleece of wooll, which privily


s: The Latmian shepherd once unto thee brought,


s: And sith of wemens labours thou hast charge,


s: Encline thy will t'effect our wishfull vow,


s: And the chast wombe informe with timely seed


s: Till which we cease our hopefull hap to sing;


s: Ne let the woods us answere, nor our Eccho ring.


s: And thou, great Juno! which with awful might


s: The lawes of wedlock still dost patronize;


s: And the religion of the faith first plight


s: With sacred rites hast taught to solemnize;


s: And thou, glad Genius! in whose gentle hand


s: The bridale bowre and geniall bed remaine,


s: And the sweet pleasures of theyr loves delight


s: With secret ayde doest succour and supply,


s: Till they bring forth the fruitfull progeny;


s: Send us the timely fruit of this same night.


s: And thou, fayre Hebe! and thou, Hymen free!


s: Til which we cease your further prayse to sing;


s: Ne any woods shall answer, nor your Eccho ring.


s: And ye high heavens, the temple of the gods,


s: In which a thousand torches flaming bright


s: Doe burne, that to us wretched earthly clods


s: In dreadful darknesse lend desired light


s: And all ye powers which in the same remayne,


s: Poure out your blessing on us plentiously,


s: Which from the earth, which they may long possesse


s: And, for the guerdon of theyr glorious merit,