[MICHAEL DRAYTON was born at Hartshull in Warwickshire about the year 1563. He died on the 23d of December, 1631, and lies buried in Westminster Abbey. In 1591 he published The Harmony of the Church, which was for some unknown reason refused a license, and has never been reprinted till recently. It was followed by Idea and The Pastorals, 1593; Mortimeriados (the Barons' Wars), 1596; The Heroical Epistles (one had been separately printed, 1598); The Owl, 1604; Legends of Cromwell and others, 1607-1613; Polyolbion (first eighteen books, 1612, whole, 1622); The Battle of Agincourt, 1626; besides minor works at intervals.] "Yet when there haps a honey fall, We'll lick the syrup'd leaves, And tell the bees that theirs is gall To this upon the greaves. "The nimble squirrel noting here, Her mossy dray that makes, And laugh to see the dusty deer Come bounding o'er the brakes. "The spider's web to watch we'll stand, "Sometime we'll angle at the brook, "Of meddling with such subtle tools, "And when the moon doth once appear, "And have a flock of turtle doves, Which spoke, I felt such holy fires By Cynthia thus do I subsist, On earth heaven's only pride; Let her be mine, and let who list Take all the world beside. TO HIS COY LOVE. 1 PRAY thee love, love me no more, Call home the heart you gave me, I but in vain that saint adore, These poor half kisses kill me quite ; For pleasure to be starved. Show me no more those snowy breasts, Where whilst my eye with plenty feasts, By me thou art prevented; But thus in heaven tormented. Clip me no more in those dear arms, In all this coyle about thee; |