s: emergency. Eloquence, inspiration, and patriotic fervor must have


s: mystical melancholy--which was threatening to degenerate into


s: And blossom-isles float by I do not know.


s: No pathway can the deepening twilight show;


s: I seek the beckoning stars which sailors call,


s: And watch the clouds. What lies there brightening all?


s: The Dneister's, the steppe-ocean's evening glow!


s: The silence! I can hear far flight of cranes--


s: So far the eyes of eagle could not reach--


s: And bees and blossoms speaking each to each;


s: The serpent slipping adown grassy lanes;


s: From my far home if word could come to me!--


s: Yet none will come. On, o'er the meadow-sea!


s: The flag is listless, limp. It dances not.


s: As deep the sea breathes from a gentle breast


s: As any bride who dreams at love's behest,


s: And wakes and sighs, then casts with dreams her lot.


s: Sails hang upon the masts--useless-forgot--


s: Like folded standards which the warriors wrest


s: And bring home broken from the battle's crest.


s: The sailors rest them in some sheltered spot.


s: O Sea! within your unknown deeps concealed,


s: When storms are wild, your monsters dream and sleep,


s: And all their cruelty for the sunlight keep.


s: Thus, Soul of Mine, in your sad deeps concealed


s: The monsters sleep--when wild are storms. They start


s: From out some blue sky's peace to seize my heart.


s: What would Great Allah with the frozen sea?


s: Would he of icy clouds a throne carve bright,


s: Or would the demons of the deepest night


s: A bar build where the shining stars sweep free?


s: It gleams like pagan cities fired, kings flee.


s: When Day was anciently destroyed by Night


s: Up there I've journeyed where the winter reigns,


s: And seen the rivers bitten black like lines


s: On Tschatir Dagh, where the white cloud reclines,


s: Which not the wildest eagle's shadow stains,


s: Where cradled under me the thunders sleep


s: And Allah and the stars their watches keep.


s: In ruin are the spacious, splendid halls


s: With frozen forest of white columns where


s: The Tartar Khan his palace builded fair,


s: Where loneliest the shrilling cricket calls.


s: Some curse Belshazzar-like: Beware! Beware!--


s: Then black as crepe from crested columns falls.


s: Within the burnished banquet room there sings


s: The fountain of the harem pure and clear,


s: Just as of old it sang in twilights drear.


s: But whither love and fame speed--on what wings?


s: When all things else must perish these endure!


s: Yet both are gone! The fountain ripples pure.


s: From out the mosques the pious wend their way;


s: Muezzin voices tremble through the night;


s: Wraps silvered ermine round him while he may,


s: And Heaven's harem greets its star array.


s: One lone white cloud rests in the azure height--


s: A veiled court lady in some sorrow's plight--


s: The mosques stand there; and here tall cypress trees;


s: There--mountains, towering, black as demons frown,


s: Which Lucifer in rage from God cast down.


s: Like sword blades lightning flickers over these,


s: And on an Arab steed the wild Khan rides


s: Who goes to Baktschi Serai which night hides.


s: In Spring of love and life, My Polish Rose,


s: Bright butterfly, it brushed you, then left ruth


s: O Stars! that seek a path my northland knows,


s: How dare you now on Poland shine forsooth,


s: When she who loved you and lent you her youth


s: Sleeps where beneath the wind the long grass blows?


s: Beside your grave a while pray let me rest


s: With other wanderers at some grief's behest.


s: The tongue of Poland by your grave rings true.


s: High-hearted, now a young boy past it goes,


s: They sleep well here whom Allah loved and kept


s: And treasured in his vineyard fair and fine,


s: Most lustrous of the Orient pearls that shine,


s: Which youth found where the waves of passion swept.


s: Here, where in peace perpetual they have slept,


s: And sometimes here a Giaour's name is kept.


s: The eyes that loved not Allah saw you not,


s: Nor arms that prayed not eastward could enfold!


s: But now a Christian treads this hallowed spot;


s: Wise Allah, curse not him who bows his head


s: Amid the marble shrines of Allah's dead!


s: Give wings unto the storm, and spurs to steed,


s: I'd move unchained as wind across the world,


s: Sweep onward like a torrent mountain-hurled,


s: Nor sea, nor height, nor valley pause to heed.


s: The twilight spreads a dimness o'er our speed,


s: And shows the diamond-stars from hoofs up-whirled,


s: Since daylight now her curtained blue has juried,


s: The earth sleeps, but not I--not I--not I--


s: Who hasten to the shore where waves are loud


s: And toward me in the darkness whitely crowd.


s: Beneath them I would still my soul's deep cry--


s: Like ships the whirlpools seize to drag to death--


s: I'd plunge within the silence, sans thought, breath.


s: The mighty mountain flings its mist-veil down;


s: With little flowers the gracious fields are bright,


s: And from the forest colors flash to sight


s: Like gems that drop from off a Calif's crown.


s: Upon the meadows settles shimmering down


s: A band of butterflies in rainbow flight;


s: And bees are dreaming in a blossom's crown.


s: The waves beneath the cliff are thunder-pale,


s: Now upward, upward in their rage they rise


s: And tawny are their crests as tigers' eyes.


s: The sun is focused on one white, far sail


s: And on blue, shining deeps as smooth as glass


s: Wherein slim cranes are shadowed as they pass.


s: The drooping, weary day night pushed aside;


s: Paints phantom purple upon ancient snow;


s: While forest ways within, the wanderers hide.


s: Night veils the mountains and the valleys wide;


s: The thunderous brooks are dream-held, dulled, and slow;


s: Beneath the blackness fragrant flowers blow


s: And rich leaf-music clothes each valley side.


s: Almost my waking eyes are dream-held too;


s: With gold a meteor marks the deep-domed sky


s: And fountain-like the fiery sparks float by.


s: Men captive till her kiss the dream dispelled!


s: The reverent Mussulman bends low to greet


s: You, Tschatir Dagh, Crimea's bright-masted ship!


s: World-altar,--minaret--the place where dip


s: Down stairs from golden Heaven for the feet!


s: You guard the door of God in splendor meet,


s: In bright mist mantled from the toe to lip,


s: Tour turban set with alien stars and sweet.


s: If winter rule the world, or summer's sun,


s: If Giaour rage about, or winds are wild,


s: Above them, Tschatir Dagh, you, changeless one,


s: Above, blue heaven; around, peaks of snow;


s: And yet the happy pulse of life is slow,


s: I dream of distant places, pleasures dead.


s: Where happy-throated birds sing songs I know;


s: Above the trembling marshland I would go


s: Where chill-winged curlews dip and call o'er head.


s: A longing for some peaceful, gentle place,


s: And yet if all the leaves my name could cry


s: She would not pause nor heed as she passed by.


s: Pray! Pray! Let loose the bridle. Look not down!


s: He knows where blackest the abysses leer


s: And where the path in safety leads us down.


s: Pray, and look upward to the mountain's crown!


s: The deep below is endless where you peer;


s: Stretch not the hand out as you pass, for fear


s: The added weight of that might plunge you down.


s: And check your thoughts' free flight, too, while you go;


s: Let all of Fancy's fluttering sails be furled


s: Here where Death watches o'er the riven world.


s: I lived to cross the bridge of ancient snow!


s: But what I saw my tongue no more can tell,


s: The angels only could rehearse that well.


s: The sea is that! Behold the long waves shine!


s: Watch how they rock that giant bird divine,


s: Whose swinging white wings wide horizons kiss.


s: No, no--a cloud! Watch how 'tis veiling fine


s: The sea, the land, out-blotting every line


s: The lightning comes now! Frightful is its sweep.


s: But softly--softly! Watch my spur--my whip!


s: What still and chilling sternness great cliffs keep!


s: Down there light calls to me. Soon there I'll be.


s: Oh, thankless Crimean land! in ruin laid


s: Are now the castles that were once your pride!


s: Here serpents and the owls from daylight hide,


s: And robbers arm them for the nightly raid.


s: Upon the lettered marble boasts are made,


s: Brave words on battered arms in gold descried,


s: And broken splendor years have scattered wide,


s: Beside the dead who made them are arrayed.


s: The Greek set shining, columned marble here.


s: The Latin put the Mongol horde to flight,


s: And Mussulmans prayed eastward morn and night.


s: The owl and vulture of dark wing and drear


s: Are fluttering like black banners overhead


s: In cities where the pest piles high the dead.


s: On waves that battling beat and break with might,


s: While farther seaward in a bland delight,


s: I see them shining where a rainbow shook.


s: On waves that like sea-armies swing to sight,


s: To send upon the shore their billows white,


s: And, ebbing, to leave pearls in every nook.


s: Thus, Poet, in your youth when storms are wild


s: And passions break upon the heart and brain,


s: To leave their ruin there--shipwreck and waste--


s: You'll find song-pearls that your heart-deeps retain,


s: The crown the years have brought you, white and chaste.


s: Shall round their grace-work to the prime


s: Our souls are bruised and sickened with the sight


s: Faith folds her wings; and Hope, in piteous plight,


s: Has dimmed her radiant lamp to feeblest spark.


s: Struck down by this grim fury of despight,


s: By evil slain!  Who died for man's respite


s: --Beyond the war-clouds and the reddened ways,


s: I see His Sun arise, new-charged with grace


s: Earth's tears to dry and all her woes efface!


s: Christ lives!  Christ loves!  Christ rules!


s: Though leagued with all the Forces of the Night,


s: When Death flies swift on wave or field,


s: And spend themselves, their skill, their zeal--


s: Renew their hearts with Christ-like faith,


s: Ye are all christs in this your self-surrender,--


s: True sons of God in seeking not your own.


s: Yours now the hardships,--yours shall be the splendour


s: Of the Great Triumph and THE KING'S "Well done!"


s: Yours these rough Calvaries of high endeavour,--


s: Flame of the trench, and foam of wintry seas.


s: Nor Pain, nor Death, nor aught that is can sever


s: You from the Love that bears you on His knees.


s: Yes, you are christs, if less at times your seeming.--


s: Christ walks the earth in many a simple guise.


s: We know you christs, when, in your souls' redeeming,


s: The Christ-light blazes in your steadfast eyes.


s: Here--or hereafter, you shall see it ended,--


s: This mighty work to which your souls are set.


s: If from beyond--then, with the vision splendid,


s: You shall smile back and never know regret.


s: Or soon, or late, for each--the Life Immortal!


s: And not for us to choose the How or When.


s: Or late, or soon,--what matter?--since the Portal


s: Leads but to glories passing mortal ken.


s: O Lads!  Dear Lads!  Our christs of God's anointing!


s: Press on in hope!  Your faith and courage prove!


s: Pass--by these High Ways of the Lord's appointing!


s: You cannot pass beyond our boundless love.


s: across."--From a letter from my boy at the Front._)


s: The churchyard stones all blasted into shreds,


s: The dead re-slain within their lowly beds,--


s: His holy ground all cratered and crevassed,


s: All flailed to fragments by the fiery blast,--


s: His church a blackened ruin, scarce one stone


s: Left on another,--yet, untouched alone,--


s: His shrines o'erthrown, His altars desecrate,


s: His priests the victims of a pagan hate,--


s: 'Mid all the horrors of the reddened ways,


s: The thund'rous nights, the dark and dreadful days,--


s: And, 'mid the chaos of the Deadlier Strife,--


s: A Church at odds with its own self and life,--


s: Faith folds her wings, and Hope at times grows dim;


s: The world goes wandering away from Him;--


s: Love, with the lifted hands and thorn-crowned head,


s: Still conquers Death, though life itself be fled;--


s: Yes,--Love triumphant stands, and stands for more,


s: In our great need, than e'er it stood before!


s: Where are you sleeping to-night, My Lad,


s: The last we heard you were up at the front,


s: Holding a trench and bearing the brunt;--


s: When a second's enough, in the thick of the strife,


s: To sever the thread of the bravest life,


s: Oh, a week is long when so little's enough


s: The bullet sped and the quick end came,--


s: So--wherever you're sleeping to-night, Dear Lad,


s: When "Last Post" sounds, and He makes His rounds,


s: Not one of you all will be out of bounds,


s: The ceaseless ache, the emptiness, the woe,--


s: The strength that sinks beneath so sore a cross.


s: "_--Heedless and careless, still the world wags on,


s: And leaves me broken ...  Oh, my son!  my son!_"


s: He died as few men get the chance to die,--


s: He died the noblest death a man may die,


s: "_He died unnoticed in the muddy trench._"


s: Nay,--God was with him, and he did not blench;


s: Filled him with holy fires that nought could quench,


s: And when He saw his work below was done,


s: He gently called to him,--"_My son!  My son!


s: I need thee for a greater work than this.


s: Thy faith, thy zeal, thy fine activities


s: --Then drew him with the hand of welcoming grace,


s: And, side by side, they climbed the heavenly ways.


s: As clung its perfume sweet unto her Master.


s: Whose sweet hands touch life's common rounds


s: Midway between the flaming lines he lay,


s: A tumbled heap of blood, and sweat, and clay;


s: And none could succour him.  First this one tried,


s: Then that ...  and then another ...  and they died;


s: Those others saw his plight, and laughed and jeered,


s: And, at each helper's fall, laughed more, and cheered;


s: So, through the torture of an endless day,


s: In agonies that none could ease, he lay;


s: Then, as he wrestled for each hard-won breath,


s: Bleeding his life out, craving only death;--


s: --Came One in white, athwart the fiery hail,


s: And in His hand, a shining cup--The Grail;


s: He knelt beside him on the reeking ground,


s: And with a touch soothed each hot-throbbing wound;


s: Gave him to drink, and in his failing ear


s: Whispered sweet words of comfort and good cheer;


s: The suffering one looked up into the face


s: Of Him whose death to sinners brought God's grace;


s: The tender brow with unhealed wounds was scarred,


s: The hand that held The Cup, the nails had marred;


s: "Brother, for thee I suffered greater woes;


s: As I forgave,--do thou forgive thy foes,


s: "Yea, Lord, as Thou forgavest, I forgive;


s: Thick-clustered in the battered trench, amazed,


s: They gazed at that strange sight ...  and gazed ...  and gazed;


s: --The Christ of God, come down to succour one


s: And none who saw that sight will e'er forget


s: How once, upon the field of death, they met


s: For mercies manifold in these dark days;--


s: For Heart of Grace that would not suffer wrong;


s: For all the stirrings in the dead dry bones;


s: For bold self-steeling to the times' dread needs;


s: For ease and wealth and life so freely given;


s: For Thy deep sounding of the hearts of men;


s: For Thy great opening of the hearts of men;


s: For Thy close-knitting of the hearts of men;


s: For all who sprang to answer the great call;


s: For their high courage and self-sacrifice;


s: For their endurance under deadly stress;


s: For all the unknown heroes who have died


s: For all who come back from the Gates of Death;


s: For all who pass to larger life with Thee,


s: For hope of Righteous and Enduring Peace;


s: For hope of cleaner earth and closer heaven;


s: With burdened hearts, but faith unquenchable,--


s: Heaven's highest bliss is surely this,--


s: "_Thy Will be done!  Thy Will be done!_"


s: That all Life's wrongs should be redressed;


s: That burdened souls their bonds should break;


s: Should praise his God for mercies given,


s: That Life should seek its golden prime,--


s: That strife 'twixt man and man should cease,--


s: That all Thy sons should build Thy peace.


s: "Only through Me!" ...  The clear, high call comes pealing,


s: Above the thunders of the battle-plain;--


s: "Only through Me can Life's red wounds find healing;


s: Only through Me shall Earth have peace again.


s: Only through Me!  ...  Love's Might, all might transcending,


s: Alone can draw the poison-fangs of Hate.


s: Yours the beginning!--Mine a nobler ending,--


s: Only through Me can come the great awaking;


s: Wrong cannot right the wrongs that Wrong hath done;


s: Only through Me, all other gods forsaking,


s: Can ye attain the heights that must be won.


s: Only through Me shall Victory be sounded;


s: Only through Me can Right wield righteous sword;


s: Only through Me shall Peace be surely founded;


s: Only through Me!  ...  _Then bid Me to the Board!_"


s: _Can we not rise to such great height of glory?


s: Shall this vast sorrow spend itself in vain?


s: Shall future ages tell the woful story,--


s: "Christ by His own was crucified again"?_


s: And the Fairest Hair the world has seen,


s: With grace of fragrant thought, and rare


s: Think!  Would you wish that he had stayed,


s: --That thought of self had held in thrall


s: From deepest depth, O Lord, I cry to Thee.


s: "_My Love runs quick to your necessity._"


s: "_Dear one, I know.  My heart broke on the Cross._"


s: What most I loved is gone.  I walk alone.


s: "_My Love shall more than fill his place, my own._"


s: "_Not when I'm here to take an equal share._"


s: "_Just on in front I see the light of home._"


s: The night is black; I fear to go astray.


s: "_Hold My hand fast.  I'll lead you all the way._"


s: My eyes are dim, with weeping all the night.


s: "_With one soft kiss I will restore your sight._"


s: And Thou wilt do all this for me?--for me?


s: "_For this I came--to bear you company._"


s: To those who, nobly striving, nobly fell,


s: By every mean device of treacherous hate,


s: For every Sabbath from the world's turmoil;


s: For every respite from the stress of life;--


s: Silence of moorlands rolling to the skies,


s: Heath-purpled, bracken-clad, aflame with gorse;


s: Silence of grey tors crouching in the mist;


s: Silence of deep woods' mystic cloistered calm;


s: Silence of wide seas basking in the sun;


s: Silence of white peaks soaring to the blue;


s: Silence of dawnings, when, their matins sung,


s: For the deep silence of high golden noons;


s: Silence of gloamings and the setting sun;


s: Silence of moonlit nights and patterned glades;


s: Yet ever chanting their Creator's skill;


s: For that high silence of Thine Open House,


s: Dim-branching roof and lofty-pillared aisle,


s: Where burdened hearts find rest in Thee awhile;


s: Silence of friendship, telling more than words;


s: Silence of hearts, close-knitting heart to heart


s: Silence of joys too wonderful for words;


s: Silence of sorrows, when Thou drawest near;


s: Silence of soul, wherein we come to Thee,


s: For that great silence where Thou dwell'st alone--


s: Deep unto deep, within us sound sweet chords


s: Of praise beyond the reach of human words;


s: In our souls' silence, feeling only Thee,--


s: All that for which they fought lives on,


s: Birth comes with travail; all these woes


s: But the goods are there--and _we've paid-.


s: We've paid in our toil and our woundings;


s: All we ask is--that, what we have paid for,


s: The Peace of the World's what we're after;


s: With their World-Power big on the brain.


s: And it's this--and we want it made plain,--


s: We had relaxed our hold on higher things,


s: We had slipped back along the sloping way,


s: Heads of sham gold and feet of crumbling clay.


s: If we would build anew, and build to stay,


s: A voice within me cried and would not cease,--


s: 'One man could do it if he would but dare.'"


s: And tempted Fate, cast loaded dice,--and lost;


s: The Voice, so stern and sad, thrilled my heart's core


s: Sharper than sharpest sword, it fell on him


s: Who stood defiant, muffle-cloaked and helmed,


s: With eyes that burned, impatient to be gone.


s: Thy Lord--who died alike for these and thee.


s: Thy works are Death;--thy spear is in my side,--


s: O man!  O man!--was it for this I died?_


s: A valiant people harried, to the void,--


s: Their fruitful fields a burnt-out wilderness,--


s: Their prosperous country ravelled into waste,--


s: Their smiling land a vast red sepulchre.--


s: --Black clouds of smoke that vail the sight of heaven;


s: Black piles of stones which yesterday were homes;


s: And raw black heaps which once were villages;


s: Fair towns in ashes, spoiled to suage thy spleen;


s: My temples desecrate, My priests out-cast;--


s: All swamped with blood, and savaged raw and bare;


s: All sickened with the reek and stench of war,


s: And flung a prey to pestilence and want;


s: --Life's fair white flower of manhood in the dust;


s: Ten thousand thousand hearts made desolate;


s: My troubled world a seething pit of hate;


s: My helpless ones the victims of thy lust;--


s: The broken maids lift hopeless eyes to Me,


s: The little ones lift handless arms to Me,


s: The tortured women lift white lips to Me,


s: The eyes of murdered white-haired sires and dames


s: Stare up at Me.--And the sad anguished eyes


s: Thy slaughterings,--thy treacheries,--thy thefts,--


s: Thy broken pacts,--thy honour in the mire,--


s: Thy poor humanity cast off to sate thy pride;--


s: 'Twere better thou hadst never lived,--or died


s: Thou art the man!  The scales were in thy hand.


s: For this vast wrong I hold thy soul in fee.


s: Seek not a scapegoat for thy righteous due,


s: Until thou purge thy pride and turn to Me,--


s: As thou hast done, so be it unto thee!_"


s: The shining eyes, so stern, and sweet, and sad,


s: Searched the hard face for sign of hopeful grace.


s: But grace was none.  Enarmoured in his pride,


s: With brusque salute the other turned, and strode


s: Adown the night of Death and fitful fires.


s: Then, as the Master bowed him, sorrowing,


s: I heard a great Voice pealing through the heavens,


s: A Voice that dwarfed earth's thunders to a moan:--


s: _Woe!  Woe!  Woe!--to him by whom this came.


s: And, to the end of time, his name shall be


s: He rapined ...  And his own shall curse him


s: The Lord hath said ...  So be it, Lord!_"


s: Those valiant souls who set themselves with pride


s: To hold the Ways ...  and fought ...  and fought ...  and died,--


s: The virtue of their valiance shall remain,


s: To pulse a nobler life through every vein


s: No drop of hero-blood e'er runs to waste,


s: But springs eternal, Fountain pure and chaste,


s: For cleansing of men's souls from earthly grime.


s: Life knows no waste.  The Reaper tolls in vain,


s: In vain piles high his grim red harvesting,--


s: God's wondrous husbandry is oft obscure,


s: But, without halt or haste, its course is sure,


s: And His good grain must die to live again.


s: From this dread sowing, grant us harvest, Lord,


s: A Bond of States, a Pact of Peoples, based


s: Foundation mightier than the mightiest throne--


s: Therewith,--a simpler, purer, larger life,


s: Unhampered by the dread of war's alarms,


s: A life attuned to closer touch with Thee,


s: A Sweeter Earth,--a Nearer Heaven,--a World


s: And striving ever upward towards The Goal.


s: _So, once again, through Death shall come New Life,


s: To the people who live in Poverty Street._"


s: Sweating their souls in the Godless race.


s: Who tread Him to death in the Market Place?_"


s: Hot in discussion of things High and Low,


s: The salt has no savour.  The Spirit is fled._"


s: To claim from these others their rightful share?"


s: And the Mart, and the Church,--when the Red Drums beat,


s: And summoned them all to The Great Court-Leet.


s: As sure as the hun this wrong hath done,


s: They came from many a clime and coast,--


s: But, at the Mother-Country's call, they came.


s: Of this our great, glad, sorrowing Welcome-Home.


s: From the past and present fighting-strength


s: Of desperate endeavour and of duty nobly done;


s: And by their own great valour, and the Grace of God, they won.


s: And the dwale and the dross shall suffer loss,


s: And the wood, and the hay, and the stubble


s: The purge of the flame doth rid them of shame,


s: O, better than gold, yea, than much fine gold,


s: This same dread fruit of blood and tears,


s: Each soul that strips it of one evil thing


s: Lifts all the world towards God's good purposing.


s: _Why suffer things to reason so averse?_


s: Not all are worthless.  Some, with sense of duty,


s: Strive to invest their lives with grace and beauty.


s: To such--high honour!  But the rest--self-seekers,


s: Pride-puffed--out with them!--useless mischief-makers!


s: Will meekly bear unrighteous domination.


s: The time is come when every burden-bearer


s: Must, in the fixing of his load, be sharer.


s: We cannot think as ended, our dear dead who died.


s: What room is left us then for doubt or fear?


s: Love laughs at thought of ending--there, or here.


s: God would lack meaning if this world were all,


s: And this short life but one long funeral.


s: The life beyond shall this life far transcend,


s: And Death is the Beginning--not the End!


s: It runs through the Nightlands up to the Day;


s: From the wonderful WAS, by the wonderful IS,


s: Through the times that were dark with mystery,


s: And wayfaring men, who have strayed, still say


s: It is good to travel The King's High Way.


s: Through the dim, dark Valley of Death, at times,


s: To the peak of the Shining Mount it climbs,


s: While wonders, and glories, and joys untold


s: To the eyes of the visioned each step unfold,--


s: And everywhere there are sheltering bowers,


s: Plenished with fruits and radiant with flowers,


s: Where the weary of body and soul may rest,


s: As the steeps they breast to the beckoning crest,--


s: And inns there are too, of comforting mien,


s: And room never lacks in the inns on that road,


s: For the hosts are all gentle men, like unto God,--


s: The comrades one finds are all bound the same way,


s: Their faces aglow in the light of the day;


s: And never a quarrel is heard, nor a brawl,


s: They're the best of good company, each one and all,--


s: So, gallantly travel The King's High Way,


s: With hearts unperturbed and with souls high and gay,


s: There is many a road that is much more the mode,


s: But none that so surely leads straight up to God,


s: Britain!  Our Britain!  uprisen in the splendour


s: Of your white wrath at treacheries so vile;


s: Roused from your sleep, become once more defender


s: Of those high things which make life worth life's while!


s: Now, God be thanked for even such a wakening


s: From the soft dreams of peace in selfish ease,


s: If it but bring about the great heart-quickening,


s: Ay, better such a rousing up from slumber;


s: Better--e'en though our fair sons without number


s: Pave with their lives the road to victory.


s: But--Britain!  Britain!  What if it be written,


s: On the great scrolls of Him who holds the ways,


s: That to the dust the foe shall not be smitten


s: Till unto Him we pledge redeemèd days?--


s: Till unto Him we turn--in deep soul-sorrow,


s: For all the past that was so stained and dim,


s: For all the present ills--and for a morrow


s: Founded and built and consecrated to Him.


s: Take it to heart!  This ordeal has its meaning;


s: By no fell chance has such a horror come.


s: Take it to heart!--nor count indeed on winning,


s: Take it to heart!--nor hope to find assuagement


s: Of this vast woe, until, with souls subdued,


s: Stripped of all less things, in most high engagement,


s: Not of our own might shall this tribulation


s: Pass, and once more to earth be peace restored;


s: Not till we turn, in solemn consecration,


s: From plough and hoe and harrow, from the burden of the day,


s: From the long and lonely furrow in the stiff reluctant clay,


s: From the meads where streams are purling,


s: From the moors where mists are curling,--


s: From the Forests of Thy Wonder, where the mighty giants grow,


s: Where we cleave Thy works asunder, and lay the mighty low,


s: From our wrestlings with the spectres of the dim and dreary way,


s: From the vast heroic chances of the never-ending fray,


s: From our journeyings oft and many over strange and stormy seas,


s: From our search the wide world over for the larger liberties,


s: From the yet-untrodden No-Lands, where we sought Thy secrets out,


s: From the temples of our living, all empurpled with Thy giving,


s: From the Dim-Lands, from the Grim-Lands,


s: From the Lands of Disillusion to the Truth that never dies;


s: Each his rightful sheaves home-bringing,--


s: From the fields of fiery trying, where our bravest and our best,


s: By their living and their dying their souls' high faith attest,


s: All through the quick of the Spring-time,


s: When the trees and the flowers were burgeoning,


s: _And the Gleaner find nought for His gleaning._


s: Our souls are sick with the tale of death,


s: _That the Gleaner be glad in His gleaning._


s: Though he fly to earth's remotest bound,


s: Though his soul in the depths of sin be drowned,--


s: Though he take him the wings of fear, and flee


s: Though he weave him a garment of mystery,


s: Though apart in the city's heart he dwell,


s: Though he bury himself in his nethermost hell,


s: Clave to the bush, and still doth cleave,


s: Yet all its sweetness seemed but to deride


s: Our bruised hearts sank beneath the guns,


s: "_Is Christ indeed then risen from the dead?


s: The sun, the birds, the springing things,


s: Strong towers of Love, and Hope, and Faith,


s: _--To tread the long way, lone and lorn,


s: --To break the heart by man's sins torn,


s: For this The Child of The Maid was born,


s: That wonder of wonders is properly known.


s: Who sweetly on us, dear, such favour bestows.


s: In us, dear, this day is some great work begun,--


s: Ah me, little son dear, I would it were done!


s: --His hands and feet and heart were torn,


s: Or to the void like broken tools outcasted,--


s: Is all fulfilled, exact as He hath willed.


s: And His good instruments He tends with care,


s: Lest aught their future usefulness impair,--


s: As Master-craftsman his choice tools doth tend,


s: Cleans them, and polishes, and puts away,


s: For his good usage at some future day;--


s: Not to their loss but to their vast increase.


s: To us,--the loss, the emptiness, the pain;


s: To us it seemed his life was too soon done,


s: Ended, indeed, while scarcely yet begun;


s: God, with His clearer vision, saw that he


s: Just so we thought of Him, whose life below


s: Was so full-charged with bitterness and woe,


s: Our clouded vision would have crowned Him King,


s: Remember, too, how short His life on earth,--


s: But three-and-thirty years 'twixt death and birth.


s: And of those years but three whereof we know,


s: Yet those three years immortal seed did sow.


s: It is not tale of years that tells the whole


s: Of Man's success or failure, but the soul


s: He brings to them, the songs he sings to them,


s: The steadfast gaze he fixes on the goal.


s: To the depths and the heights of my longing,


s: "_Rattle and clatter and clank and whirr,"--


s: And all night long, the selfsame song,---


s: Our men are risking their lives out there,


s: We'll break if we must, but we cannot spare


s: A thought for ourselves, or the kids, or care,


s: For it's "_Rattle and clatter and clank and whirr;_"


s: Our men are giving their lives out there


s: And we'll give ours, we will do our share,--


s: Are our faces grave, and our eyes intent?


s: On the uttermost pitch of accomplishment?


s: Ah--we know what it means if we fool or slack;


s: --A rifle jammed,--and one comes not back;


s: And we never forget,--it's for us they gave;


s: And so we will slave, and slave, and slave,


s: Lest the men at the front should rue it.


s: Their all they gave, and their lives we'll save,


s: Eight hours', ten hours', twelve hours' shift;--


s: That is our share in the desperate fight;--


s: And hearts full nigh to burst and break;--


s: Week in, week out, not a second to spare,


s: But though it should kill us we'll do our share,


s: For the sake of the lads, who have gone out there


s: For the sake of us others, to do and dare;--


s: "_Rattle and clatter and clank and whirr,_"


s: Was there ever, since ever the world was made,


s: Such a horrible trade for a peace-loving maid,


s: Oh, it's dreary work and it's weary work,


s: Flora, with wondrous feathers in her hat,


s: Rain-soaked, and limp, and feeling very flat,


s: With flowers of sorts in her full basket, sat,


s: Back to the railings, there by Charing Cross,


s: And cursed the weather and a blank day's loss.


s: "Wevver, you calls it?--Your sort then, not mine!


s: I calls it blanky 'NO.' So there you are,--


s: Wevver indeed!  Not much, my little son,


s: It's just old London's nastiest kind of fun.


s: "_Vi'lets, narcissus, primroses and daffs,--


s: See how they sits up in their beds an' laughs!


s: Buy, Pretty Ladies--for your next at 'ome!


s: Gents!--for the gells now--buy a pretty bloom!_


s: "Gosh!--but them 'buses is a fair disgrace,


s: Squirting their dirty mud into one's face,


s: Robert, my son, you a'n't half worth your salt,


s: Or you'd arrest 'em for a blank assault!


s: "_Primroses, narcissus, daffs and violets,--


s: First come is first served, and pick o' basket gets._


s: "Garn then and git!  Ain't none o' you no good!


s: Cawn't spare a copper to'rds a pore gell's food.


s: Gives one the 'ump it does, to see you all go by,


s: Garn!  What's the good o' you?--lot o' dirty scum!


s: When four days' leave gives them the chance


s: "Hi!--you there with the last year's hat!--


s: The halt, the maimed, the blind, the lame,--


s: Their eyes still dazed with stress and strain,--


s: After the boys who had fought and bled,--


s: _Primroses!  dafs!_--for your rumply caps!


s: _Primroses!--dafs!_ Thenk Gawd you laughs,


s: They thanked her with their crooked smiles,


s: An' it done them good, an' it done me good,


s: For a day or two, till the nibs comes in?


s: An' he called me a Daisy!--aw--'_Daisy dear!_'


s: With a lump in me throat and a swell right here.


s: An', I swear, it's better'n a bran new hat."


s: The nails of woe were through his hands,


s: And his red blood stained all my breast;


s: By the toil and sweat of those who lived,


s: We have won the fight, we have saved the Right,


s: We have come through the valley of shadows,


s: We have smitten to earth the evil thing,


s: All the words in the world cannot tell you


s: For the lives you gave our lives to save


s: One day, as I travelled the highway alone,


s: I heard, on in front, a most dolorous groan;


s: And there, round the corner, a weary old ass


s: Was nuzzling the hedge for a mouthful of grass.


s: The load that he carried was piled up so high


s: That it blocked half the road and threatened the sky.


s: Indeed, of himself I could see but a scrap,


s: And expected each minute to see that go snap;


s: For beneath all his load I could see but his legs,


s: And they were as thin as the thinnest clothes-pegs.


s: I said, "O most gentle and innocent beast,


s: Say,--why is your burden so greatly increased?


s: Who loads you like this, beyond reason and right?


s: Is it done for a purpose, or just out of spite?


s: Is it all your own treasures you have in your pack,


s: That crumples your backbone and makes your ribs crack?


s: It is really too much for an old ass's back."


s: "Treasures!"--he groaned, through a lump of chewed grass,


s: "_Are_ they treasures?  I don't know.  I'm only the ass


s: That carries whatever they all like to pack


s: On my load, without thought of my ribs or my back.


s: I know there are heaps of things there that I hate,


s: But it's always been so.  I guess it's my fate."


s: And he flicked his long ears, and switched his thin tail,


s: And rasped his rough neck with a hinder-foot nail.


s: "There are fighting-men somewhere up there, and some fools,


s: And talking-men--heaps--who have quitted their stools


s: To manage the state and direct its affairs,


s: And see, I suppose, that we all get our shares,--


s: And ladies and lords, and their offspring and heirs,


s: And their flunkeys and toadies, and merchants and wares.--


s: And parsons and lawyers,--O heaps,--in that box,


s: And big folk and small folk, and all kinds of crocks.


s: "_That mighty big bale_?--Poison, that,--for the people;


s: Whatever else lacks they must still have their tipple.


s: That's The Trade, don't you know, that no one can shackle,--


s: 'Vested Int'rests,' they call it, and that kind of cackle.


s: Why the Bishops themselves dare not tackle the tipple,


s: For it props up the church and at times builds a steeple."


s: (A strangely ingenuous old ass, you perceive,


s: Whom any shrewd rascal could easily deceive.)


s: "_That other big bale_?--What I said,--fighting things,--


s: Ammunition and guns and these new things with wings,


s: O yes, they bulk big, but we need them,--for why?--


s: If we hadn't as much as the others have--why,


s: They say we might just as well lie down and die.


s: "_Yon big bale on top_?--Ah!  that is a big weight.


s: And that's just the one of the lot I most hate.


s: That's Capital, that is,--and landlords and such;


s: And there seems to me sometimes a bit over-much


s: In that bale.  But there,--I'm perhaps wrong again,


s: Such matters are outside an old ass's ken.


s: "_My fodder_?  Oh well, you see,--no room for that.


s: I pick as I go, and no chance to get fat.


s: That poison bulks large,--and the landlords, you see;--


s: And that Capital's heavy as heavy can be.


s: Some one's bound to go short, and of course that one's ME."


s: He kicked up one heel with a snort of disgust,


s: And--sudden as though by a giant hand thrust,


s: The top-heavy pack on his lean back revolved,


s: Came crashing to earth, and in fragments dissolved.


s: Much surprised,--the old ass, thus set free from his load,


s: Picked out a soft spot in the nice dusty road,


s: And laid him down on it and rolled in high glee,


s: And, as he kicked this way and that, said to me,--


s: "Say, Man, I have never enjoyed such a roll


s: Since the day I was born, a silly young foal.


s: Seems to me, if I'd had half the sense of an ass,


s: I'd have long since got rid of that troublesome mass.


s: But now that it's down, why--down it shall stop.


s: All my life's been down under, but now I'm on top."


s: Then he came right-side up, pranced about on his load,


s: And kicked it to pieces all over the road.


s: And what all this means, I really can't say.


s: It may not mean much.  But--again,--why, it may.


s: Since first the curse broke out in Cain,


s: _Help us, through all life's conflict, still


s: _Help us, through all the world's dark night,


s: God's pact is sure, His word stands fast,--


s: Christ stands at the bar of the world to-day,


s: When our every deed and word and thought


s: With the things we have, or the things we crave,


s: Has been the plea of every selfish soul since then,


s: How rid thee of thy soul's responsibility?


s: Each soul is sponsor and account must bear.


s: Thou hast had good, and he the strangled days;


s: The old things pass.--Beware lest ye pass with them,


s: Beware!  Lest, when the "Have-nots" claim,


s: From those who have, their rightful share,


s: "_After?_" ...  For thee may be no after!


s: At thy belated care.  Make no mistake!--


s: When once the "Have-nots" claim ...  they take.


s: "After!" ...  When that full claim is made,


s: You and your golden gods may all lie dead.


s: And you, poor victims of this last "too late,"


s: Shall in the shadows mourn your lost estate.


s: --You ask what's amiss when your destinies


s: There's a bill to pay and it's due to-day,


s: And before it's paid you may all be dead.


s: It's the tune the prentice-hands are thrumming,--


s: The tune of the dire red time that's coming,--


s: Stand the accusal of the watchful stars?_


s: Of Thine unfathomable dome, a night like this,--


s: To stand full-face to Thy High Majesties,


s: Thy myriad worlds in solemn watchfulness,--


s: _Watching, watching, watching all below,


s: --Dear Lord, one wonders that Thou bearest still


s: With man on whom Thou didst such grace bestow,


s: Those sleepless sentinels!  They may be worlds


s: All peopled like our own.  But, as I stand,


s: They are to me the myriad eyes of God,--


s: What those same piercing eyes look down upon


s: Elsewhere on this fair earth that Thou hast made!--


s: --On all the desolations he hath wrought,


s: --On all the passioned hatreds he hath taught,


s: --On all Thy great hopes he hath brought to nought;--


s: --Man rending man with ruthless bitterness,


s: --Blasting Thine image into nothingness,


s: --Hounding Thy innocents to awful deaths,


s: And worse than deaths!  Happy the dead, who sped


s: Before the torturers their lust had fed!


s: --On Thy Christ crucified afresh each day,


s: --On all the horrors of War's grim red way.


s: Those myriad, sleepless, vast accusing eyes,--


s: _Watching, watching, watching all below,


s: When in our troubled hearts we ponder this,


s: We can but wonder at Thy wrath delayed,--


s: We can but wonder that Thy hand is stayed,--


s: Of man, whom Thou in Thine own image made,


s: When he that image doth so sore degrade!


s: If Thou shouldst blot us out without a word,


s: Our stricken souls must say we had incurred


s: Warnings we lacked not, warnings oft and clear,


s: And yet,--and yet!  O Lord, we humbly pray,--


s: Put back again Thy righteous Judgment Day!


s: Have patience with us yet a while, until


s: Through these our sufferings we learn Thy Will.


s: Naught but a treacherous truce for breeding


s: Of a later, greater, baser-still betrayal!--


s: Who died to make peace sure and life secure,


s: Thunder one mighty cry of righteous indignation,--


s: One vast imperative, unanswerable "No!" ...


s: "Not for that, not for that, did we die!"--


s: "--To give fresh life to godless knavery!


s: And now, from our souls' heights and depths,


s: Lest you defraud us of one smallest atom of the price


s: One fraction less than that full liberty,


s: Which comes of righteous and enduring peace,


s: Betrayal of your race, the world, and God."


s: They are gone, one and all, at duty's call,


s: They have left their homes, they have left their all,


s: From bank and shop, from bench and mill,


s: From the schools, from the tail of the plough,


s: They hurried away at the call of the fray,


s: Then hastily drop the vail:--for, you see,--


s: We are building the future with our dead,


s: We are binding it sure with the brave blood shed,


s: Though our hearts are well-nigh breaking.


s: We give of our best, and we leave the rest


s: Long fought-for, hoped-for, prayed-for peace;


s: Broken hearts new homes would build them


s: Show us, Lord, all Thou would'st have us


s: O Thou who standest both for God and Man,


s: O King of Kings, who wore no earthly crown,


s: O Prince of Peace, unto Thy feet we come,


s: The weight had grown beyond our strength to bear,


s: Thy Love alone the woful thrall can break,


s: Thy Love, reborn into this world of care,


s: How shall we turn to good this weight of ill?


s: "Of your own selves ye cannot stand or build,--


s: O, turn once more to Thee the hearts of men,


s: Work through the leaven of our grief and pain,


s: The world has nailed itself unto its cross;


s: O, tender to Thy hands its heart will prove,


s: For Thou alone canst heal its dreadful loss,--


s: Peace and the sword, Lord, Thou didst come to bring;


s: Too long the sword has drunk to Thy decrease.


s: Come now, by this high way of suffering,


s: "_And didst Thou love the race that loved not Thee?_"


s: Lord, Thou hast stricken us, smitten us sore,


s: Winnowed us fine on the dread threshing-floor.


s: "Had I not reason?--far you had strayed,


s: Vain was My calling, you would not be stayed."


s: Low in the dust, Lord, our hearts now are bowed,


s: Roughly Thy share through our boasting has ploughed.


s: "So as My ploughing prepares for the seed,


s: So shall the harvest our best hopes exceed."


s: Lord, we have lost of our dearest and best,


s: Flung to the void and cast out to the waste.


s: "Nay then, not one of them fell from My hand,


s: Here at My side in their glory they stand."


s: How shall we start, Lord, to build life again,


s: Fairer and sweeter, and freed from its pain?


s: "Build ye in Me and your building shall be


s: NOTE.--_Two hundred and fifty copies of this large paper edition


s: It was in the year of the Spanish Armada, 1588, that William Byrd


s: published in 1595, and republished in 1619. The first edition is


s: "When thou must home to shades of underground,


s: The beauteous spirits do engirt thee round,


s: To hear the stories of thy finish'd love


s: From that smooth tongue whose music hell can move:


s: Then wilt thou speak of banqueting delights,


s: Of masques and revels which sweet youth did make,


s: Of tourneys and great challenges of knights,


s: And all these triumphs for thy beauty sake:


s: When thou hast told these honours done to thee,


s: Then tell, O tell, how thou didst murder me!"


s: "Sunt apud infernos tot millia formosarum;


s: Pulchra sit, in superis, si licet, una locis.


s: Vobiscum est _Iope_, vobiscum candida Tyro," &c.


s: "Little boy, pretty knave, hence, I beseech you!


s: For if you hit me, knave, in faith I'll breech you." (p. 72.)


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 heaven for whose fair love they fell."


s: CAPTAIN HUME's _First Part of Airs_, 1605.


s: A little pretty bonny lass was walking (Farmer)


s: A shepherd in a shade his plaining made (John Dowland)


s: A sparrow-hawk proud did hold in wicked jail (Weelkes)


s: About the maypole new, with glee and merriment (Morley)


s: Arise, my thoughts, and mount you with the sun (Jones)


s: Awake, awake! thou heavy sprite (Campion)


s: Awake, sweet Love! 'tis time to rise (Youll)


s: Ay me, my mistress scorns my love (Bateson)


s: Brown is my Love, but graceful (Musica Transalpina)


s: By a fountain where I lay (John Dowland)


s: By the moon we sport and play (Ravenscroft)


s: Canst thou love and lie alone (Melismata)


s: Change thy mind since she doth change (Robert Dowland)


s: Cold Winter's ice is fled and gone (Weelkes)


s: Come away! come, sweet Love! (John Dowland)


s: Come, O come, my life's delight (Campion)


s: Come, Phyllis, come into these bowers (Ford)


s: Come, shepherd swains, that wont to hear me sing (Wilbye)


s: Come, you pretty false-eyed wanton (Campion)


s: Could my heart more tongues employ (Campion)


s: Crownèd with flowers I saw fair Amaryllis (Byrd)


s: Dare you haunt our hallow'd green (Ravenscroft)


s: Dear, if I with guilt would gild a true intent (Campion)


s: Dear, if you change I'll never choose again (John Dowland)


s: Do you not know how Love lost first his seeing (Morley)


s: Draw on, sweet Night, best friend unto those cares (Wilbye)


s: Each day of thine, sweet month of May (Youll)


s: Every dame affects good fame, whate'er her doings be (Campion)


s: Fair Phyllis I saw sitting all alone (Farmer)


s: Farewell, false Love, the oracle of lies (Byrd)


s: From Citheron the warlike boy is fled (Byrd)


s: From Fame's desire, from Love's delight retired (John Dowland)


s: Go, crystal tears! like to the morning showers (John Dowland)


s: Go, turn away those cruel eyes (Egerton MS. 2013)


s: Good men, show! if you can tell (Campion)


s: Ha! ha! ha! this world doth pass (Weelkes)


s: Happy, O! happy he, who not affecting (Wilbye)


s: Have I found her? O rich finding (Pilkington)


s: Heigh ho! chill go to plough no more (Mundy)


s: How shall I then describe my Love (Ford)


s: I always loved to call my lady Rose (Lichfild)


s: I have house and land in Kent (Melismata)


s: I live and yet methinks I do not breathe (Wilbye)


s: I sung sometime my thoughts and fancy's pleasure (Wilbye)


s: I weigh not Fortune's frown nor smile (Gibbons)


s: If fathers knew but how to leave (Jones)


s: If I urge my kind desires (Campion and Rosseter)


s: If my complaints could passions move (John Dowland)


s: In crystal towers and turrets richly set (Byrd)


s: In darkness let me dwell, the ground shall sorrow be (Coprario)


s: In midst of woods or pleasant grove (Mundy)


s: In Sherwood lived stout Robin Hood (Jones)


s: Inconstant Laura makes me death to crave (Greaves)


s: Injurious hours, whilst any joy doth bless me (Lichfild)


s: Is Love a boy,--what means he then to strike (Byrd)


s: Jack and Joan they think no ill (Campion)


s: Kind in unkindness, when will you relent (Campion and Rosseter)


s: Lady, the melting crystal of your eye (Greaves)


s: Lady, when I behold the roses sprouting (Wilbye)


s: Let us in a lovers' round (Mason and Earsden)


s: Like two proud armies marching in the field (Weelkes)


s: Lo! country sport that seldom fades (Weelkes)


s: Love winged my hopes and taught me how to fly (Jones)


s: "Maids are simple," some men say (Campion)


s: More than most fair, full of all heavenly fire (Peerson)


s: My love is neither young nor old (Jones)


s: My prime of youth is but a frost of cares (Mundy)


s: My sweetest Lesbia, let us live and love (Campion)


s: Now each creature joys the other (Farmer)


s: Now every tree renews his summer's green (Weelkes)


s: Now have I learn'd with much ado at last (Jones)


s: Now is my Chloris fresh as May (Weelkes)


s: Now let her change! and spare not (Campion)


s: Now let us make a merry greeting (Weelkes)


s: Now what is love, I pray thee tell (Jones)


s: O say, dear life, when shall these twin-born berries (Ward)


s: O stay, sweet love; see here the place of sporting (Farmer)


s: O sweet delight, O more than human bliss (Campion)


s: Oft have I mused the cause to find (Jones)


s: Our country swains in the morris dance (Weelkes)


s: Pour forth, mine eyes, the fountains of your tears (Pilkington)


s: Robin is a lovely lad (Mason and Earsden)


s: Round-a, round-a, keep your ring (Ravenscroft)


s: Shall I come, sweet Love, to thee (Campion)


s: She whose matchless beauty staineth (Jones)


s: Sister, awake! close not your eyes (Bateson)


s: Sleep, angry beauty, sleep and fear not me (Campion)


s: So light is love, in matchless beauty shining (Wilbye)


s: Some can flatter, some can feign (Corkine)


s: Sweet, come again (Campion and Rosseter)


s: Sweet heart, arise! why do you sleep (Weelkes)


s: Sweet Love, if thou wilt gain a monarch's glory (Wilbye)


s: Sweet Love, I will no more abuse thee (Weelkes)


s: Sweet, stay awhile; why will you rise (John Dowland)


s: Sweet Suffolk owl so trimly dight (Vautor)


s: Take here my heart, I give it thee for ever (Weelkes)


s: The fly she sat in shamble-row (Deuteromelia)


s: The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall (John Dowland)


s: The man of life upright (Campion and Rosseter)


s: The greedy hawk with sudden sight of lure (Byrd)


s: The match that's made for just and true respects (Byrd)


s: The Nightingale so pleasant and so gay (Byrd)


s: The Nightingale so soon as April bringeth (Bateson)


s: There were three Ravens sat on a tree (Melismata)


s: Think'st thou, Kate, to put me down (Jones)


s: Though my carriage be but careless (Weelkes)


s: Though your strangeness frets my heart (Jones)


s: Thrice toss these oaken ashes in the air (Campion)


s: Thus I resolve and Time hath taught me so (Campion)


s: Toss not my soul, O Love, 'twixt hope and fear (John Dowland)


s: Upon a summer's day Love went to swim (Byrd)


s: Vain men! whose follies make a god of love (Campion)


s: We be three poor mariners (Deuteromelia)


s: We must not part as others do (Egerton MS. 2013)


s: We shepherds sing, we pipe, we play (Weelkes)


s: Weep you no more, sad fountains (John Dowland)


s: Were I a king I might command content (Mundy)


s: What is our life? a play of passion (Gibbons)


s: What needeth all this travail and turmoiling (Wilbye)


s: What poor astronomers are they (John Dowland)


s: When Flora fair the pleasant tidings bringeth (Carlton)


s: When I was otherwise than now I am (Byrd)


s: Where most my thoughts, there least mine eye is striking (Wilbye)


s: Whether men do laugh or weep (Campion and Rosseter)


s: While that the sun with his beams hot (Byrd)


s: Whilst youthful sports are lasting (Weelkes)


s: White as lilies was her face (John Dowland)


s: Whither so fast? see how the kindly flowers (Pilkington)


s: Who likes to love, let him take heed (Byrd)


s: Who made thee, Hob, forsake the plough (Byrd)


s: Who prostrate lies at women's feet (Bateson)


s: Who would have thought that face of thine (Farmer)


s: Wilt thou, Unkind! thus 'reave me (John Dowland)


s: Woeful heart with grief oppressèd (John Dowland)


s: Ye bubbling springs that gentle music makes (Greaves)


s: You blessèd bowers whose green leaves now are spreading (Farmer)


s: You that wont to my pipe's sound (Morley)


s: Your shining eyes and golden hair (Bateson)


s: From FARMER's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1599.


s: In midst of May before the sun gan rise;


s: I took her by the hand and fell to talking


s: Of this and that as best I could devise:


s: I swore I would--yet still she said I should not;


s: Do what I would, and yet for all I could not.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _Second Book of Songs or Airs_, 1600.


s: Unto the fairest lass that trod on grass,


s: "Since Love and Fortune will, I honour still


s: What conquest will it be, sweet Nymph, for thee


s: Which love by thy sweet looks hath slain,


s: I sing 'Fie on love! it is a foolish thing.'


s: "My heart where have you laid? O cruel maid,


s: Why have ye cast it forth as nothing worth,


s: 'Fie, fie on love! that is a foolish thing.'


s: I sing 'Fie on love! it is a foolish thing.'"


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Madrigals of Six Parts_, 1600.


s: A Sparrow-Hawk proud did hold in wicked jail


s: Music's sweet chorister, the nightingale,


s: To whom with sighs she said: "O set me free!


s: And in my song I'll praise no bird but thee."


s: The hawk replied, "I will not lose my diet


s: To let a thousand such enjoy their quiet."


s: From ROBERT JONES' _First Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: About the maypole new, with glee and merriment,


s: Thyrsis and Chloris fine together footed it:


s: Still they went to and fro, and finely flaunted it,


s: And then both met again and thus they chaunted it.


s: The shepherds and the nymphs them round enclosèd had,


s: About they turn'd them in such strange agility;


s: With words full of delight they gently kissed them,


s: And thus sweetly to sing they never missed them.


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1598.


s: Yet once again, ere that I part with you,


s: From THOMAS MORLEY's _First Book of Madrigals_, 1594.


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Second Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.


s: Arise, my thoughts, and mount you with the sun,


s: Call all the winds to make you speedy wings,


s: And weep your last while wantonly she sings;


s: Then if you cannot move her heart to pity,


s: Let _Oh, alas, ay me_ be all your ditty.


s: Arise, my thoughts, no more, if you return


s: But let the sun your wings to ashes burn


s: And melt your passions in his quenchless fire;


s: Yet, if you move fair Maya's heart to pity,


s: Let smiles and love and kisses be your ditty.


s: Arise, my thoughts, beyond the highest star


s: For that is fairer than the brightest are;


s: But, if she frown to see you climb so high,


s: Couch in her lap, and with a moving ditty,


s: Of smiles and love and kisses, beg for pity.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Two Books of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: From HENRY YOULL's _Canzonets to three voices_, 1608.


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1598.


s: From THOMAS BATESON's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1604.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _Third and Last Book of Songs or Airs_, 1603.


s: Match'd with thy lovely brown loseth its brightness.


s: Dainty white lilies, and sad flowers well prizèd.


s: From THOMAS RAVENSCROFT's _Brief Discourse, &c._, 1614.


s: Those vain hopes that have deceived thee:


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Madrigals of Five and Six Parts_, 1600.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _First Book of Songs or Airs_, 1597.


s: Wing'd with sweet hopes and heavenly fire.


s: Haste then, sweet love, our wishèd flight!


s: This stanza is not in the original, but is added in _England's


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: From THOMAS FORD's _Music of Sundry Kinds_, 1607.


s: Cool gales of wind breathe in these shades,


s: Come, Phyllis, come, bright heaven's eye


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.


s: Come, shepherd swains, that wont to hear me sing,


s: Come, shepherd swains, come, nymphs, and all a-row


s: From _Two Books of Airs_, by THOMAS CAMPION (circ. 1613).


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Songs, and Sonnets_, 1611.


s: Crownèd with flowers I saw fair Amaryllis


s: By Thyrsis sit, hard by a fount of crystal,


s: And with her hand more white than snow or lilies,


s: On sand she wrote _My faith shall be immortal_:


s: And suddenly a storm of wind and weather


s: Blew all her faith and sand away together.


s: From THOMAS RAVENSCROFT's _Brief Discourse_, 1614.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Fourth Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Dear, if I with guile would gild a true intent,


s: Heaping flatt'ries that in heart were never meant,


s: Love forbid that through dissembling I should thrive,


s: Or, in praising you, myself of truth deprive!


s: Praise is but the wind of pride if it exceeds,


s: Wealth prized in itself no outward value needs:


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _First Book of Songs or Airs_, 1597.


s: Dear, if you change, I'll never choose again;


s: Sweet, if you shrink, I'll never think of love;


s: Fair, if you fail, I'll judge all beauty vain;


s: Wise, if too weak, more wits I'll never prove.


s: Dear, sweet, fair, wise! change, shrink, nor be not weak;


s: And, on my faith, my faith shall never break.


s: Earth with her flowers shall sooner heaven adorn;


s: Heaven her bright stars through earth's dim globe shall move;


s: Fire heat shall lose, and frosts of flames be born;


s: Air, made to shine, as black as hell shall prove:


s: Earth, heaven, fire, air, the world transformed shall view,


s: Ere I prove false to faith or strange to you.


s: Do you not know how Love lost first his seeing?


s: On those fair eyes where all powers have their being,


s: Him of his sight and me of heart deprivèd.


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.


s: Draw on, sweet Night, best friend unto those cares


s: My life so ill through want of comfort fares,


s: Sweet Night, draw on; my griefs, when they be told


s: To shades and darkness, find some ease from paining;


s: And while thou all in silence dost enfold,


s: I then shall have best time for my complaining.


s: From HENRY YOULL's _Canzonets to three Voices_, 1608.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Fourth Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Every dame affects good fame, whate'er her doings be,


s: But true praise is Virtue's bays, which none may wear but she.


s: Borrowed guise fits not the wise, a simple look is best;


s: Native grace becomes a face though ne'er so rudely drest.


s: Now such new-found toys are sold these women to disguise,


s: That before the year grows old the newest fashion dies.


s: Dames of yore contended more in goodness to exceed,


s: Than in pride to be envied for that which least they need.


s: Little lawn then serve[d] the Pawn, if Pawn at all there were;


s: Homespun thread and household bread then held out all the year.


s: But th' attires of women now wear out both house and land;


s: That the wives in silk may flow, at ebb the good men stand.


s: Once again, Astræa! then from heaven to earth descend,


s: And vouchsafe in their behalf these errors to amend.


s: Aid from heaven must make all even, things are so out of frame;


s: For let man strive all he can, he needs must please his dame.


s: Happy man, content that gives and what he gives enjoys!


s: Happy dame, content that lives and breaks no sleep for toys!


s: From FARMER's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1599.


s: Feeding her flock near to the mountain-side;


s: The shepherds knew not whither she was gone,


s: Up and down he wandered, whilst she was missing;


s: When he found her, oh then they fell a-kissing!


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Sonnets, and Songs_, 1588.


s: Farewell, false Love, the oracle of lies,


s: An envious boy from whom all cares arise,


s: A way of error, a temple full of treason,


s: A poison'd serpent cover'd all with flowers,


s: A sea of sorrows from whence are drawn such showers


s: As moisture lend to every grief that grows;


s: A school of guile, a net of deep deceit,


s: A gilded hook that holds a poison'd bait.


s: A fortress foiled which Reason did defend,


s: A raging cloud that runs before the wind;


s: A goal of grief for which the wisest run.


s: A quenchless fire, a nurse of trembling fear,


s: An idle boy that sleeps in Pleasure's lap;


s: A deep distrust of that which certain seems,


s: A hope of that which Reason doubtful deems.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Ballets and Madrigals_, 1598.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _Second Book of Songs or Airs_, 1600.


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: Within this pack pins, points, laces, and gloves,


s: But my heart, wherein duty serves and loves,


s: Turtles and twins, court's brood, a heavenly pair--


s: Happy the heart that thinks of no removes!


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Fire that must flame is with apt fuel fed,


s: Flowers that will thrive in sunny soil are bred:


s: How can a heart feel heat that no hope finds?


s: Or can he love on whom no comfort shines?


s: Fair, I confess there's pleasure in your sight;


s: Sweet, you have power, I grant, of all delight;


s: Churl that you are t'enjoy such wealth alone!


s: Prayers move the heavens but find no grace with you,


s: Yet in your looks a heavenly form I view;


s: As well as in your looks, heaven in your mind.


s: Saint of my heart, queen of my life and love,


s: Let me no longer mourn through thy disdain,


s: But with one touch of grace cure all my pain!


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1598.


s: From CAMPION and ROSSETER's _Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: Follow your saint, follow with accents sweet!


s: Haste you, sad notes, fall at her flying feet!


s: There, wrapped in cloud of sorrow, pity move,


s: And tell the ravisher of my soul I perish for her love:


s: But, if she scorns my never-ceasing pain,


s: Then burst with sighing in her sight and ne'er return again.


s: All that I sang still to her praise did tend,


s: Still she was first, still she my songs did end;


s: Yet she my love and music both doth fly,


s: The music that her echo is and beauty's sympathy:


s: Then let my notes pursue her scornful flight!


s: From ROBERT JONES' _First Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: Their youth, their time, their wit, their art


s: They woo their woe, they wed their grief.


s: Love's sweets, they find, enfold sour care;


s: Forthwith their kindred's love they lose;


s: Their smiles we want if aught they want,


s: Foul wives are jealous, fair wives false,


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Songs of Sundry Natures_, 1589.


s: Thereby to train poor misers to the trap,


s: And when Desire with eager looks is led,


s: Feather'd with flame, arm'd with a golden head.


s: Her careless thoughts are freèd of that flame


s: Wherewith her thralls are scorchèd to the heart:


s: If Love would so, would God the enchanting dart


s: Might once return and burn from whence it came!


s: Not to deface of Beauty's work the frame,


s: If Love be just, then just is my desire;


s: To chasten those that from thy laws retire!


s: But choose aright (good Love! I thee require)


s: Her heart is frost and must dissolve by fire.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _Second Book of Songs and Airs_, 1600.


s: From Fame's desire, from Love's delight retired,


s: In these sad groves an hermit's life I lead:


s: And those false pleasures, which I once admired,


s: With sad remembrance of my fall, I dread.


s: To birds, to trees, to earth, impart I this;


s: For she less secret, and as senseless is.


s: O sweet woods! the delight of solitariness!


s: Experience which repentance only brings,


s: Doth bid me, now, my heart from Love estrange!


s: Love is disdained when it doth look at Kings;


s: And Love low placèd base and apt to change.


s: There Power doth take from him his liberty,


s: Her[e] Want of Worth makes him in cradle die.


s: You men that give false worship unto Love,


s: And seek that which you never shall obtain;


s: Whose end is this, to know you strive in vain.


s: Hope and Desire, which now your idols be,


s: You needs must lose, and feel Despair with me.


s: You woods, in you the fairest Nymphs have walked:


s: Nymphs at whose sights all hearts did yield to love.


s: You woods, in whom dear lovers oft have talked,


s: How do you now a place of mourning prove?


s: Wanstead! my Mistress saith this is the doom.


s: Thou art love's child-bed, nursery, and tomb.


s: O sweet woods! the delight of solitariness!


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Two Books of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Meadows have flowers that pleasures move,


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _First Book of Songs or Airs_, 1597.


s: Go crystal tears! like to the morning showers,


s: And sweetly weep into thy lady's breast!


s: And as the dews revive the drooping flowers,


s: To quicken up the thoughts of my desert,


s: Which sleeps too sound whilst I from her depart.


s: Haste hapless sighs! and let your burning breath


s: Whose frozen rigour, like forgetful Death,


s: Both from a spotless heart and patient eyes.


s: From EGERTON MS., 2013. _The Verses were set to Music by Dr. John


s: Thou'lt one day say, when 'tis too late,


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Second Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: That too much kindness makes men freeze.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Airs or Fantastic Spirits_, 1608.


s: From ROBERT JONES's _Ultimum Vale or Third Book of Airs_ (1608).


s: Whilst he who strives with pride to climb the skies


s: Falls down with foul disgrace before he rise.


s: Such fame, so forced, at last dies with his death,


s: Which life maintain'd by others' idle breath.


s: High trees heaven blasts, winds shake and honors fell,


s: When lowly plants long time in safety dwell.


s: Who, known to all, unknown to himself dies.


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.


s: The endless toils attending worldly cares,


s: With mind reposed, all discontents rejecting,


s: In silent peace his way to heaven prepares,


s: Deeming this life a scene, the world a stage


s: From FRANCIS PILKINGTON's _First Set Of Madrigals_, 1613.


s: From JOHN MUNDY's _Songs and Psalms_, 1594.


s: But I love and I love, and who thinks you?


s: From JOHN MAYNARD's _Twelve Wonders of the World_, 1611.


s: From THOMAS FORD's _Music of Sundry Kinds_, 1607.


s: She's chaste in looks, mild in her speech,


s: From whence she springs: but happiest he


s: From HENRY LICHFILD's _First Set of Madrigals_, 1613.


s: For in her cheeks roses do sweetly glose,


s: And from her lips she such sweet odours threw


s: As roses do 'gainst Ph[oe]bus' morning-view:


s: But when I thought to pull't, hope was bereft me,--


s: My rose was gone and naught but prickles left me.


s: Chorus. _For he can bravely clout his shoone,


s: Chorus. _He has a God-vather dwells thereby,


s: Chorus. _And if thou wilt not grant his love,


s: Chorus. _And eke thou hast his heart in hold


s: Chorus. _And on his head a good grey hat,


s: Chorus. _Or else he'll zeek zome oderwhere,


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.


s: I live, and yet methinks I do not breathe;


s: I thirst and drink, I drink and thirst again;


s: I hope for that I have; I have and want:


s: I sing and sigh; I love and hate at once.


s: O, tell me, restless soul, what uncouth jar


s: Doth cause in store such want, in peace such war?


s: Makes water wine, turns wooden cups to gold,


s: The homely whistle to sweet music's strain:


s: Seldom it come, to few from heaven sent,


s: That much in little, all in nought,--Content.


s: From JOHN MAYNARD's _Twelve Wonders of the World_, 1611.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _Second Book of Songs or Airs_, 1600.


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: From JOHN WILBYE's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1598.


s: I sung sometime my thoughts and fancy's pleasure,


s: Where I did list, or time served best and leisure;


s: To supper once, and drank to me to spite me.


s: And drank where she had drunk before, to flout her;


s: Mine eyes drank love, my lips drank burning fire.


s: From ORLANDO GIBBONS' _First Set of Madrigals_, 1612.


s: I seek not state, I reak [_sic_] not style,


s: From THOMAS MORLEY's _Madrigals to Four Voices_, 1600.


s: And all my lovely rings and pins denyest.


s: From ROBERT JONES' _First Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.


s: That physic which brings perfect health,


s: From CAMPION and ROSSETER's _Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _First Book of Songs and Airs_, 1597.


s: Or make Love see wherein I suffer wrong;


s: That my despairs had governed me too long.


s: Thy grief in my deep sighs still speaks,


s: Thou say'st thou can'st my harms repair,


s: And when I hope thou mak'st me hope in vain;


s: Yet for redress thou let'st me still complain.


s: Is Love my judge, and yet am I condemned?


s: Thou made a god, and yet thy power contemned!


s: That you, that of my fall may hearers be,


s: "I was more true to Love, than Love to me."


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: If thou long'st so much to learn, sweet boy, what 'tis to love,


s: Do but fix thy thoughts on me and thou shalt quickly prove:


s: With thee dance I will, and sing, and thy fond dalliance bear;


s: We the grovy hills will climb and play the wantons there;


s: When thy joys were thus at height, my love should turn from thee,


s: Thus thy silly youth, enraged, would soon my love defy,


s: But, alas, poor soul, too late! clipt wings can never fly.


s: Called to thy mind, thy heart would burn;


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Sonnets and Songs_, 1588.


s: Or that their beauty might continue still,


s: I would not marvel though they made men bond


s: By service long to purchase their goodwill:


s: But when I see how frail these creatures are,


s: I laugh that men forget themselves so far.


s: To mark what choice they make and how they change,


s: How, leaving best, the worst they choose out still;


s: And how, like haggards wild, about they range,


s: Who would not shake such buzzards from the fist


s: And let them fly (fair fools!) which way they list?


s: Yet for our sport we fawn and flatter both,


s: To pass the time when nothing else can please:


s: And train them on to yield by subtle oath


s: The sweet content that gives such humour ease:


s: And then we say, when we their follies try,


s: "To play with fools, O, what a fool was I!"


s: So Oliphant.--Old ed., "Scorning after reason to follow will."


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Songs, and Sonnets_, 1611.


s: In crystal towers and turrets richly set


s: With glitt'ring gems that shine against the sun,


s: Content of mind not always likes to won;


s: In simple cotes enclosed with walls of clay.


s: From JOHN COPRARIO's _Funeral Tears, etc._, 1606.


s: In darkness let me dwell, the ground shall sorrow be,


s: The roof despair to bar all cheerful light from me,


s: The walls of marble black that moistened still shall weep,


s: My music hellish jarring sounds to banish friendly sleep:


s: Thus wedded to my woes, and bedded in my tomb


s: O let me dying live till death doth come.


s: My dainties grief shall be, and tears my poisoned wine,


s: My sighs the air through which my panting heart shall pine,


s: My robes my mind shall suit exceeding blackest night,


s: My study shall be tragic thoughts sad fancy to delight,


s: Pale ghosts and frightful shades shall my acquaintance be:


s: O thus, my hapless joy, I haste to thee.


s: From JOHN MUNDY's _Songs and Psalms_, 1594.


s: The charm was good, the noise full sweet,


s: My tongue shall speak, my pen shall write


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Ballets and Madrigals_, 1598.


s: From ROBERT JONES's _Musical Dream_, 1609.


s: {Pheugein dê ton Erôta kenos ponos.}--_Archias_.


s: Robin could shoot at many a hart and miss,


s: Cupid at first could hit a heart of his.


s: Hey, jolly Robin Hood, ho jolly Robin Hood,


s: No greater thief lies hidden under skies,


s: Than beauty closely lodged in women's eyes.


s: Whom curb of strictest law could not hold in,


s: Love to obedience with a wink could win.


s: I lived in field and town, and so did he;


s: I got me to the woods, Love followed me.


s: Old ed.,--"Love with obeyednes and a winke could winne."


s: From THOMAS GREAVES' _Songs of Sundry Kinds_, 1604.


s: Inconstant Laura makes me death to crave,


s: For wanting her I must embrace my grave;


s: And set me free from love's fell tyranny.


s: Intomb me then and show her where I lie,


s: From HENRY LICHFILD's _First Set of Madrigals_, 1613.


s: Injurious hours, whilst any joy doth bless me,


s: With speedy wings you fly and so release me;


s: You creep as if you never meant to part.


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Songs of Sundry Natures_, 1589.


s: Is Love a boy,--what means he then to strike?


s: Or is he blind,--why will he be a guide?


s: Is he a man,--why doth he hurt his like?


s: No one of these, but one compact of all:


s: A wilful boy, a man still dealing blows,


s: Of purpose blind to lead men to their thrall,


s: Blind, be no more my guide to make me stray;


s: Man, use thy might to force away my pain;


s: And if thou beest a power to me unknown,


s: Power of my life, let here thy grace be shown.


s: And the frog leaped on the floor so flat.


s: A goodly company, the Devil go with all!


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Two Books of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: O, did ever voice so sweet but only feign?


s: O, why is the good of man with evil mixt?


s: From CAMPION and ROSSETER's _Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: Kind in unkindness, when will you relent


s: And cease with faint love true love to torment?


s: Still entertained, excluded still I stand;


s: Her glove still hold, but cannot touch the hand.


s: In her fair hand my hopes and comforts rest:


s: O might my fortunes with that hand be blest!


s: No envious breaths then my deserts could shake,


s: For they are good whom such true love doth make.


s: That it should fruitless home return to earth!


s: Love is the fruit of beauty, then love one!


s: Not your sweet self, for such self-love is none.


s: Whose wronged deserts would you with pity view,


s: This strange distaste which your affection sways


s: Would relish love, and you find better days.


s: Thus till my happy sight your beauty views,


s: Whose sweet remembrance still my hope renews,


s: Let these poor lines solicit love for me,


s: And place my joys where my desires would be.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Madrigals of Five and Six Parts_, 1600.


s: From THOMAS GREAVES' _Songs of Sundry Kinds_, 1604.


s: Like frozen drops upon your cheeks did lie;


s: Mine eye was dancing on them with delight,


s: And saw love's flames within them burning bright,


s: But O, my heart thus sporting with desire,


s: My careless eye did set my heart on fire.


s: O that a drop from such a sweet fount flying


s: Should flame like fire and leave my heart a-dying!


s: Till in your eyes I bathe my heart and quench it:


s: But there, alas, love with his fire lies sleeping,


s: And all conspire to burn my heart with weeping.


s: Lady, when I behold the roses sprouting,


s: Which clad in damask mantles deck the arbours,


s: And then behold your lips where sweet love harbours,


s: My eyes present me with a double doubting:


s: For viewing both alike, hardly my mind supposes


s: Whether the roses be your lips or your lips [be] the roses.


s: From J. DANYEL's _Songs for the Lute, Viol and Voice_, 1606.


s: Yet more must I that therein see far more


s: Than any other's eyes have power to see;


s: That in the margin of her cheeks Love quotes


s: From those fair eyes but to me wonder breed.


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Songs and Sonnets_, 1611.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Madrigals of Six Parts_, 1600.


s: Like two proud armies marching in the field,--


s: Joining a thund'ring fight, each scorns to yield,--


s: So in my heart your beauty and my reason:


s: One claims the crown, the other says 'tis treason.


s: And dazzled reason yields as quite undone.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Two Books of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: From JOHN MAYNARD's _Twelve Wonders of the World_, 1611.


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Second Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.


s: Little boy, pretty knave, shoot not at random,


s: For if you hit me, slave, I'll tell your grandam.


s: Little boy, pretty knave, hence I beseech you,


s: For if you hit me, knave, in faith I'll breech you.


s: Little boy, pretty knave, make me not stagger,


s: For if you hit me, knave, I'll call thee, beggar.


s: Love winged 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: Enamoured 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 heaven for whose fair love they fell.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: From MARTIN PEERSON's _Mottects or Grave Chamber-Music_, 1630.


s: More than most fair, full of all heavenly fire,


s: Kindled above to shew the Maker's glory;


s: Beauty's first-born, in whom all powers conspire


s: To write the Graces' life and Muses' story;


s: If in my heart all nymphs else be defacèd,


s: Honour the shrine where you alone are placèd.


s: Thou window of the sky, and pride of spirits,


s: Thou heavenly creature, judge of earthly merits,


s: And glorious prison of men's pure affection:


s: If in my heart all nymphs else be defacèd


s: From THOMAS VAUTOR's _Songs of divers Airs and Natures_, 1619.


s: John-a-Dun should have had me long ere this:


s: For I have heard 'tis trim when folks do love;


s: By good Sir John I swear now I will prove.


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Second Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.


s: How deep it struck, speak, gods, you know


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Sonnets, and Songs_, 1588.


s: Though much I want, that most would have,


s: These get with toil, and keep with fear:


s: From JOHN MUNDY's _Songs and Psalms_, 1594.


s: My prime of youth is but a frost of cares!


s: My crop of corn is but a field of tares!


s: And all my good is but vain hope of gain!


s: And now I live, and now my life is done!


s: The Spring is past, and yet it hath not sprung!


s: The fruit is dead, and yet the leaves be green!


s: My youth is gone, and yet I am but young!


s: My thread is cut, and yet it is not spun!


s: And now I live, and now my life is done.


s: From CAMPION AND ROSSETER's _Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: My sweetest Lesbia, let us live and love,


s: And though the sager sort our deeds reprove


s: Let us not weigh them. Heaven's great lamps do dive


s: Into their west, and straight again revive;


s: But, soon as once is set our little light,


s: Then must we sleep one ever-during night.


s: If all would lead their lives in love like me,


s: Then bloody swords and armour should not be;


s: No drum nor trumpet peaceful sleeps should move,


s: Unless alarm came from the Camp of Love:


s: But fools do live and waste their little light,


s: And seek with pain their ever-during night.


s: When timely death my life and fortunes ends,


s: Let not my hearse be vext with mourning friends;


s: But let all lovers, rich in triumph, come


s: And with sweet pastimes grace my happy tomb:


s: And, Lesbia, close up thou my little light


s: And crown with love my ever-during night.


s: From JOHN DOWLAND's _First Book of Songs or Airs_, 1597.


s: My Thoughts are winged with Hopes, my Hopes with Love:


s: Mount Love unto the moon in clearest night,


s: And say, as she doth in the heavens move,


s: In earth so wanes and waxeth my delight:


s: And whisper this, but softly, in her ears,


s: "Hope oft doth hang the head and Trust shed tears."


s: And you, my Thoughts, that some mistrust do carry,


s: If for mistrust my mistress do you blame,


s: Say, though you alter, yet you do not vary,


s: As she doth change and yet remain the same;


s: Distrust doth enter hearts, but not infect,


s: And Love is sweetest seasoned with Suspect.


s: If she for this with clouds do mask her eyes


s: And make the heavens dark with her disdain,


s: With windy sighs disperse them in the skies


s: Or with thy tears dissolve them into rain.


s: Thoughts, Hopes, and Love, return to me no more


s: Till Cynthia shine as she hath done before.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: And speak what straight they will repent.


s: Now every tree renews his summer's green,


s: Why is your heart in winter's garments clad?


s: Your beauty says my love is summer's queen,


s: But your cold love like winter makes me sad:


s: Then either spring with buds of love again


s: Or else congeal my thoughts with your disdain.


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Ultimum Vale or Third Book of Airs_ (1608).


s: Now have I learn'd with much ado at last


s: This was the mark at which I shot so fast,


s: Proud Love, now do thy worst and spare not,


s: What hast thou left wherewith to move my mind,


s: I count thy words and oaths as light as wind,


s: Go, break thy shafts and buy thee longer.


s: In vain thou bait'st thy hook with beauty's blaze,


s: These are but toys for them that love to gaze,


s: From THOMAS FORD's _Music of Sundry Kinds_, 1607.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Ballets and Madrigals_, 1598.


s: From THOMAS MORLEY's _First Book of Ballets_, 1595.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Since thou art here, mine only treasure.


s: Saint's-bell; the little bell that called to prayers.


s: While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights


s: Though love and all his pleasures are but toys,


s: From JOHN WARD's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1613.


s: O say, dear life, when shall these twin-born berries,


s: So lovely-ripe, by my rude lips be tasted?


s: Shall I not pluck (sweet, say not _nay_) those cherries?


s: O let them not with summer's heat be blasted.


s: Nature, thou know'st, bestow'd them free on thee;


s: Then be thou kind--bestow them free on me.


s: From JOHN FARMER's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1599.


s: O stay, sweet love; see here the place of sporting;


s: These gentle flowers smile sweetly to invite us,


s: And chirping birds are hitherwards resorting,


s: Warbling sweet notes only to delight us:


s: Then stay, dear Love, for though thou run from me,


s: Run ne'er so fast, yet I will follow thee.


s: I thought, my love, that I should overtake you;


s: Sweet heart, sit down under this shadowed tree,


s: And I will promise never to forsake you,


s: Whereat she smiled and kindly to me said--


s: The scarlet blush of sweet vermilion roses.


s: To see us of love's fruits so long bereavèd.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: O sweet delight, O more than human bliss


s: To hear her speak whose words are so well placed


s: That she by them, as they by her are graced!


s: Those looks to view that feast the viewer's eye,


s: How blest is he that may so live and die!


s: Such love as this the Golden Times did know,


s: When all did reap and none took care to sow;


s: Such love as this an endless summer makes,


s: And all distaste from frail affection takes.


s: Which till their eyes ache let iron men envy!


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Ultimum Vale or Third Book of Airs_ (1608).


s: He look'd that they should guide him well:


s: Their glancing beams as darts he throws,


s: Than that where grow both shafts and fire?


s: From JOHN ATTYE's _First Book of Airs_, 1622.


s: Said to her shepherd, 'Sweet, how do you?


s: Kiss me this once, and then God be wi' you,


s: Kiss me this once and then God be wi' you,


s: Opening her lips, rich perfumes blowing,


s: With that the shepherd waked from sleeping,


s: From ROBERT JONES' _First Book of Songs and Airs_, 1601.


s: For when that he and time hath proved her,


s: From HENRY YOULL's _Canzonets to Three Voices_, 1608.


s: But they themselves Jove change, we see,


s: Pour forth, mine eyes, the fountains of your tears;


s: Break, heart, and die, for now no hope appears;


s: Hope, upon which before my thoughts were fed,


s: Hath left me quite forlorn and from me fled.


s: Yet, see, she smiles! O see, some hope appears!


s: Hold, heart, and live; mine eyes, cease off your tears.


s: From THOMAS RAVENSCROFT's _Brief Discourse_, 1614.


s: That in his bounty he'd vouchsafe to grace


s: The humble sylvans and their shaggy race.


s: From RICHARD ALISON's _An Hours Recreation in Music_, 1606.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Ultimum Vale or Third Book of Airs_ (1608).


s: From ROBERT JONES' _First Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: Then those hearts, which now complaining


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_, (circ. 1613).


s: Silly boy! 'tis full moon yet, thy night as day shines clearly;


s: Had thy youth but wit to fear, thou couldst not love so dearly.


s: Shortly wilt thou mourn when all thy pleasures be bereavèd,


s: Little knows he how to love that never was deceivèd.


s: This is thy first maiden-flame that triumphs yet unstainèd,


s: All is artless now you speak, not one word is feignèd;


s: All is heaven that you behold, and all your thoughts are blessèd,


s: Thy well-ordered locks ere long shall rudely hang neglected,


s: And thy lively pleasant cheer read grief on earth dejected;


s: Much then wilt thou blame thy Saint, that made thy heart so holy


s: And with sighs confess, in love that too much faith is folly.


s: Yet be just and constant still, Love may beget a wonder,


s: Not unlike a summer's frost or winter's fatal thunder:


s: He that holds his sweetheart true unto his day of dying,


s: Lives, of all that ever breathed, most worthy the envying.


s: From THOMAS FORD's _Music Of Sundry Kinds_, 1607.


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: No, no no, my heart is fast, and cannot disentangle.


s: If I admire or praise you too much, that fault you may forgive me


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: From THOMAS MORLEY's _First Book of Ballets_, 1595.


s: From THOMAS BATESON's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1604.


s: See, the clear sun, the world's bright eye,


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Sleep, angry beauty, sleep and fear not me!


s: Those lips shut up that never kindly spoke:


s: What sight can more content a lover's mind


s: Than beauty seeming harmless, if not kind?


s: My words have charmed her, for secure she sleeps,


s: Though guilty much of wrong done to my love;


s: And in her slumber, see! she close-eyed weeps:


s: Dreams often more than waking passions move.


s: Plead, Sleep, my cause, and make her soft like thee:


s: From JOHN WILBYE's _Second Set of Madrigals_, 1609.


s: So light is love, in matchless beauty shining,


s: When he revisits Cypris' hallowed bowers,


s: Two feeble doves, harness'd in silken twining,


s: Can draw his chariot midst the Paphian flowers,


s: From CAMPION and ROSSETER's _Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: My wand'ring thoughts first to restrain,


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Ballets and Madrigals_, 1598.


s: Then join we hands and dance till night,


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Musical Dream_, 1609.


s: Sweet Love, if thou wilt gain a monarch's glory,


s: Subdue her heart who makes me glad and sorry;


s: And me and thee of grief and fear deliver:


s: But come behind, for, if she look upon thee,


s: Alas! poor Love, then thou art woe-begone thee.


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Ultimum Vale, or Third Book of Airs_ (1608).


s: From THOMAS VAUTOR's _Songs of divers Airs and Natures_, 1619.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Madrigals of Five and Six Parts_, 1600.


s: Take here my heart, I give it thee for ever!


s: No better pledge can love to love deliver.


s: Fear not, my dear, it will not fly away,


s: For hope and love command my heart to stay.


s: But if thou doubt, desire will make it range:


s: Love but my heart, my heart will never change.


s: From FARMER's _First Set of English Madrigals_, 1599.


s: And said "Jove speed, dame Fly, dame Fly":


s: "Marry, you be welcome, Sir," quoth she:


s: "The master Humble Bee hath sent me to thee


s: To wit and if you will his true love be."


s: For and a greater lord there may not be."


s: All Flies in the field and Worms creeping.


s: The Snail she came crawling all over the plain,


s: With all her jolly trinkets in her train.


s: But the Thornbud refused this sight to see,


s: For and hey-nonny-no in an old ivy-tree.


s: And where now shall we bake our bread?--


s: For and hey-nonny-no in an old horse-head.


s: And also where shall we our dinner make?--


s: With humbling and bumbling and much melody.


s: Between one marigold and the long grass.


s: And made him the heir of all,--that's flat.


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Airs or Fantastic Spirits_, 1608.


s: _The household-bird with the red stomacher._--DONNE.


s: The lark, linnet and nightingale to sing some say are best;


s: Yet merrily sings little Robin, pretty Robin with the red breast.


s: From RICHARD CARLTON's _Madrigals_, 1601.


s: The love of change hath changed the world throughout,


s: And what is counted good but that is strange?


s: New things wax old, old new, all turns about,


s: And all things change except the love of change.


s: Yet find I not that love of change in me,


s: The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall,


s: The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat;


s: And slender hairs cast shadows, though but small,


s: And bees have stings, although they be not great;


s: Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs;


s: And love is love, in beggars and in kings!


s: Where waters smoothest run, deep are the fords;


s: The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move;


s: The firmest faith is in the fewest words;


s: The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love;


s: True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to speak;


s: They hear, and see, and sigh, and then they break!


s: From CAMPION and ROSSETER's _Book of Airs_, 1601.


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Songs of Sundry Natures_, 1589.


s: The greedy hawk with sudden sight of lure


s: Doth stoop in hope to have her wishèd prey;


s: And courteous speech doth keep them at the bay:


s: Let them beware lest friendly looks be like


s: The lure whereat the soaring hawk did strike.


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Psalms, Sonnets and Songs_, 1588.


s: The match that's made for just and true respects,


s: With evenness both of years and parentage,


s: Of force must bring forth many good effects.


s: For where chaste love and liking sets the plant,


s: And concord waters with a firm good-will,


s: Sound is the knot that Chastity hath tied,


s: Sure is the store that Plenty doth provide.


s: Where Chasteness fails there Concord will decay,


s: Where Concord fleets there Plenty will decease,


s: Where Plenty wants there Love will wear away.


s: I, Chastity, restrain all strange desires;


s: I, Concord, keep the course of sound consent;


s: I, Plenty, spare and spend as cause requires.


s: Make much of us, all ye that married be;


s: Speak well of us, all ye that mind to be;


s: The time may come to want and wish all three.


s: From WILLIAM BYRD's _Songs of Sundry Natures_, 1589.


s: In greenwood groves delights to make his dwelling,


s: In fields to fly, chanting his roundelay,


s: But my poor heart with sorrows over swelling,


s: Through bondage vile, binding my freedom short,


s: No pleasure takes in these his sports excelling,


s: The Nightingale, so soon as April bringeth


s: White late-bare earth proud of her clothing springeth,


s: Sings out her woes, a thorn her songbook making;


s: For Tereus' force o'er her chaste will prevailing.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Second Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: That heaven, which views their pomp beneath,


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Fourth Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: They look like rose-buds filled with snow;


s: Threatening with piercing frowns to kill


s: From THOMAS FORD's _Music of Sundry Kinds_, 1607.


s: Judge you that think such sports were harms;


s: But change she earth, or change she sky,


s: There were three Ravens sat on a tree,--


s: With a down, derry derry derry down down!


s: There lies a knight slain under his shield.


s: Such hounds, such hawks, and such a leman!


s: From ROBERT JONES' _Ultimum Vale or Third Book of Airs_ (1608).


s: Think'st thou to seduce me then with words that have no meaning?


s: Parrots so can learn to prate, our speech by pieces gleaning:


s: Nurses teach their children so about the time of weaning.


s: Learn to speak first, then to woo, to wooing much pertaineth:


s: He that courts us, wanting art, soon falters when he feigneth,


s: Looks asquint on his discourse and smiles when he complaineth.


s: Skilful anglers hide their hooks, fit baits for every season;


s: But with crooked pins fish thou, as babes do that want reason:


s: Gudgeons only can be caught with such poor tricks of treason.


s: Ruth forgive me (if I erred) from human heart's compassion,


s: When I laughed sometimes too much to see thy foolish fashion:


s: But, alas, who less could do that found so good occasion!


s: Lest when thou would'st thou may'st not.


s: And thou wilt wish (but wishes all will fail thee,)


s: "O me! that I were young again!" and so repent thee.


s: Thou art not fair, for all thy red and white,


s: Thou art not sweet, tho' made of mere delight,


s: Nor fair, nor sweet--unless thou pity me.


s: I will not soothe thy fancies, thou shalt prove


s: My thoughts with beauty were it more divine;


s: I'll not be wrapped up in those arms of thine:


s: Now show it, if thou be a woman right,--


s: Embrace and kiss and love me in despite.


s: From JOHN DANYEL's _Songs for the Lute, Viol, and Voice_, 1606.


s: Thou sing'st to her, and so do I address


s: Thou singing liv'st, and I must singing die.


s: Yet since their eyes make heart so sore,


s: Breeds flames of ice, and freeze in fire!


s: From THOMAS WEELKES' _Airs or Fantastic Spirits_, 1608.


s: That gave sweet love that golden quiver,


s: And live he long among the gods anointed


s: That made the arrow-heads sharp-pointed:


s: She of my love and I of hers had failèd.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Third Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: Thrice toss these oaken ashes in the air,


s: Thrice sit thou mute in the enchanted chair,


s: Then thrice-three times tie up this true love's knot,


s: And murmur soft "She will or she will not."


s: Go, burn these poisonous weeds in yon blue fire,


s: These screech-owl's feathers and this prickling briar,


s: This cypress gathered at a dead man's grave,


s: That all my fears and cares an end may have.


s: Then come, you Fairies! dance with me a round!


s: Melt her hard heart with your melodious sound!


s: --In vain are all the charms I can devise:


s: She hath an art to break them with her eyes.


s: Thus I resolve and Time hath taught me so:


s: Though she be wild and wanton-like in show,


s: Those little stains in youth I will not see.


s: That she be constant, heaven I oft implore;


s: If prayers prevail not, I can do no more.


s: Palm-tree the more you press, the more it grows;


s: Leave it alone, it will not much exceed:


s: Free beauty, if you strive to yoke, you lose,


s: And for affection strange distaste you breed.


s: What nature hath not taught no art can frame;


s: Wild-born be wild still, though by force you tame.


s: When we of love sit down and talk together:--


s: "Beware of Love, dear; Love is a walking sprite,


s: And comes and goes again I wot not whether."


s: No, no, these are but bugs to breed amazing,


s: For in her eyes I saw his torch-light blazing.


s: From THOMAS CAMPION's _Fourth Book of Airs_ (circ. 1613).


s: To his sweet lute Apollo sang the motions of the spheres,


s: The wondrous orders of the stars whose course divides the years,


s: Then Pan with his rude pipe began the country wealth t' advance,


s: This wrong the God of Music scorned from such a sottish judge,