VI. On the Detraction which followed upon my writing certain Treatises. A BOOK was writ of late called Tetrachordon, And woven close, both matter, form, and style; The subject new; it walked the town a while, Numbering good intellects, now seldom pored on. 5 Cries the stall-reader, "Bless us! what a word on A title-page is this!" and some in file Stand spelling false, while one might walk to Mile- ΤΟ Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek, When thou taught'st Cambridge and King Edward ΙΟ I VII. On the Same. DID but prompt the age to quit their clogs When straight a barbarous noise environs me Which after held the sun and moon in fee. But this is got by casting pearls to hogs, That bawl for freedom in their senseless mood, And still revolt when Truth would set them free. Licence they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that must first be wise and good; But from that mark how far they rove we see, For all this waste of wealth and loss of blood. VIII. To Mr. H. Lawes on his Airs. HARRY, whose tuneful and well-measured song First taught our English music how to span Words with just note and accent, not to scan With Midas' ears, committing short and long, 5 Thy worth and skill exempts thee from the throng, With praise enough for Envy to look wan; 10 To after-age thou shalt be writ the man That with smooth air couldst humour best our tongue. Thou honourest verse, and verse must lend her wing IX. On the Religious Memory of Mrs. Catherine Thomson, my Christian Friend, deceased December 16, 1646. WHEN Faith and Love, which parted from thee never, Had ripened thy just soul to dwell with God, Of death, called life which us from life doth sever. 10 ΙΟ X. To the Lord General Fairfax. AIRFAX, whose name in arms through Europe rings, Filling each mouth with envy or with praise, Victory home, though new rebellions raise O yet a nobler task awaits thy hand (For what can war, but endless war still breed?), Till truth and right from violence be freed, And public faith cleared from the shameful brand Of public fraud. In vain doth Valour bleed, While Avarice and Rapine share the land. |