Roses, you can never die, Since the place wherein ye lie, Heat and moisture mix'd are so As to make ye ever grow.

1071. TO THE HONOURED MASTER ENDYMION PORTER.

When to thy porch I come and ravish'd see The state of poets there attending thee, Those bards and I, all in a chorus sing: We are thy prophets, Porter, thou our king.

1072. SPEAK IN SEASON.

When times are troubled, then forbear; but speak When a clear day out of a cloud does break.

1073. OBEDIENCE.

The power of princes rests in the consent Of only those who are obedient: Which if away, proud sceptres then will lie Low, and of thrones the ancient majesty.

1074. ANOTHER OF THE SAME.

_No man so well a kingdom rules as he Who hath himself obeyed the sovereignty._

1075. OF LOVE.

1. Instruct me now what love will do.

2. 'Twill make a tongueless man to woo.

1. Inform me next, what love will do.

2. 'Twill strangely make a one of two.

1. Teach me besides, what love will do.

2. 'Twill quickly mar, and make ye too.

1. Tell me now last, what love will do.

2. 'Twill hurt and heal a heart pierc'd through.

1076. UPON TRAP.

Trap of a player turn'd a priest now is: Behold a sudden metamorphosis.

If t.i.the-pigs fail, then will he shift the scene, And from a priest turn player once again.

1080. THE SCHOOL OR PEARL OF PUTNEY, THE MISTRESS OF ALL SINGULAR MANNERS, MISTRESS PORTMAN.

Whether I was myself, or else did see Out of myself that glorious hierarchy; Or whether those, in orders rare, or these Made up one state of sixty Venuses; Or whether fairies, syrens, nymphs they were, Or muses on their mountain sitting there; Or some enchanted place, I do not know, Or Sharon, where eternal roses grow.

This I am sure: I ravished stood, as one Confus'd in utter admiration.

Methought I saw them stir, and gently move, And look as all were capable of love; And in their motion smelt much like to flowers Inspir'd by th' sunbeams after dews and showers.

There did I see the reverend rectress stand, Who with her eye's gleam, or a glance of hand, Those spirits raised; and with like precepts then, As with a magic, laid them all again.

_A happy realm! When no compulsive law, Or fear of it, but love keeps all in awe._ Live you, great mistress of your arts, and be A nursing mother so to majesty, As those your ladies may in time be seen, For grace and carriage, everyone a queen.

One birth their parents gave them; but their new, And better being, they receive from you.

_Man's former birth is graceless; but the state Of life comes in, when he's regenerate._

1081. TO PERENNA.

Thou say'st I'm dull; if edgeless so I be, I'll whet my lips, and sharpen love on thee.

1082. ON HIMSELF.

Let me not live if I not love: Since I as yet did never prove Where pleasures met, at last do find All pleasures meet in womankind.

1083. ON LOVE.

That love 'twixt men does ever longest last Where war and peace the dice by turns do cast.

1084. ANOTHER ON LOVE.

Love's of itself too sweet; the best of all Is, when love's honey has a dash of gall.

1086. UPON CHUB.

When Chub brings in his harvest, still he cries, "Aha, my boys! here's meat for Christmas pies!"

Soon after he for beer so scores his wheat, That at the tide he has not bread to eat.

1087. PLEASURES PERNICIOUS.

Where pleasures rule a kingdom, never there Is sober virtue seen to move her sphere.

1088. ON HIMSELF.

A wearied pilgrim, I have wandered here Twice five-and-twenty, bate me but one year; Long I have lasted in this world, 'tis true, But yet those years that I have lived, but few.

Who by his grey hairs doth his l.u.s.ters tell, Lives not those years, but he that lives them well.

One man has reach'd his sixty years, but he Of all those threescore, has not liv'd half three.

_He lives, who lives to virtue; men who cast Their ends for pleasure, do not live, but last._

_l.u.s.ter_, five years.

1089. TO M. LAURENCE SWETNAHAM.

Read thou my lines, my Swetnaham; if there be A fault, 'tis hid if it be voic'd by thee.

Thy mouth will make the sourest numbers please: How will it drop pure honey speaking these!

1090. HIS COVENANT; OR, PROTESTATION TO JULIA.