To swear much love, not to be changed before But 'tis an easier load, though both oppress, In this, we must for others' vices care. 'Tis therefore well your spirits now are placed In their last furnace, in activity; 30 Which fits them-schools and courts and wars o'er past To touch and test in any best degree. For me if there be such a thing as I— Fortune-if there be such a thing as sheSpies that I bear so well her tyranny, That she thinks nothing else so fit for me. But, though she part us, to hear my oft prayers 1. 21. Walton, nor to be changed 40 1. 24. 1635, noble-wanting-wit; Walton, honourwanting-wit 1. 32. 1669, and Walton, taste 1. 35. Walton, Finds TO MERS.] M[AGDALEN] [HERBERT]. MAD paper, stay, and grudge not here to burn What though thou have enough unworthiness And that thou canst not learn, or not of me, Yet thou wilt go; go, since thou goest to her, Who lacks but faults to be a prince, for she Truth, whom they dare not pardon, dares prefer. But when thou comest to that perplexing eye, Yet when her warm redeeming hand-which is ΙΟ 20 1. 2. So Haslewood-Kingsborough MS.; 1633, thy brain 1. 7. 1669, That's much emboldness Then as a mother which delights to hear Ill or bold speech, she audience affords. And then, cold speechless wretch, thou diest again, And wisely; what discourse is left for thee? From speech of ill, and her, thou must abstain; And is there any good which is not she? Yet may'st thou praise her servants, though not her; And wit, and virtue, and honour her attend; 30 And since they're but her clothes, thou shalt not err, If thou her shape, and beauty, and grace commend. Who knows thy destiny? when thou hast done, When thou art there, if any, whom we know, Were saved before, and did that heaven partake; When she revolves his papers, mark what show Of favour, she, alone, to them doth make. Mark if, to get them, she o'erskip the rest ; Mark if she do the same that they protest; 1. 44. 1635, whither 40 Mark if slight things be objected, and o'erblown ; I bid thee not do this to be my spy, Nor to make myself her familiar ; But so much I do love her choice, that I Would fain love him that shall be loved of her. 50 TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFord. HONOUR is so sublime perfection, And so refined, that when God was alone But as of th' elements, these which we tread, So from low persons doth all honour flow; Kings, whom they would have honour'd, to us show, And but direct our honour, not bestow. For when from herbs the pure part must be won ΙΟ From gross, by 'stilling, this is better done By despised dung, than by the fire of sun. 1. 47. 1635, grieve 1. 12. 1669, or Sun Care not then, madam, how low your praises lie; God finds, than in Te Deum's melody; And ordnance, raised on towers, so many mile Should I say I lived darker than were true, You, for whose body God made better clay, This, as an amber drop enwraps a bee, Covering discovers your quick soul, that we 20 May in your through-shine front our hearts' thoughts see. You teach-though we learn not—a thing unknown Of such were temples; so, and such you are; And virtue's whole sum is but 'Know' and 'Dare.' But as our souls of growth and souls of sense 1. 26. 1669, coverings discover 30 |