CANZONE. RIDONSI donne e giovani amorosi Spuntati ad hor, ad hor a la tua chioma Canzon dirotti, e tu per me rispondi Dice mia Donna, e'l suo dir, e il mio cuore IV. DIODATI, e te'l dirò con maraviglia, Quel ritroso io ch'amor spreggiar soléa Gia caddi, ov'huom dabben talhor s'impiglia. M'abbaglian sì, ma sotto nova idea Pellegrina bellezza che'l cuor bea, 5 10 15 5 vermiglia] Tasso Aminta, act i. sc. 2, 'A le guancie vermiglie, come rosa;' and Comus, 752, 'vermeil-tinctured lip.' Warton. Portamenti alti honesti, e nelle ciglia Quel sereno fulgor d'amabil nero, Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una, E'l cantar che di mezzo l'hemispero Traviar ben può la faticosa Luna, gran fuoco E degli occhi suoi auventa si 10 V. PER certo i bei vostr' occhi, Donna mia, Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole, Scosso mi il petto, e poi n'uscendo poco 5 10 VI. GIOVANE piano, e simplicetto amante Poi che fuggir me stesso in dubbio sono, 8 Portamenti] Petrarch. Son. 229. 'Ohime, il portamento leggiadro altiero.' Warton. 3 percuoton] See Warton's note, and Par. Lost, iv. 244. Madonna a voi del mio cuor l'humil dono Farò divoto; io certo a prove tante L'hebbi fedele, intrepido, costante, De' pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono; Quando rugge il gran mondo, e scocca il tuono, S'arma di se, e d' intero diamante, Tanto del forse, e d' invidia sicuro, Di timori, e speranze al popol use Quanto d'ingegno, e d'alto valor vago, E di cetra sonora, e delle muse: Sol troverete in tal parte men duro Ove Amor mise l'insanabil ago. 5 10 VII. ON HIS BEING ARRIVED TO THE AGE OF TWENTY-THREE. How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, And inward ripeness doth much less appear, 10 It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of HeaAll is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great task-master's eye. [ven; VIII. WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY. CAPTAIN or Colonel, or Knight in arms, Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, If deed of honour did thee ever please, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. He can requite thee, for he knows the charms That call fame on such gentle acts as these, 5 And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bow'r : The great Emathian conqueror bid spare The house of Pindarus, when temple and tow'r Went to the ground: and the repeated air Of sad Electra's poet had the pow'r To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. 10 IX. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth 1 Knight] K. Richard II. act i. sc. 3, Ask yonder knight in arms.' Warton. 5 requite] Beaumont's Psyche, xvii. 108, 'Who will requite thy lays.' Dante Il Inferno, c. xxxi. ver. 127, Ancor ti può nel mondo render fama,' 11 temple] P. Reg. iii. 268. 'Forest, and field, and flood, temples, and towers. Warton. And with those few art eminently seen, That labour up the hill of heavenly truth, The better part with Mary and with Ruth Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen, No anger find in thee, but pity and ruth. Thy care is fix'd, and zealously attends 5 10 To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, And hope that reaps not shame. Therefore be sure Thou, when the bridegroom with his feastful friends Passes to bliss at the mid hour of night, Hast gain'd thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure. X. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY. DAUGHTER to that good Earl, once President Broke him, as that dishonest victory 5 with] In ed. 1645, and the Ruth.' Todd. 5 8 pity] Spenser's F. Q. i. vi. 12, And won with pity, and unwonted ruth.' Todd. Marlowe and Nash's Dido, p. 40, ed. 1825, 'ruth and compassion;' and G. Peele's Works, by Dyce, vol. i. p. 112, 178, ed. 1829. 11 hope] 'Elais du xatαιozóvɛi. Rom. v. 5. Hurd. 1 Earl] Earl of Marlborough, Lord High Treasurer, and Lord President of the Council to King James I. Parliament was dissolved the 10th of March, 1628-29; he died on the 14th. Newton. |