Who as an off’ring at your shrine Have sung this hymn, and here entreat One spark of your diviner heat To light upon a love of mine. Which if it kindle not, but scant Appear, and that to shortest view; Yet give me leave to adore in you What I in her am grieved to want! _190._ _A Farewell to the World_ False world, good night! since thou hast brought That hour upon my morn of age; Henceforth I quit thee from my thought, My part is ended on thy stage. Yes, threaten, do. Alas! I fear As little as I hope from thee: I know thou canst not show nor bear More hatred than thou hast to me. My tender, first, and simple years Thou didst abuse and then betray; Since stir’d’st up jealousies and fears, When all the causes were away. Then in a soil hast planted me Where breathe the basest of thy fools; Where envious arts professèd be, And pride and ignorance the schools; Where nothing is examined, weigh’d, But as ’tis rumour’d, so believed; Where every freedom is betray’d, And every goodness tax’d or grieved. But what we’re born for, we must bear: Our frail condition it is such That what to all may happen here, If ’t chance to me, I must not grutch. Else I my state should much mistake To harbour a divided thought From all my kind--that, for my sake, There should a miracle be wrought. No, I do know that I was born To age, misfortune, sickness, grief: But I will bear these with that scorn As shall not need thy false relief. Nor for my peace will I go far, As wanderers do, that still do roam; But make my strengths, such as they are, Here in my bosom, and at home. _191._ _The Noble Balm_ High-spirited friend, I send nor balms nor cor’sives to your wound: Your fate hath found A gentler and more agile hand to tend The cure of that which is but corporal; And doubtful days, which were named critical, Have made their fairest flight And now are out of sight. Yet doth some wholesome physic for the mind Wrapp’d in this paper lie, Which in the taking if you misapply, You are unkind. Your covetous hand, Happy in that fair honour it hath gain’d, Must now be rein’d. True valour doth her own renown command In one full action; nor have you now more To do, than be a husband of that store. Think but how dear you bought This fame which you have caught: Such thoughts will make you more in love with truth. ’Tis wisdom, and that high, For men to use their fortune reverently, Even in youth. _Epitaphs_ _i_ _192._ _On Elizabeth L. H._