CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE. [1563-93 THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE. [In Percy's Reliques.] Come live with me, and be my love, There we will sit upon the rocks, There will I make thee beds of roses, A gown made of the finest wool, A belt of straw and ivy buds, The shepherd swains shall dance and sing 1560-1595] ROBERT SOUTHWELL. CONTENT AND RICH. My conscience is my crown; Enough, I reckon wealth; That lies too high for base contempt, My wishes are but few, I make the limits of my power I have no hopes but one, I feel no care of coin, I clip high-climbing thoughts, Since sails of largest size The storm doth soonest tear, I bear so low and small a sail I wrestle not with rage, While fury's flame doth burn It is in vain to stop the stream, Until the tide do turn. But when the flame is out, And ebbing wrath doth end, And, taught with often proof, Spare diet is my fare, My clothes more fit than fine; I know I feed and clothe a foe That, pampered, would repine. To rise by others' fall, I deem a losing gain ; All states, by others' ruins built, No change of fortune's calms Can cast my comforts down; When Fortune smiles, I smile to think How quickly she will frown. And when, in froward mood, Small gain I found to let her come, Less loss to let her go. 1552-1618] SIR WALTER RALEIGH. THE NYMPH'S REPLY. [In Percy's Reliques.] If that the world and love were young, But time drives flocks from field to fold, The flowers do fade, and wanton field Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses, Thy belt of straw and ivy buds, Thy coral clasps and amber studs, But could youth last, and love still breed, 1560-1612] SIR JOHN HARRINGTON Treason doth never prosper; what's the reason? For if it prosper none dare call it treason. [Chiefly from King James's Translation, 1604–1611.] Proverbs xv. A word spoken in due season, how good is it! Ecclesiastes ix. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do- John ix. 4. The night cometh when no man can work. Micah vi. 8. He hath showed thee O man what is good, Wisdom, Proverbs iii. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 1 Kings xix. 1I. A great and strong wind rent the mountains, And brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah. But Jehovah was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earthquake. But Jehovah was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire. But Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire,—there was a still, small Voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it. That he wrapt his face in his mantle And went out. And stood in the entering-in of the cave. |