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The Golden Treasury: Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language — John Shaqi

The Golden Treasury: Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language

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The Golden Treasury: Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language

English poetry; Songs, English -- Texts

O how I long to travel back,
     And tread again that ancient track!
     That I might once more reach that plain,
     Where first I left my glorious train;
     From whence th' enlighten'd spirit sees
     That shady City of Palm trees!
     But ah! my soul with too much stay
     Is drunk, and staggers in the way:--
     Some men a forward motion love,
     But I by backward steps would move;
     And when this dust falls to the urn,
     In that state I came, return.

     H. VAUGHAN.




     76. TO MR. LAWRENCE.

     Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous son,
     Now that the fields are dank and ways are mire,
     Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire
     Help waste a sullen day, what may be won

     From the hard season gaining? Time will run
     On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire
     The frozen earth, and cloth in fresh attire
     The lily and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun.

     What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,
     Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise
     To hear the lute well touch'd, or artful voice

     Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air?
     He who of those delights can judge, and spare
     To interpose them oft, is not unwise.

     J. MILTON.




     77. TO CYRIACK SKINNER.

     Cyriack, whose grandsire on the royal bench
     Of British Themis, with no mean applause
     Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, our laws,
     Which others at their bar so often wrench;

     To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench
     In mirth, that after no repenting draws;
     Let Euclid rest and Archimedes pause,
     And what the Swede intends, and what the French.

     To measure life learn thou betimes, and know
     Toward solid good what leads the nearest way;
     For other things mild Heaven a time ordains,

     And disapproves that care, though wise in show,
     That with superfluous burden loads the day,
     And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.

     J. MILTON.




     78. HYMN TO DIANA.

     Queen and Huntress, chaste and fair,
        Now the sun is laid to sleep,
     Seated in thy silver chair
        State in wonted manner keep:
          Hesperus entreats thy light,
          Goddess excellently bright.

     Earth, let not thy envious shade
        Dare itself to interpose;
     Cynthia's shining orb was made
        Heaven to clear when day did close;
          Bless us then with wished sight,
          Goddess excellently bright.

     Lay thy bow of pearl apart
        And thy crystal-shining quiver;
     Give unto the flying hart
        Space to breathe, how short soever;
          Thou that mak'st a day of night,
          Goddess excellently bright.

     B. JONSON.




     79. WISHES FOR THE SUPPOSED MISTRESS.

     Whoe'er she be,
     That not impossible She
     That shall command my heart and me;

     Where'er she lie,
     Lock'd up from mortal eye
     In shady leaves of destiny:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Golden Treasury: Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language

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