The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 3

'Twixt kings and subjects there's this mighty odds: Subjects are taught by men; kings by the G.o.ds.

26. HIS ANSWER TO A QUESTION.

Some would know Why I so Long still do tarry, And ask why Here that I Live and not marry.

Thus I those Do oppose: What man would be here Slave to thrall, If at all He could live free here?

27. UPON JULIA'S FALL.

Julia was careless, and withal She rather took than got a fall, The wanton ambler chanc'd to see Part of her legs' sincerity: And ravish'd thus, it came to pa.s.s, The nag (like to the prophet's a.s.s) Began to speak, and would have been A-telling what rare sights he'd seen: And had told all; but did refrain Because his tongue was tied again.

28. EXPENSES EXHAUST.

Live with a thrifty, not a needy fate; _Small shots paid often waste a vast estate_.

_Shots_, debts.

29. LOVE, WHAT IT IS.

Love is a circle that doth restless move In the same sweet eternity of love.

30. PRESENCE AND ABSENCE.

When what is lov'd is present, love doth spring; But being absent, love lies languis.h.i.+ng.

31. NO SPOUSE BUT A SISTER.

A bachelor I will Live as I have liv'd still, And never take a wife To crucify my life; But this I'll tell ye too, What now I mean to do: A sister (in the stead Of wife) about I'll lead; Which I will keep embrac'd, And kiss, but yet be chaste.

32. THE POMANDER BRACELET.

To me my Julia lately sent A bracelet richly redolent: The beads I kissed, but most lov'd her That did perfume the pomander.

_Pomander_, a ball of scent.

33. THE SHOE-TYING.

Anthea bade me tie her shoe; I did; and kissed the instep too: And would have kissed unto her knee, Had not her blush rebuked me.

34. THE CARCANET.

Instead of orient pearls of jet I sent my love a carcanet; About her spotless neck she knit The lace, to honour me or it: Then think how rapt was I to see My jet t'enthral such ivory.

_Carcanet_, necklace.

_Lace_, any kind of girdle; used here for the necklace.

35. HIS SAILING FROM JULIA.

When that day comes, whose evening says I'm gone Unto that watery desolation, Devoutly to thy closet-G.o.ds then pray That my wing'd s.h.i.+p may meet no remora.

Those deities which circ.u.m-walk the seas, And look upon our dreadful pa.s.sages, Will from all dangers re-deliver me For one drink-offering poured out by thee.

Mercy and truth live with thee! and forbear (In my short absence) to unsluice a tear; But yet for love's sake let thy lips do this, Give my dead picture one engendering kiss: Work that to life, and let me ever dwell In thy remembrance, Julia. So farewell.

_Closet-G.o.ds_, the Roman Lares.

_Remora_, the sea Lamprey or suckstone, believed to check the course of s.h.i.+ps by clinging to their keels.

36. HOW THE WALL-FLOWER CAME FIRST, AND WHY SO CALLED.

Why this flower is now call'd so, List, sweet maids, and you shall know.

Understand, this firstling was Once a brisk and bonnie la.s.s, Kept as close as Danae was: Who a sprightly springall lov'd, And to have it fully prov'd, Up she got upon a wall, Tempting down to slide withal: But the silken twist untied, So she fell, and, bruis'd, she died.

Love, in pity of the deed, And her loving-luckless speed, Turn'd her to this plant we call Now _the flower of the wall_.

_Tempting_, trying.

37. WHY FLOWERS CHANGE COLOUR.

These fresh beauties (we can prove) Once were virgins sick of love.

Turn'd to flowers,--still in some Colours go and colours come.

38. TO HIS MISTRESS OBJECTING TO HIM NEITHER TOYING OR TALKING.

You say I love not, 'cause I do not play Still with your curls, and kiss the time away.

You blame me too, because I can't devise Some sport to please those babies in your eyes: By love's religion, I must here confess it, The most I love when I the least express it.

_Small griefs find tongues_: full casks are ever found To give (if any, yet) but little sound.

_Deep waters noiseless are_; and this we know, _That chiding streams betray small depth below_.

So, when love speechless is, she doth express A depth in love and that depth bottomless.

Now, since my love is tongueless, know me such Who speak but little 'cause I love so much.

_Babies in your eyes_, see Note.

39. UPON THE LOSS OF HIS MISTRESSES.

I have lost, and lately, these Many dainty mistresses: Stately Julia, prime of all: Sappho next, a princ.i.p.al: Smooth Anthea for a skin White, and heaven-like crystalline: Sweet Electra, and the choice Myrrha for the lute and voice: Next Corinna, for her wit, And the graceful use of it: With Perilla: all are gone; Only Herrick's left alone For to number sorrow by Their departures hence, and die.

40. THE DREAM.