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, 5 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, 10 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 15 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. 20 Let piping swain and craven wight Thus weep and puling cry; Our business is like men to fight, And, like to heroes, die! _Anon._ C _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. The trumpet makes the echo hoarse, 5 And wakes the louder drum; Expense of grief gains no remorse, When sorrow should be dumb: For I must go, where lazy peace Will hide her drowsy head; 10 And, for the sport of kings, increase The number of the dead. But first I’ll chide thy cruel theft; Can I in war delight, Who, being of my heart bereft, Can have no heart to fight? 15 Thou know’st the sacred laws of old Ordained a thief should pay, To quit him of his theft, sevenfold What he had stol’n away. Thy payment shall but double be; 20 Oh then with speed resign My own seducèd heart to me, Accompanied with thine. _Sir William Davenant._ CI _LOYALTY CONFINED._ Beat on, proud billows; Boreas, blow; Swell, curlèd waves, high as Jove’s roof; Your incivility doth show That innocence is tempest-proof: Though surly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; 5 Then strike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. That which the world miscalls a jail, A private closet is to me, Whilst a good conscience is my bail, And innocence my liberty: 10 Locks, bars, and solitude together met, Make me no prisoner, but an anchoret.