Then give me leave to leave my rent with thee; For though the lute's too high for me, Yet servants, knowing minikin nor base, TO FLETCHER REVIVED. How have I been religious? what strange good Have I hell-guarded heresy o'erthrown? Heal'd wounded states? made kings and kingdoms one? That fate should be so merciful to me, To let me live t' have said I have read thee. Fair star ascend! the joy! the life! the light Of this tempestuous age, this dark world's sight! Oh from thy crown of glory dart one flame May strike a sacred reverence, whilst thy name (Like holy Flamens to their God of day) We bowing, sing; and whilst we praise, we pray. Bright spirit! whose eternal motion Of wit, like time, still in itself did run, And now thy purple-robed tragedy, Tobey his death, whom thousand lives obey'd; The costliest monarch with the cheapest man. Soldiers may here to their old glories add, The lover love, and be with reason mad: Not as of old, Alcides furious, Who wilder than his bull did tear the house (Hurling his language with the canvas stone), 'Twas thought the monster roar'd the sob'rer tone. But ah! when thou thy sorrow didst inspire With passions, black as is her dark attire, Virgins as suff'rers have wept to see So white a soul, so red a cruelty; That thou hast griev'd, and with unthought redress, Dry'd their wet eyes who now thy mercy bless; Yet loth to lose thy wat❜ry jewel, when Joy wip'd it off, laughter straight sprung't again. Now ruddy cheeked mirth with rosy wings, Nothing but pleasure, love, and (like the morn) Hear, ye foul speakers, that pronounce the air Of stews and shores, I will inform you where And how to clothe aright your wanton wit, Without her nasty bawd attending it: View here a loose thought said with such a grace, So well disguis'd, that 'twas conceiv'd by none And all his naked parts so veil'd, th' express, Receiv'd, had not been buried with thee, The stage (as this work) might have liv'd and lov'd Thus with thy genius did the scene expire, And though from these thy embers we receive That we rejoice and glory in thy wit, And feast each other with rememb'ring it, That we dare speak thy thought, thy acts recite; Yet all men henceforth be afraid to write. The Lady A. L. MY ASYLUM IN A GREAT EXTREMITY. WITH that delight the royal captive's brought When the brave victor at his great soul dumb With such a joy came I to hear my doom, And haste the preparation of my tomb, When like good angels who have heav'nly charge Where I, thus wound out of th' immense abyss, Let me leap in again! and by that fall Defend me from so foul impiety, Would make friends grieve, and furies weep to see. Now ye sage spirits which infuse in men Oh then accept the all that left me is, Devout oblations of a sacred wish! When she walks forth, ye perfum'd wings o'th' east Fan her, till with the sun she hastes to th' west; And when her heav'nly course calls up the day, And breaks as bright, descend some glistering ray, |