PHILOMELA'S ODE

FROM PHILOMELA

Sitting by a river's side,
Where a silent stream did glide,
Muse I did of many things
That the mind in quiet brings.
I gan think how some men deem
Gold their god; and some esteem
Honor is the chief content
That to man in life is lent.
And some others do contend,
Quiet none like to a friend.
Others hold there is no wealth
Compared to a perfect health.
Some man's mind in quiet stands,
When he is lord of many lands.
But I did sigh, and said all this
Was but a shade of perfect bliss;
And in my thoughts I did approve,
Naught so sweet as is true love.
Love 'twixt lovers passeth these,
When mouth kisseth and heart 'grees,
With folded arms and lips meeting,
Each soul another sweetly greeting;
For by the breath the soul fleeteth,
And soul with soul in kissing meeteth.
If love be so sweet a thing,

That such happy bliss doth bring,
Happy is love's sugared thrall,
But unhappy maidens all,

Who esteem your virgin blisses

Sweeter than a wife's sweet kisses.

No such quiet to the mind

As true love with kisses kind;

But if a kiss prove unchaste,

Then is true love quite disgraced.

Though love be sweet, learn this of me No sweet love but honesty.

SONG FROM MENAPHON

10

A mind content both crown and kingdom

is.

An evil Spirit (your Beauty) haunts me still,

Wherewith, alas, I have been long possest; Which ceaseth not to attempt me to each ill,

Nor give me once, but one poor minute's rest.

In me it speaks, whether I sleep or wake; 5
And when by means to drive it out I try,
With greater torments then it me doth take,
And tortures me in most extremity.
Before my face, it lays down my despairs,
And hastes me on unto a sudden death; 10
Now tempting me to drown myself in tears,
And then in sighing to give up my breath.
Thus am I still provoked to every evil,
By this good-wicked Spirit, sweet Angel-
Devil.

XLIV

Whilst thus my pen strives to eternize thee, Age rules my lines with wrinkles in my

face,

Where, in the map of all my misery,
Is modeled out the world of my disgrace;
Whilst in despite of tyrannizing times,
Medea-like, I make thee young again,

Since there's no help, come, let us kiss an part!

Nay, I have done; you get no more 0 me!

And I am glad, yea, glad, with all my hear
That thus so cleanly I myself can free.
Shake hands for ever! Cancel all ou
vows!

And when we meet at any time again,
Be it not seen in either of our brows,
That we one jot of former love retain!
Now at the last gasp of Love's lates
breath,

When, his pulse failing, Passion speechles lies;

I

When Faith is kneeling by his bed O death,

And Innocence is closing up his eyes,Now, if thou wouldst, when all have giver him over,

From death to life thou might'st him ye recover!

ODE XI

TO THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE

You brave heroic minds,
Worthy your country's name,
That honor still pursue;
Go and subdue!
Whilst loitering hinds

Lurk here at home with shame.

Britons, you stay too long; Quickly aboard bestow you! And with a merry gale Swell your stretched sail, With vows as strong

As the winds that blow you!

Your course securely steer, West-and-by-south forth keep!