785. CHRISTMAS-EVE, ANOTHER CEREMONY. Come guard this night the Christmas-pie, That the thief, though ne'er so sly, With his flesh-hooks, don't come nigh To catch it From him, who all alone sits there, Having his eyes still in his ear, And a deal of nightly fear, To watch it. 786. ANOTHER TO THE MAIDS. Wash your hands, or else the fire Will not teend to your desire; Unwash'd hands, ye maidens, know, Dead the fire, though ye blow. _Teend_, kindle. 787. ANOTHER. Wassail the trees, that they may bear You many a plum and many a pear: For more or less fruits they will bring, As you do give them wassailing. 788. POWER AND PEACE. _'Tis never, or but seldom known, Power and peace to keep one throne._ 789. TO HIS DEAR VALENTINE, MISTRESS MARGARET FALCONBRIDGE. Now is your turn, my dearest, to be set A gem in this eternal coronet: 'Twas rich before, but since your name is down It sparkles now like Ariadne's crown. Blaze by this sphere for ever: or this do, Let me and it shine evermore by you. 790. TO OENONE. Sweet Oenone, do but say Love thou dost, though love says nay. Speak me fair; for lovers be Gently kill'd by flattery. 791. VERSES. Who will not honour noble numbers, when Verses out-live the bravest deeds of men? 792. HAPPINESS. That happiness does still the longest thrive, Where joys and griefs have turns alternative. 793. THINGS OF CHOICE LONG A-COMING. We pray 'gainst war, yet we enjoy no peace; _Desire deferr'd is that it may increase_. 794. POETRY PERPETUATES THE POET. Here I myself might likewise die, And utterly forgotten lie, But that eternal poetry Repullulation gives me here Unto the thirtieth thousand year, When all now dead shall reappear. _Repullulation_, rejuvenescence. _Thirtieth thousand year_, an allusion to the doctrine of the Platonic year. 797. KISSES. Give me the food that satisfies a guest: Kisses are but dry banquets to a feast. 798. ORPHEUS. Orpheus he went, as poets tell, To fetch Eurydice from hell; And had her; but it was upon This short but strict condition: Backward he should not look while he Led her through hell's obscurity: But ah! it happened, as he made His passage through that dreadful shade, Revolve he did his loving eye, For gentle fear or jealousy; And looking back, that look did sever Him and Eurydice for ever. 803. TO SAPPHO. Sappho, I will choose to go Where the northern winds do blow Endless ice and endless snow: Rather than I once would see But a winter's face in thee, To benumb my hopes and me. 804. TO HIS FAITHFUL FRIEND, M. JOHN CROFTS, CUP-BEARER TO THE KING.