CANDLEMAS EVE. Down with the rosemary and bays, The holly hitherto did sway; Or Easter's eve appear. Then youthful box, which now hath grace Grown old, surrender must his place Unto the crispèd yew. When yew is out, then birch comes in, And many flowers beside, Both of a fresh and fragrant kin, To honour Whitsuntide. Green rushes then, and sweetest bents, With cooler oaken boughs, Come in for comely ornaments, To re-adorn the house. Thus times do shift; each thing his turn does hold; New things succeed, as former things grow old. THE NIGHT PIECE. Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee, And the elves also, Whose little eyes glow Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee. No Will-o'th'-Wisp mis-light thee, Nor snake or slow-worm bite thee; Let not the dark thee cumber; What though the moon does slumber? The stars of the night Will lend thee their light, Like tapers clear, without number. Then, Julia, let me woo thee, Thus, thus to come unto me; Thy silvery feet, My soul I'll pour into thee. TO THE VIRGINS. Gather ye rose-buds while ye may: And this same flower that smiles to-day, The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun, The sooner will his race be run, That age is best, which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times, still succeed the former. -Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may, go marry ; For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry. TO BLOSSOMS. Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past, But you may stay yet here a-while, And go at last. What, were ye born to be An hour or half's delight; But you are lovely leaves, where we TO PRIMROSES FILLED WITH MORNING DEW. Why do ye weep, sweet babes? can tears Who were but born Just as the modest morn Teem'd her refreshing dew? Nor felt th' unkind Breath of a blasting wind, Who think it strange to see, Such pretty flowers, like to orphans young, Speak, whimp'ring younglings, and make known Ye droop and weep; Is it for want of sleep, Or that ye have not seen as yet Or brought a kiss From that Sweet-heart, to this? By your tears shed, Would have this lecture read, That things of greatest, so of meanest worth, Conceived with grief are, and with tears brought forth. TO DAFFADILS. Fair Daffadils, we weep to see You haste away so soon; Until the hasting day But to the even-song; And, having pray'd together, we We have short time to stay, as you; We die As your hours do, and dry Like to the summer's rain ; TO MEADOWS. Ye have been fresh and green, Ye have been fill'd with flowers; Where maids have spent their hours. You have beheld how they With wicker arks did come, To kiss and bear away The richer cowslips home. You've heard them sweetly sing, But now, we see none here, Adorn'd this smoother mead Like unthrifts, having spent A THANKSGIVING TO GOD. Lord, thou hast given me a cell, A little house, whose humble roof Is weather proof; Under the spars of which I lie Where thou, my chamber for to ward, Of harmless thoughts, to watch and keep Low is my porch, as is my fate; And yet the threshold of my door Is worn by th' poor, Who thither come, and freely get Like as my parlour, so my hall A little buttery, and therein A little bin, Which keeps my little loaf of bread |