Thy mourning best agrees

With honour's funeral obsequies!

In Thetis' lap he lies,

Mantled with soft securities,

Whose too much sunshine dims his eyes.

Was he too bold,

Who needs would hold

With curbing reins the Day,

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And make Sol's fiery steeds obey?

To kiss, where my blest steps were found,

XCVI

I'LL NEVER LOVE THEE MORE.

My dear and only Love, I pray

That little world of thee
Be governed by no other sway
But purest monarchy:
For if confusion have a part,

Which virtuous souls abhor,
And hold a Synod in thy heart,
I'll never love thee more.

As Alexander I will reign,

And I will reign alone;

My thoughts did evermore disdain
A rival on my throne.

He either fears his fate too much,

Or his deserts are small,

Who dares not put it to the touch,

To gain or lose it all.

But I will reign and govern still,

And always give the law,
And have each subject at my will,
And all to stand in awe :

But 'gainst my batteries if I find
Thou storm, or vex me sore,
As if thou set me as a blind,

I'll never love thee more.
And in the empire of thy heart,

Where I should solely be,

If others do pretend a part,

Or dare to share with me:

Or committees if thou erect,
Or go on such a score,
I'll smiling mock at thy neglect,
And never love thee more.

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When flowing cups run swiftly round
With no allaying Thames,

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Our careless heads with roses crowned,
Our hearts with loyal flames;

When thirsty grief in wine we steep,

When healths and draughts go free,

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Fishes, that tipple in the deep,

Know no such liberty.

When, like committed linnets, I
With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetness, mercy, majesty
And glories of my King;

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When I shall voice aloud how good
He is, how great should be,
Enlarged winds, that curl the flood,
Know no such liberty.

Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage;

Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage:
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,

Angels alone, that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.

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Richard Lovelace.

XCVIII

TO LUCASTA, ON GOING BEYOND THE SEAS.

If to be absent were to be

Away from thee;

Or that when I am gone

You or I were alone;

Then, my Lucasta, might I crave

Pity from blustering wind, or swallowing wave.

Though seas and land betwixt us both,

Our faith and troth,

Like separated souls,

All time and space controls:

Above the highest sphere we meet

Unseen, unknown, and greet as angels greet.

So then we do anticipate

Our after-fate,

And are alive i' the skies,

If thus our lips and eyes

Can speak like spirits unconfined

In Heaven, their earthy bodies left behind.

Richard Lovelace.

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XCIX

A CAVALIER WAR-SONG.

A steed, a steed, of matchless speed,

A sword of metal keen;

All else to noble hearts is dross,

All else on earth is mean.

The neighing of the war-horse proud,

The rolling of the drum,

The clangour of the trumpet loud,

Be sounds from heaven that come.

And oh the thundering press of knights,
Whenas their war-cries swell,

May toll from heaven an angel bright,

And rouse a fiend from hell.

Then mount, then mount, brave gallants all,

And don your helms amain;

Death's couriers, Fame and Honour, call

Us to the field again.

No shrewish tears shall fill our eye,

When the sword-hilt's in our hand;

Heart-whole we'll part, and no whit sigh
For the fairest in the land.

Let piping swain and craven wight

Thus weep and puling cry;

Our business is like men to fight,

And, like to heroes, die!

C

Anon.

THE SOLDIER GOING TO THE FIELD.

Preserve thy sighs, unthrifty girl,

To purify the air;

Thy tears to thread, instead of pearl,

On bracelets of thy hair.