Fear no more the frown o' the great; To thee the reed is as the oak: Fear no more the lightning-flash, Fear not slander, censure rash; Thou hast finished joy and moan: All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust. C XLII. YOUTH AND AGE. RABBED age and youth cannot live together: Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care; Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather; Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare. Youth is full of sport, age's breath is short; Youth is nimble, age is lame; Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold; Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee; Age, I do defy thee: O! sweet shepherd, hie thee, XLIII. SIR HENRY WOTTON, 1568-1639. THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE. H OW happy is he born and taught, That serveth not another's will; Whose armour is his honest thought, Whose passions not his masters are; Of public fame, or private breath; Who envies none that chance doth raise, Who hath his life from rumours freed; F Who God doth late and early pray More of his grace than gifts to lend ; And entertains the harmless day With a religious book or friend. This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise, or fear to fall; Lord of himself, though not of lands; And having nothing, yet hath all. XLIV. A SONG. THOMAS DEKKER, 1570 ?-1638? RT thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers: Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexed? O punishment. Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexed? O sweet content, O sweet content. Work apace, apace, apace, apace, Then hey nonny, nonny: hey nonny, nonny. Canst drink the waters of the crisped spring, Swim'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears, Then he that patiently want's burden bears, No burden bears, but is a king, a king. O sweet content, O sweet content. Work apace, apace, apace, apace, Honest labour bears a lovely face, Then hey nonny, nonny: hey nonny, nonny. |