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REGENERATION

I

A WARD, and still in bonds, one day
I stole abroad,

It was high-spring, and all the way
Primros'd, and hung with shade;
Yet, was it frost within,
And surly winds

Blasted my infant buds, and sinne
Like Clouds ecclips'd my mind.

II

Storm'd thus; I straight perceiv'd my spring
Meere stage, and show,
My walke a monstrous, mountain'd thing
Rough-cast with Rocks, and snow;
And as a Pilgrims Eye
Far from reliefe,

Measures the melancholy skye

Then drops, and rains for griefe,

III

So sigh'd I upwards still, at last
'Twixt steps, and falls

I reach'd the pinacle, where plac'd
I found a paire of scales,

I tooke them up and lay'd

In th'one late paines,

The other smoake, and pleasures weigh'd
But prov'd the heavier graines;

IV

With that, some cryed, Away; straight I
Obey'd, and led

Full East, a faire, fresh field could spy:
Some call'd it, Jacobs Bed;
A Virgin-soile, which no
Rude feet ere trod,

Where (since he stept there,) only go
Prophets, and friends of God.

V

Here, I repos'd; but scarse well set,
A grove descryed

Of stately height, whose branches met
And mixt on every side;

I entred, and once in
(Amaz'd to see't,)

Found all was chang'd, and a new spring
Did all my senses greet;

VI

The unthrift Sunne shot vitall gold
A thousand peeces,

And heaven its azure did unfold
Chequr'd with snowie fleeces,
The aire was all in spice
And every bush

A garland wore; Thus fed my Eyes
But all the Eare lay hush.

VII

Only a little Fountain lent
Some use for Eares,

And on the dumbe shades language spent
The Musick of her teares;

I drew her neere, and found
The Cisterne full

Of divers stones, some bright, and round
Others ill-shap'd, and dull.

VIII

The first (pray marke), as quick as light
Danc'd through the floud,

But, th❜last more heavy then the night
Nail'd to the Center stood;
I wonder'd much, but tyr'd
At last with thought,

My restless Eye that still desir'd
As strange an object brought;

IX

It was a banke of flowers, where I descried (Though 'twas mid-day.)

Some fast asleepe, others broad-eyed
And taking in the Ray,

Here musing long, I heard

A rushing wind

Which still increas'd, but whence it stirr'd No where I could not find;

X

I turn'd me round, and to each shade
Dispatch'd an Eye,

To see, if any leafe had made
Least motion, or Reply,
But while I listning sought
My mind to ease

By knowing, where 'twas, or where not,
It whisper'd; Where I please.

Lord, then said I, On me one breath,
And let me dye before my death!

Cant. Cap. v. ver. 17

Arise O North, and come thou South-wind, and blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.

HENRY VAUGHAN.

EVENING QUATRAINS

I

THE Day's grown old, the fainting Sun
Has but a little way to run,

And yet his Steeds, with all his skill,
Scarce lug the Chariot down the Hill.

II

With Labour spent, and Thirst opprest,
Whilst they strain hard to gain the West,
From Fetlocks hot drops melted light,
Which turn to Meteors in the Night.

III

The Shadows now so long do grow,

That Brambles like tall Cedars show,
Mole-hills seem Mountains, and the Ant
Appears a monstrous Elephant.

IV

A very little little Flock

Shades thrice the ground that it would stock; Whilst the small Stripling following them, Appears a mighty Polypheme.

V

These being brought into the Fold,
And by the thrifty Master told,
He thinks his Wages are well paid,
Since none are either lost, or stray'd.

VI

Now lowing Herds are each-where heard,
Chains rattle in the Villains Yard,

The Cart's on Tayl set down to rest,
Bearing on high the Cuckolds Crest.

VII

The hedg is stript, the Clothes brought in,
Nought's left without should be within,
The Bees are hiv'd, and hum their Charm,
Whilst every House does seem a Swarm.

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