vember come services; 18 medlars; bullaces; 19 | twice a year; about the middle of April, and roses cut or removed to come late; holly-hocks; and such like. These particulars are for the climate of London; but my meaning is perceived, that you may have ver perpetuum,20 as the place affords. And because the breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air (where it comes and goes like the warbling of music) than in the hand, therefore nothing is more fit for that delight, than to know what be the flowers and plants that do best perfume the air. Roses, damask and red, are fast21 flowers of their smells; so that you may walk by a whole row of them. and find nothing of their sweetness; yea though it be in a morning's dew. Bays likewise yield no smell as they grow. Rosemary little; nor sweet marjoram. That which above all others yields the sweetest smell in the air is the violet, specially the white double violet, which comes about Bartholomew-tide.22 Next to that is the muskrose. Then the strawberry-leaves dying, which [yield] a most excellent cordial smell. Then the flower of the vines; it is a little dust, like the dust of a bent,23 which grows upon the cluster in the first coming forth. Then sweet-briar. Then wall-flowers, which are very delightful to be set under a parlor or lower chamber window. Then pinks and gilliflowers, specially the matted pink and clove gilliflower. Then the flowers of the lime-tree. Then the honeysuckles, so they be somewhat afar off. Of bean-flowers I speak not, because they are field flowers. But those which perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but being trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wild-thyme, and watermints. Therefore you are to set whole alleys24 of them, to have the pleasure when you walk or tread. 2 True, a new mistress now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a shield. 3 Yet this inconstancy is such As you, too, shall adore; I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honour more. To ALTHEA, FROM PRISON* 1 When Love with unconfined wings And my divine Althea brings The birds that wanton in the air 2 When flowing cups run swiftly round Know no such liberty. 3 When, like committed linnets, I 4 Stone walls do not a prison make, Lovelace. the gallant cavalier and poet, was, for his devotion to King Charles, twice behind bars-a "committed" song-bird. In line 7, the original reading is "gods," but the emendation "birds" is too plausible to be dismissed, especially in view of the sequence-birds, fishes, winds, angels. In stanza 2, "allaying" means diluting. 20 And sweet as Flora. Take no care For jewels for your gown or hair: Fear not; the leaves will strew Gems in abundance upon you: Besides, the childhood of the day has kept, Against you come, some orient pearls unwept; Come and receive them while the light Hangs on the dew-locks of the night: And Titan on the eastern hill Retires himself, or else stands still Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying: Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying. Come, my Corinna, come; and, coming, mark How each field turns a street, each street a park 30 Made green and trimmed with trees; see how Devotion gives each house a bough Or branch: each porch, each door ere this Made up of white-thorn, neatly interwove; 40 The "god unshorn" of line 2 is Titan with all his beams: "May" (14) is hawthorne and other May blossoms; "beads" (28) are prayers; "green-gown" (51) is a tumble on the grass. Come, let us go while we are in our prime; Our life is short, and our days run Lies drowned with us in endless night. 60 Then while time serves, and we are but de caying, Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying. 70 TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME 1 Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, And this same flower that smiles to-day, 2 The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The sooner will his race be run, 3 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 die! that she The common fate of all things rare May read in thee; How small a part of time they share That are so wondrous sweet and fair. ON A GIRDLE That which her slender waist confined, Shall now my joyful temples bind; No monarch but would give his crown, His arms might do what this has done. It was my heaven's extremest sphere, The pale which held that lovely deer. My joy, my grief, my hope, my love, Did all within this circle move. 3 A narrow compass! and yet there Dwelt all that's good, and all that's fair; Give me but what this ribband bound, Take all the rest the sun goes round. HENRY VAUGHAN (1622-1695) THE RETREAT Happy those early days, when I Or taught my soul to fancy ought Before I taught my tongue to wound O how I long to travel back, |