Opinion is as various as light change, Now speaking courtlike, friendly, straight as strange, She's any humour's perfect parasite, Displeas'd with her, and pleas'd with her delight. She is the echo of inconstancy, Soothing her no with nay, her ay with yea. GUILPIN. * * * * * SLANDER. Happy is he that lives in such a sort That need not fear the tongues of false report. EARL OF SURREY. * * * * * SLEEP. By care lay heavy Sleep the cousin of Death, Flat on the ground, and still as any stone; A very corpse, save yielding forth a breath, Small keep took he whom Fortune frown'd on, Or whom she lifted up into a throne Of high renown; but as a living death So dead alive, of life he drew the breath. SACKVILLE. * * * * * WAR. War the mistress of enormity, Mother of mischief, monster of deformity, Laws, manners, arts, she breaks, she mars, she chases, Blood, tears, bowers, towers, she spills, smites, burns, and rases, Her brazen teeth shake all the earth asunder; Her mouth a fire brand, her voice is thunder; Her looks are lightning, every glance a flash, Her fingers guns, that all to powder plash, Fear and despair, flight and disorder, coast With hasty march before her murderous host, As burning, rape, waste, wrong, impiety, Rage, ruin, discord, horror, cruelty, Sack, sacrilege, impunity, pride. Are still stern consorts by her barbarous side; And poverty, sorrow, and desolation, Follow her army's bloody transmigration. SYLVESTER. * * * * * EXCELLENCE. Of all chaste birds the phoenix doth excel, Of all strong beasts the lion bears the bell, Of all sweet flowers the rose doth sweetest smell. Of all pure metals gold is only purest, Of all the trees the pine hath highest crest. Of all proud birds the eagle pleaseth Jove, Of pretty fowls kind Venus likes the dove, Of trees Minerva doth the olive move. LODGE. * * * * * THE NATURALIST. COCHINEAL INSECT AND PLANT. [Illustration: COCHINEAL INSECT AND PLANT.] The frequent mention of the Cochineal Insect and Plant in our pages will, probably, render the annexed cut of more than ordinary interest to our readers.[3] [3] See the Propagation of the Insect in Spain, MIRROR, vol. xii. and an attempt to naturalize the same at the Cambridge Botanical Garden, page 217, of the present volume.