Bulchevy's Book of English Verse Part 70

And when the smoke ascends on high, Think thou behold'st the vanity Of worldly stuff, gone with a puff: Thus think, then drink Tobacco.

But when the pipe grows foul within, Think of thy soul defiled with sin, And that the fire doth it require: Thus think, then drink Tobacco.

The ashes, that are left behind, May serve to put thee still in mind That unto dust return thou must: Thus think, then drink Tobacco.

II

WHEN as the chill Charokko blows, And Winter tells a heavy tale; When pyes and daws and rooks and crows Sit cursing of the frosts and snows; Then give me ale.

Ale in a Saxon rumkin then, Such as will make grimalkin prate; Bids valour burgeon in tall men, Quickens the poet's wit and pen, Despises fate.

Ale, that the absent battle fights, And frames the march of Swedish drum, Disputes with princes, laws, and rights, What 's done and past tells mortal wights, And what 's to come.

Ale, that the plowman's heart up-keeps And equals it with tyrants' thrones, That wipes the eye that over-weeps, And lulls in sure and dainty sleeps Th' o'er-wearied bones.

Grandchild of Ceres, Bacchus' daughter, Wine's emulous neighbour, though but stale, Enn.o.bling all the nymphs of water, And filling each man's heart with laughter-- Ha! give me ale!

Charokko] Scirocco.

Ballads and Songs By Unknown Authors. 17th Cent.

391. Love will find out the Way

OVER the mountains And over the waves, Under the fountains And under the graves; Under floods that are deepest, Which Neptune obey, Over rocks that are steepest, Love will find out the way.

When there is no place For the glow-worm to lie, When there is no s.p.a.ce For receipt of a fly; When the midge dares not venture Lest herself fast she lay, If Love come, he will enter And will find out the way.

You may esteem him A child for his might; Or you may deem him A coward for his flight; But if she whom Love doth honour Be conceal'd from the day-- Set a thousand guards upon her, Love will find out the way.

Some think to lose him By having him confined; And some do suppose him, Poor heart! to be blind; But if ne'er so close ye wall him, Do the best that ye may, Blind Love, if so ye call him, He will find out his way.

You may train the eagle To stoop to your fist; Or you may inveigle The Phoenix of the east; The lioness, you may move her To give over her prey; But you'll ne'er stop a lover-- He will find out the way.

If the earth it should part him, He would gallop it o'er; If the seas should o'erthwart him, He would swim to the sh.o.r.e; Should his Love become a swallow, Through the air to stray, Love will lend wings to follow, And will find out the way.

There is no striving To cross his intent; There is no contriving His plots to prevent; But if once the message greet him That his True Love doth stay, If Death should come and meet him, Love will find out the way!

Ballads and Songs By Unknown Authors. 17th Cent.

392. Phillada flouts Me

O WHAT a plague is love!

How shall I bear it?

She will inconstant prove, I greatly fear it.

She so torments my mind That my strength faileth, And wavers with the wind As a s.h.i.+p saileth.

Please her the best I may, She loves still to gainsay; Alack and well-a-day!

Phillada flouts me.

At the fair yesterday She did pa.s.s by me; She look'd another way And would not spy me: I woo'd her for to dine, But could not get her; Will had her to the wine-- He might entreat her.

With Daniel she did dance, On me she look'd askance: O thrice unhappy chance!

Phillada flouts me.

Fair maid, be not so coy, Do not disdain me!

I am my mother's joy: Sweet, entertain me!

She'll give me, when she dies, All that is fitting: Her poultry and her bees, And her goose sitting, A pair of mattra.s.s beds, And a bag full of shreds; And yet, for all this guedes, Phillada flouts me!

She hath a clout of mine Wrought with blue coventry, Which she keeps for a sign Of my fidelity: But i' faith, if she flinch She shall not wear it; To Tib, my t'other wench, I mean to bear it.

And yet it grieves my heart So soon from her to part: Death strike me with his dart!

Phillada flouts me.

Thou shalt eat crudded cream All the year lasting, And drink the crystal stream Pleasant in tasting; Whig and whey whilst thou l.u.s.t, And bramble-berries, Pie-lid and pastry-crust, Pears, plums, and cherries.

Thy raiment shall be thin, Made of a weevil's skin-- Yet all 's not worth a pin!

Phillada flouts me.

In the last month of May I made her posies; I heard her often say That she loved roses.

Cowslips and gillyflowers And the white lily I brought to deck the bowers For my sweet Philly.

But she did all disdain, And threw them back again; Therefore 'tis flat and plain Phillada flouts me.

Fair maiden, have a care, And in time take me; I can have those as fair If you forsake me: For Doll the dairy-maid Laugh'd at me lately, And wanton Winifred Favours me greatly.

One throws milk on my clothes, T'other plays with my nose; What wanting signs are those?

Phillada flouts me.

I cannot work nor sleep At all in season: Love wounds my heart so deep Without all reason.

I 'gin to pine away In my love's shadow, Like as a fat beast may, Penn'd in a meadow.

I shall be dead, I fear, Within this thousand year: And all for that my dear Phillada flouts me.

guedes] goods, property of any kind.

William Strode. 1602-1645

393. Chloris in the Snow

I SAW fair Chloris walk alone, When feather'd rain came softly down, As Jove descending from his Tower To court her in a silver shower: The wanton snow flew to her breast, Like pretty birds into their nest, But, overcome with whiteness there, For grief it thaw'd into a tear: Thence falling on her garments' hem, To deck her, froze into a gem.

Thomas Stanley. 1625-1678

394. The Relapse

O TURN away those cruel eyes, The stars of my undoing!

Or death, in such a bright disguise, May tempt a second wooing.

Punish their blind and impious pride, Who dare contemn thy glory; It was my fall that deified Thy name, and seal'd thy story.

Yet no new sufferings can prepare A higher praise to crown thee; Though my first death proclaim thee fair, My second will unthrone thee.