LAID in my quiet bed to rest,

When sleep had all my senses drown'd, Such dreams arose within my breast,

As did with fear my mind confound.

A DREAM.

Methought I wander'd in a wood,

Which was as dark as pit of hell; In midst of which such waters stood, That where to pass I could not tell.

The Lion, Tiger, Wolf, and Bear

There thunder'd forth such hideous cries,

As made huge echoes in the air,

And seem'd almost to pierce the skies.

Long vex'd with care I there abode,
And to get forth I wanted power,
At every footstep that I trode,

I fear'd some beast would me devour.

Abiding thus, perplex'd with pain,

This case within myself I scann'd, That human help was all in vain, Unless the Lord with us do stand.

Then falling flat upon my face,

In humble sort to God I pray'd, That, in this dark and doleful place, He would vouchsafe to be mine aid.

Arising then, a wight with wings,

Of ancient years, methinks I see; A burning torch in hand he brings, And thus began to speak to me.

"That God, whose aid thou didst implore, Hath sent me hither for thy sake; Pluck up thy sprites, lament no more, With me thou must thy journey take."

Against a huge and lofty hill,

With swiftest pace, methinks we go,
When such a sound my ears did fill,
As moved my heart to bleed for woe.

A DREAM.

Methought I heard a doleful wight

In doleful sort pour forth great plaints, Whose cries did so my mind affright,

That even with fear each member faints.

"Fie!" quoth my Guide, "what means this change?

Pass on apace with courage bold;

Hereby doth stand a prison strange,

Where wondrous things thou mayst behold."

Then came we to a fort of brass,

Where, peering through strong iron grates, We saw a woman sit, alas!

Which ruefully bewail'd her fates.

Her face was far more white than snow,
And on her head a crown she ware,
Beset with stones that glisten'd so

A thousand torches had been there.

Her song was— "Woe! and well away!

What torments here I do sustain!"

A new mishap did her dismay,

Which more and more increased her pain.

An ugly creature, all in black,

Ran to her seat, and flung her down,

Who rent her garments from her back,
And spoil'd her of her precious crown.

This crown he placed upon his head,
And leaving her in doleful case,
With swiftest pace away he fled,

And darkness came in all the place.

Then quoth my Guide, "Note well my talk;
And thou shalt hear this dream declared:
The wood, in which thou first didst walk,
Unto the world may be compared.

66

A DREAM.

The roaring beasts plainly express

The sundry snares in which we fall:
This Gaol is named Deep-Distress,

In which Dame Virtue lies in thrall.

She is the wight, which here within

So dolefully doth howl and cry;
The foe is called Deadly-Sin,

That proffer'd her this villainy.

"My name is Time, whom God hath sent
To warn thee of thy Soul's decay;
In Time therefore thy sins repent,

Lest Time from thee be ta'en away."

As soon as he these words had said,
With swiftest pace away he flies;
And I thereat was so afraid,

That downy sleep forsook mine eyes.

Humphrey Gifford.

THE WORLD: A BOOK TO BE READ.

Or this fair volume which we World do call,

If we the sheets and leaves would turn with care
Of Him who it corrects, and did it frame,

We clear might read the art and wisdom rare ;
Find out His power which wildest arts doth tame,

His providence extending every where,

His justice which proud rebels doth not spare,

In every page, no period of the same:

But silly we, like foolish children, rest

Well pleas'd with coloured vellum, leaves of gold;

Fair dangling ribbons, leaving what is best,

Of the great Writer's sense ne'er taking hold:
Or if by chance we stay our minds on aught,
It is some picture on the margin wrought.

William Drummond.

THE rising morn lifts up his orient head,

And spangled heav'ns in golden robes invests;

Thirsil upstarting from his fearless bed,

Where useless night he safe and quiet rests,

Unhous'd his bleating flock, and quickly thence

Hasting to his expecting audience,

Thus with sad verse began their griev'd minds to incense.

"Fond man, that looks on earth for happiness,

And here long seeks what here is never found! For all our good we hold from heav'n by lease, With many forfeits and conditions bound;