THE SHEPHERD'S PRAISE OF HIS SACRED DIANA. Praised be Diana's fair and harmless light, Praised be the dews, wherewith she moists the ground: Praised be her beams, the glory of the night, Praised be her power, by which all powers abound. Praised be her nymphs, with whom she decks the woods, Praised be her knights, in whom true honour lives: Praised be that force by which she moves the floods, Let that Diana shine which all these gives. In heaven Queen she is among the spheres, She, mistress-like, makes all things to be pure; Eternity in her oft change she bears, She beauty is, by her the fair endure. Time wears her not, she doth his chariot guide, By her the virtue of the stars down slide, 6 ΙΟ 15 Anon. XL TRUE GROWTH. It is not growing like a tree In bulk, doth make men better be; Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere. Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night; It was the plant and flower of light. In small proportions we just beauties see, And in short measures life may perfect be. XLI THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT. Fair stood the wind for France Nor now to prove our chance Longer will tarry; But putting to the main, At Kaux, the mouth of Seine, And taking many a fort, In happy hour; With those that stopped his way, Where the French general lay With all his power. 5 10 Ben Jonson. 5 ΙΟ 15 Which in his height of pride, King Henry to deride, To the King sending; Which he neglects the while, And turning to his men, Yet have we well begun, By fame been raisèd. 'And for myself,' quoth he, Loss to redeem me. 20 25 330 35 40 With the main Henry sped, Exeter had the rear, A braver man not there, O Lord! how hot they were 55 They now to fight are gone, To hear was wonder; That with the cries they make, Well it thine age became, To our hid forces; When from a meadow by, Stuck the French horses. With Spanish yew so strong, Piercing the weather; Stuck close together. When down their bows they threw, And forth their bilbows drew, And on the French they flew ; Not one was tardy; Бо 65 70 75 89 |