intuitive geniuses, it is only thus that any of us can ever hope to be educated into independence of judgment; and I am sure that some, acknowledging this, will be grateful for notes of admiration, by which I have sometimes called their attention to that which otherwise might not obtain it, or might not obtain it to the full of its deserts. LONDON: May 8th, 1868. A HOUSEHOLD BOOK OF ENGLISH POETRY. PART THE FIRST. I GOOD COUNSAIL OF CHAUCER. Fly fro the prease, and dwell with soothfastnesse, Rede well thy selfe that other folke canst rede, Paine thee not ech crooked to redresse B 5 ΙΟ That thee is sent receive in buxomnesse, Geoffrey Chaucer. 15 20 Such toys as neither perfect are, For life is short, and learning long, All pleasure mixt with woe; IO 15 20 Thus learning is but learned by halves, And joy enjoyed no while; That serves to show thee what thou want'st, This helps thee to beguile. But after death is perfect skill, And joy without decay; When sin is gone, that blinds our eyes,. And steals our joys away; No crowing cock shall raise us up, To spend the day in vain; 25 30 No weary labour shall us drive The fairest pearls that northern seas do breed, For precious stones from eastern coasts are sold; Where goodness wants an equal change to make, No mortal thing can bear so high a price, But that with mortal thing it may be bought; The corn of Sicil buys the western spice; French wine of us, of them our cloth is sought. No pearls, no gold, no stones, no corn, no spice, No cloth, no wine, of Love can pay the price. 5 10 What thing is Love, which nought can countervail ? Anon. IV A POESY TO PROVE AFFECTION IS NOT LOVE. Conceit, begotten by the eyes, Is quickly born, and quickly dies; Which yet the heart doth seldom love. For as the seeds, in springtime sown, 15 5 10 Affection follows Fortune's wheels, 15 Her liking still is turned to hate; For all affections have their change, And Fancy only loves to range. Desire himself runs out of breath, 20 |