A Catholic Hymn. [Printed among other "Miscellanies" in "The Poems of Ben. Johnson, junior," 1672. It is also to be found in "Withers Redivivus, in a small new-year's-gift," 4to. 1689, and there called "A copy from verses long since made." The text of the latter has been preferred in the following extract.] OPINION rules the human state, And domineers in every land: Shall sea or mountain separate Whom God hath join'd in nature's band? They're all my father's children dear. Lend me the bright wings of the morn, Far swifter than the lamp of night: Features and colours of the hair, In single simple love alone These various colours are but one. I' th' phlegmatic I sweetness find, The nightingale doth never say Why sing you not so sweet as I? With open arms let me embrace The Heathen, Christian, Turk, or Jew, The lovely and deformed face, In single simple love alone All forms and features are but one. * Reason. [In "Miscellany Poems and Translations by Oxford hands.” Printed for Anthony Stephens, 1685, Svo.] [From 8 stanzas.] REASON, thou vain impertinence, Deluding hypocrite, begone! And go and plague your men of sense, In vain some dreaming thinking fool And all our noble passions rule, And constitute this creature man. In vain some dotard may pretend At best, thou'rt but a glimmering light, Coyness. [In the same Collection.] [From 6 stanzas.] NAY, I confess I should despise Nor grant one gracious look or smile! Then little every grace from thee Will seem a heaven on earth to me. If thou would'st have me still love on Nor lay these arts too soon aside, 1 Ancient Song. [From Dryden's Collection. Vol. VI. 341. ed. 1716.] A SILLY shepherd woo'd, but wist not Time perpetually is changing; A woman's fancy's like a fever, Or an ague, that doth come by fits; |