To its blessed state of paradise before :
Who would not joy to see his conquʼring hand
O'er all the vegetable world command?
And the wild giants of the wood receive
What law he's pleas'd to give?

Methinks I see great Diocletian walk
In the Salonian garden's noble shade,
Which by his own imperial hands was made:
I see him smile (methinks) as he does talk
With the ambassadors, who came in vain
To entice him to a throne again.

'If I, my friends," (said he,)" should to you show
All the delights which in these gardens grow;
'Tis likelier much that you should with me stay,
Than 'tis that you should carry me away :

And trust me not, my friends, if ev'ry day
I walk not here with more delight,

Than ever, after the most happy fight,
In triumph, to the capitol, I rode,

To thank the gods, and to be thought, myself almost a god."

VANITY OF RICHES.

WHY dost thou heap up wealth, which thou must quit,

Or, what is worse, be left by it?

Why dost thou load thyself, when thou'rt to fly,
Oh man ordain'd to die ?

Why dost thou build up stately rooms on high,
Thou who art underground to lie?

X

Thou sow'st and plantest, but no fruit must see,
For death, alas! is sowing thee.

Thou dost thyself wise and industrious deem;
A mighty husband' thou wouldst seem;
Fond man! like a bought slave, thou all the while
Dost but for others sweat and toil.

Officious fool! thou needs must meddling be
In business that concerns not thee!

For when to future years thou extend'st thy cares,
Thou deal'st in other men's affairs.

Ev'n aged men, as if they truly were
Children again, for age prepare;
Provisions for long travel they design,

In the last point of their short line.

Wisely the ant against poor winter hoards

The stock which summer's wealth affords; In grasshoppers, which must in autumn die, How vain were such an industry!

Of pow'r and honour the deceitful light

Might half excuse our cheated sight,
If it of life the whole small time would stay,
And be our sunshine all the day;—

Like lightning that, begot but in a cloud, (Though shining bright, and speaking loud,) Whilst it begins, concludes its violent race,

And where it gilds, it wounds the place.

Oh scene of fortune, which dost fair appear
Only to men that stand not near!
A great economist.

Proud poverty, that tinsel brav'ry wears;
And, like a rainbow, painted tears!

Be prudent, and the shore in prospect keep; In a weak boat trust not the deep: Plac'd beneath envy, above envying rise; Pity great men, great things despise.

The wise example of the heav'nly lark,
Thy fellow-poet, Cowley, mark ;-
Above the clouds let thy proud music sound,
Thy humble nest build on the ground.

ROBERT HERRICK.

BORN 1591.

HERRICK, though not originally designed for the church, nor of a temper suited to the sacred profession, took orders, and held a living in Devonshire; being ejected from which, he laid aside the habit, and with it, apparently, the restraints of a clergyman; but resumed his gown after the restoration.

To the curious in our poetical literature his writings are well known; for the general reader it is to be desired, notwithstanding the fascination of his style and the melodious movement of his verse, that they should remain in their present obscurity. Happily they are likely, as a whole, so to remain; for no other age but his own could tolerate the grossness of many of them.