Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, To that same lot, however mean or high, ΙΟ Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven; All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Task-master's eye. WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED CAPTAIN, or Colonel, or Knight in arms! Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. The great Emathian conqueror bid spare Of sad Electra's poet had the power To save the Athenian walls from ruin bare. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY! that in the prime of earliest youth Chosen thou hast; and they that overween, To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, IO 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 gained thy entrance, Virgin wise and pure! TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY. Daughter to that good Earl, once president Killed with report that old man eloquent. So well your words his noble virtues praise, 10 ON THE DETRACTION WHICH FOLLOWED UPON MY WRITING CERTAIN TREATISES. A BOOK was writ of late called "Tetrachordon," Stand spelling false, while one might walk to MileEnd Green. Why is it harder Sirs than Gordon, Colkitto, or Macdonnel, or Galasp! Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek, 10 Thy age, like ours, O Soul of Sir John Cheek! ON THE SAME. I DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs When straight a barbarous noise environs me Which after held the sun and moon in fee. But this is got by casting pearl to hogs; That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, And still revolt when Truth would set them free. IC For who loves that must first be wise and good; TO MR. H. LAWES ON HIS AIRS. HARRY! whose tuneful and well-measured song First taught our English music how to span Words with just note and accent, not to scan With Midas' ears, committing short and long; Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng, With praise enough for Envy to look wan; To after age thou shalt be writ the man That with smooth air couldst humour best our tongue. Thou honourest verse, and verse must lend her wing To honour thee, the priest of Phoebus' quire, That tunest their happiest lines in hymn or story. Dantè shall give Fame leave to set thee higher Than his Casella, whom he wooed to sing Met in the milder shades of Purgatory. 10 ON THE RELIGIOUS MEMORY OF MRS. CATHARINE THOMSON, MY CHRISTIAN FRIEND, DECEASED DECEMBER 16, 1646. Of death, called life; which us from life doth sever. Love led them on; and Faith, who knew them best And spake the truth of thee on glorious themes TO THE LORD GENERAL FAIRFAX. Victory home, though new rebellions raise O! yet a nobler task awaits thy hand, (For what can war, but endless war still breed?) TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL. CROMWELL! Our chief of men, who through a cloud Not of war only, but detractions rude, ΙΟ Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed, Hast reared God's trophies, and his work pursued ; 10 TO SIR HENRY VANE, THE YOUNGER. VANE! young in years, but in sage counsel old,— The helm of Rome, when gowns, not arms, repelled Whether to settle peace, or to unfold The drift of hollow states hard to be spelled; In all her equipage: besides to know Both spiritual power and civil, what each means, ΙΟ What severs each, thou hast learned, which few have done: The bounds of either sword to thee we owe : Therefore on thy firm hand Religion leans ON THE LATE MASSACRE IN PIEMONT. AVENGE, O Lord! thy slaughtered saints, whose bones |