LOVE INCREASED BY ATTEMPTS TO SUPPRESS IT.

Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow,
As seek to quench the fire of love with words.
Luc. I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire;
But qualify the fire's extreme rage,

Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason.

Jul. The more thou damm'st it up, the more it The current, that with gentle murmur glides, [burns; Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage; But when his fair course is not hindered,

He makes sweet music with the enamell'd stones,
Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge
He overtaketh in his pilgrimage;

And so by many winding nooks he strays,
With willing sport, to the wild ocean.
Then let me go, and hinder not my course;

I'll be as patient as a gentle stream,

And make a pastime of each weary step,
Till the last step have brought me to my love;
And there I'll rest, as, after much turmoil,
A blessed soul doth in Elysium.

INFIDELITY IN A FRIEND.

Who should be trusted now, when one's right hand

Is perjured to the bosom? Proteus,

I am sorry I must never trust thee more,

But count the world a stranger for thy sake.
The private wound is deepest.

Two lads, that thought there was no more behind, But such a day to-morrow as to-day,

And to be a boy eternal.

We were as twinn'd lambs, that did frisk i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other: what we changed, Was innocence for innocence; we knew not

The doctrine of ill-doing-no, nor dream'd
That any did had we pursued that life,
And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'd
With stronger blood, we should have answer'd Heaven
Boldly, Not guilty; the imposition clear'd,

Hereditary ours.*

EXPOSING AN INFANT.

Come on, poor babe:

Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens
To be thy nurses! Wolves and bears, they say,
Casting their savageness aside, have done
Like offices of pity.

A GARLAND FOR MIDDLE-AGED MEN.

I'll not put

The dibble in earth to set one slip of them:
No more than, were I painted, I would wish
This youth should say, 'twere well; and only therefore
Desire to breed by me. Here's flowers for you;

Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram ;

The marigold, that goes to bed with the sun,
And with him rises weeping; these are flowers
Of middle summer, and, I think, they are given
To men of middle age.

RURAL SIMPLICITY.

I was not much afeard; for once or twice
I was about to speak; and tell him plainly,
The self-same sun, that shines upon his court,
Hides not his visage from our cottage, but
Looks on alike.

*Setting aside original sin.

For you there's rosemary and rue; these keep
Seeming and savour* all the winter long:
Grace, and remembrance be to you both,
And welcome to our shearing!

*Likeness and smell,

Pol. How now, fair shepherd ?

Your heart is full of something, that does take
Your mind from feasting. Sooth, when I was young,
And handed love, as you do, I was wont

To load my she with knacks: I would have ransack'd
The pedlar's silken treasury, and have pour'd it

To her acceptance: you have let him go,
And nothing marted* with him: if your lass
Interpretation should abuse, and call this

Your lack of love or bounty; you were straited+
For a reply, at least, if you make a care
Of happy holding her.

*Bought, trafficked.

Put to difficulties.