"Twixt kings and subjects there"s this mighty odds: Subjects are taught by men; kings by the G.o.ds.
26. HIS ANSWER TO A QUESTION.
Some would know Why I so Long still do tarry, And ask why Here that I Live and not marry.
Thus I those Do oppose: What man would be here Slave to thrall, If at all He could live free here?
27. UPON JULIA"S FALL.
Julia was careless, and withal She rather took than got a fall, The wanton ambler chanc"d to see Part of her legs" sincerity: And ravish"d thus, it came to pa.s.s, The nag (like to the prophet"s a.s.s) Began to speak, and would have been A-telling what rare sights he"d seen: And had told all; but did refrain Because his tongue was tied again.
28. EXPENSES EXHAUST.
Live with a thrifty, not a needy fate; _Small shots paid often waste a vast estate_.
_Shots_, debts.
29. LOVE, WHAT IT IS.
Love is a circle that doth restless move In the same sweet eternity of love.
30. PRESENCE AND ABSENCE.
When what is lov"d is present, love doth spring; But being absent, love lies languishing.
31. NO SPOUSE BUT A SISTER.
A bachelor I will Live as I have liv"d still, And never take a wife To crucify my life; But this I"ll tell ye too, What now I mean to do: A sister (in the stead Of wife) about I"ll lead; Which I will keep embrac"d, And kiss, but yet be chaste.
32. THE POMANDER BRACELET.
To me my Julia lately sent A bracelet richly redolent: The beads I kissed, but most lov"d her That did perfume the pomander.
_Pomander_, a ball of scent.
33. THE SHOE-TYING.
Anthea bade me tie her shoe; I did; and kissed the instep too: And would have kissed unto her knee, Had not her blush rebuked me.
34. THE CARCANET.
Instead of orient pearls of jet I sent my love a carcanet; About her spotless neck she knit The lace, to honour me or it: Then think how rapt was I to see My jet t"enthral such ivory.
_Carcanet_, necklace.
_Lace_, any kind of girdle; used here for the necklace.
35. HIS SAILING FROM JULIA.
When that day comes, whose evening says I"m gone Unto that watery desolation, Devoutly to thy closet-G.o.ds then pray That my wing"d ship may meet no remora.
Those deities which circ.u.m-walk the seas, And look upon our dreadful pa.s.sages, Will from all dangers re-deliver me For one drink-offering poured out by thee.
Mercy and truth live with thee! and forbear (In my short absence) to unsluice a tear; But yet for love"s sake let thy lips do this, Give my dead picture one engendering kiss: Work that to life, and let me ever dwell In thy remembrance, Julia. So farewell.
_Closet-G.o.ds_, the Roman Lares.
_Remora_, the sea Lamprey or suckstone, believed to check the course of ships by clinging to their keels.
36. HOW THE WALL-FLOWER CAME FIRST, AND WHY SO CALLED.
Why this flower is now call"d so, List, sweet maids, and you shall know.
Understand, this firstling was Once a brisk and bonnie la.s.s, Kept as close as Danae was: Who a sprightly springall lov"d, And to have it fully prov"d, Up she got upon a wall, Tempting down to slide withal: But the silken twist untied, So she fell, and, bruis"d, she died.
Love, in pity of the deed, And her loving-luckless speed, Turn"d her to this plant we call Now _the flower of the wall_.
_Tempting_, trying.
37. WHY FLOWERS CHANGE COLOUR.
These fresh beauties (we can prove) Once were virgins sick of love.
Turn"d to flowers,--still in some Colours go and colours come.
38. TO HIS MISTRESS OBJECTING TO HIM NEITHER TOYING OR TALKING.
You say I love not, "cause I do not play Still with your curls, and kiss the time away.
You blame me too, because I can"t devise Some sport to please those babies in your eyes: By love"s religion, I must here confess it, The most I love when I the least express it.
_Small griefs find tongues_: full casks are ever found To give (if any, yet) but little sound.
_Deep waters noiseless are_; and this we know, _That chiding streams betray small depth below_.
So, when love speechless is, she doth express A depth in love and that depth bottomless.
Now, since my love is tongueless, know me such Who speak but little "cause I love so much.
_Babies in your eyes_, see Note.
39. UPON THE LOSS OF HIS MISTRESSES.
I have lost, and lately, these Many dainty mistresses: Stately Julia, prime of all: Sappho next, a princ.i.p.al: Smooth Anthea for a skin White, and heaven-like crystalline: Sweet Electra, and the choice Myrrha for the lute and voice: Next Corinna, for her wit, And the graceful use of it: With Perilla: all are gone; Only Herrick"s left alone For to number sorrow by Their departures hence, and die.
40. THE DREAM.