Only a sweet and virtuous soul, But, though the whole world turn to coal, Then chiefly lives. GEORGE HERBERT.1 TO BLOSSOMS. FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past, What, were ye born to be An hour or half's delight; But you are lovely leaves, where we Their end, though ne'er so brave: 1 GEORGE HERBERT was a descendant of the Earls of Pembroke and younger brother of the famous Lord Herbert of Cherbury. He was born at Montgomery Castle in Wales, in 1593, and was educated at Westminster School and at Trinity College, Cambridge. After graduation he took holy orders, became a minister of the Established Church and prebendary of Layton. In 1630 he was presented by King Charles I. to the living of Bemerton, and died while still a young man, in 1632. He wrote a great deal, both prose and verse, but always on religious and moral subjects, and was a man of gentle and devout nature and Dure life. And after they have shown their pride, ROBERT HERRICK.1 TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS TELL me not, Sweet, I am unkind, Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind, True, a new mistress now I chase, Yet this inconstancy is such I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honor more. RICHARD LOVELACE." 1 ROBERT HERRICK was born in London in 1591. He was a student at Cambridge, took orders, and was presented by Charles I. to the living of Dean Prior in Devonshire in 1629. He was deprived of his living by Cromwell in 1648. He then returned to London and lived in retirement, believing his connection with the church to be wholly severed, but on the restoration of Charles II. in 1660 he was reinstated in his living, which he held until his death, about the year 1674. He was eminent both as a divine and as a poet. His poems are chiefly secular and many very light, but it is as the author of them that he is chiefly remempered, although he wrote some verses on sacred subjects. Almost all his poems are very short, but they are very perfect and highly finished and many are among the very best of their kind 2 RICHARD LOVELACE, the son of Sir William Lovelace, of TO DAFFODILS. FAIR daffodils, we weep to see Until the hasting day Has run But to the even-song; And, having prayed together, we We have short time to stay, as you, We die, As your hours do, and dry Away, Like to the summer's rain; Or as the pearls of morning's dew, ROBERT Herrick. Woolwich, Kent, was born in 1618. He came of age just at the outbreak of the civil war between king and Parliament. He at once embraced the royal cause, and after its defeat took service with the king of France and commanded a regiment when he was wounded at Dunkirk. He returned to England only to be thrown into prison, and after his release lingered in ondon in obscurity and poverty, and died there in 1658, a victim to the political troubles of the time. He was a handsome, gallant cavalier, and a good soldier as wel. as a poet. Most of ais poems have little merit, but there are one or two besides that given here which have preserved his name from obliv.on. GO, LOVELY ROSE. Go, lovely Rose! Tell her, that wastes her time and me, That now she knows, When I resemble her to thee, How sweet and fair she seems to be. Tell her that's young And shuns to have her graces spied, In deserts, where no men abide, Small is the worth Of beauty from the light retired: Suffer herself to be desired, And not blush so to be admired. Then die! that she The common fate of all things rare How small a part of time they share That are so wondrous sweet and fair! EDMUND WALLER.1 1 EDMUND WALLER was born in 1605. He was of good famПly, a connection of both John Hampden and Oliver Cromwell, and was a man of property. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, entered Parliament in 1621, and, with occasional intervals, continued there through life, being elected the last time in 1685, as member for Saltash in the only Parliament of James II. In 1643 he was discovered in a plot against the Long Par liament, made abject submission, was fined £10,000, and forced into exile. He returned in 1653, and made terms with Crom "I'LL NEVER LOVE THEE MORE." I. My dear and only love, I pray That little world of thee II. As Alexander I will reign, He either fears his fate too much, That dares not put it to the touch, III. But I will reign and govern still, well, by whom he was protected. On the Restoration he again shanged sides, and made his peace with Charles II., during whose reign he continued to flourish. He died in 1687. As a politician he was sharp, mean, and time-serving; as a poet, raceful and witty He wrote much, both prose and verse. |