CXLIX. THE FORERUNNERS. THE harbingers are come. See, see their mark; Yet have they left me, Thou art still my God. Good men ye be, to leave me my best room, He will be pleased with that ditty; Farewell sweet phrases, lovely metaphors: Brought you to Church well drest and clad : My God must have my best, e'en all I had. Lovely enchanting language, sugarcane, Let foolish lovers, if they will love dung, With canvass, not with arras clothe their shame : Let folly speak in her own native tongue. Yet if you go, I pass not; take your way: CL. THE ROSE. PRESS me not to take more pleasure And to use a larger measure Than my strict, yet welcome size. First, there is no pleasure here: Colour'd griefs indeed there are, Blushing woes, that look as clear, Or if such deceits there be, Such delights I meant to say; There are no such things to me, Who have pass'd my right away. But I will not much oppose Unto what you now advise : Only take this gentle rose, And therein my answer lies. What is fairer than a rose ? What is sweeter? yet it purgeth. Purgings enmity disclose, Enmity forbearance urgeth. If then all that worldlings prize Sweetly there indeed it lies, But it biteth in the close. So this flower doth judge and sentence For they all produce repentance, But I health, not physic choose : Say that fairly I refuse, For my answer is a rose. CLI. DISCIPLINE. THROW away thy rod, Take the gentle path. For my heart's desire Unto thine is bent: I aspire To a full consent. CLII. THE INVITATION. COME ye hither all, whose taste Is your waste; Save your cost, and mend your fare. God is here prepared and dress'd, And the feast, God, in whom all dainties are. Come ye hither all, whom wine Doth define, Naming you not to your good: Which before ye drink is blood. Come ye hither all whom pain Bringing all your sins to sight: In this cheer, And on sin doth cast the fright. Come ye hither all, whom joy Doth destroy, While ye graze without your bounds: Here is joy that drowneth quite Your delight, As a flood the lower grounds. Come ye hither all, whose love |