網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

And furely Death could never have prevail'd,
Had not his weekly courfe of carriage fail'd;
But lately finding him fo long at home,
And thinking now his journeys end was come,
And that he had ta'ne up his latest Inn,

In the kind Office of a Chamberlin

Shew'd him his room where he muft lodge that night,
Pull'd off his Boots, and took away the light:
If any ask for him, it fhall be faid,
Hobfon has fupt, and's newly gon to bed.

Another on the fame.

ERE lieth one, who did moft truly prove

HE

That he could never die while he could move,

So hung his destiny, never to rot

While he might ftill jog on and keep his trot,
Made of fphear-metal, never to decay
Until his revolution was at stay.

Time numbers motion, yet (without a crime
'Gainft old truth) motion number'd out his time:
And like an Engine mov'd with wheel and waight,
His principles being ceaft, he ended strait,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Reft that gives all men life, gave him his death,

And too much breathing put him out of breath;
Nor were it contradiction to affirm

Too long vacation hasten'd on his term.
Meerly to drive the time away he fickn'd,
Fainted, and died, nor would with Ale be quickn'd,
Nay, quoth he, on his fwooning bed out-stretch'd,
If I mayn't carry, fure I'll ne'er be fetch'd,
But vow, though the cross Doctors all stood hearers,
For one Carrier put down to make fix bearers.
Eafe was his chief disease, and to judge right,
He dy'd for heaviness that his Cart went light,
His leifure told him that his time was come,
And lack of load, made his life burdenfom,
That even to his last breath (there be that say't)
As he were preft to death, he cry'd more waight;
But had his doings lafted as they werę,
He had been an immortal Carrier.

Obedient to the Moon he spent his date
In courfe reciprocal, and had his fate
Link'd to the mutual flowing of the Seas,

Yet (ftrange to think) his wain was his increase:

His Letters are deliver'd all and gon,
Only remains this Superfcription.

Anno Ætatis. 19. At a Vacation Exercife in the College, part Latin, part English. The Latin Speeches ended, the English thus began.

.

Ail native Language, that by finews weak

HA

Didst move my first endeavouring tongue to And madst imperfect words with childish trips, [speak,

[ocr errors]

Half unpronounc'd flide through my infant-lips,
Driving dumb filence from the portal door,
Where he had mutely fate two years before:
Here I falute thee, and thy pardon ask,
That now I use thee in my latter task:

Small lofs it is that thence can come unto thee,
I know my tongue but little Grace can do thee:
Thou need'ft not be ambitious to be firft,
Believe me I have thither packt the worst:
And, if it happen as I did forecast,
The daintiest dishes shall be ferv'd up last.
I pray thee then deny me not thy aid

For this fame small neglect that I have made:

But

But hafte thee ftrait to do me once a Pleafure,

And from thy wardrobe bring thy chiefeft treasure;
Not those new fangled toys, and trimings flight
Which takes our late fantasticks with delight,
But cull thofe richest Robes, and gay'st attire
Which deepest Spirits, and choiceft Wits defire:
I have fome naked thoughts that rove about
And loudly knock to have their paffage out;
And weary of their place do only stay..
Till thou haft deck'd them in thy best aray?
That fo they may without fufpect or fears
Fly swiftly to this fair Affembly's cars; :
Yet I had rather, if I were to chufe,

Thy service in fome graver subject use,

Such as may make thee fearch thy coffers round,
Before thou cloath my fancy in fit found:

foar

Such where the deep transported mind may
Above the wheeling poles, and at Heav'ns door
Look in, and fee each blissful Deity

How he before the thunderous throne doth lie,
Liftening to what unfhorn Apollo fings

To th' touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings

Immortal

Immortal Nectar to her Kingly Sire:

Then paffing through the Sphears of watchful fire,
And miftie Regions of wide air next under,
And hills of Snow and lofts of piled Thunder,
May tell at length how green-ey'd Neptune raves,
In Heav'ns defiance mustering all his waves;
Then fing of fecret things that came to pass
When Beldam Nature in her cradle was;

And last of Kings and Queens and Hero's old,
Such as the wife Demodocus once told
In folemn Songs at King Alcinous feast,
While fad Uliffes foul and all the rest
Are held with his melodious harmony
In willing chains and sweet captivity.

But fie, my wand'ring Mufe, how thou dost stray!
Expectance calls thee now another way,
Thou know'ft it must be now thy only bent
To keep in compass of thy Predicament:
Then quick about thy purpos'd business come
That to the next I may refign my Room.

Then

« 上一頁繼續 »