The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 80

1021. BAD MAY BE BETTER.

Man may at first transgress, but next do well: _Vice doth in some but lodge a while, not dwell_.

1022. POSTING TO PRINTING.

Let others to the printing press run fast; Since after death comes glory, I'll not haste.

1023. RAPINE BRINGS RUIN.

What's got by justice is established sure: _No kingdoms got by rapine long endure_.

1024. COMFORT TO A YOUTH THAT HAD LOST HIS LOVE.

What needs complaints, When she a place Has with the race Of saints?

In endless mirth, She thinks not on What's said or done In earth.

She sees no tears, Or any tone Of thy deep groan She hears: Nor does she mind, Or think on't now, That ever thou Wast kind; But chang'd above, She likes not there.

As she did here, Thy love.

Forbear, therefore, And lull asleep Thy woes, and weep No more.

1026. SAINT DISTAFF'S DAY, OR THE MORROW AFTER TWELFTH DAY.

Partly work and partly play Ye must on S. Distaff's day: From the plough soon free your team, Then come home and fodder them.

If the maids a-spinning go, Burn the flax and fire the tow; Scorch their plackets, but beware That ye singe no maidenhair.

Bring in pails of water, then, Let the maids bewash the men.

Give S. Distaff all the right, Then bid Christmas sport good-night; And next morrow everyone To his own vocation.

_Plackets_, petticoats.

1027. SUFFERANCE.

In the hope of ease to come, Let's endure one martyrdom.

1028. HIS TEARS TO THAMESIS.

I send, I send here my supremest kiss To thee, my silver-footed Thamesis.

No more shall I reiterate thy Strand, Whereon so many stately structures stand: Nor in the summer's sweeter evenings go To bathe in thee, as thousand others do; No more shall I along thy crystal glide In barge with boughs and rushes beautifi'd, With soft-smooth virgins for our chaste disport, To Richmond, Kingston, and to Hampton Court.

Never again shall I with finny oar Put from, or draw unto the faithful sh.o.r.e: And landing here, or safely landing there, Make way to my beloved Westminster, Or to the golden Cheapside, where the earth Of Julia Herrick gave to me my birth.

May all clean nymphs and curious water-dames With swan-like state float up and down thy streams: No drought upon thy wanton waters fall To make them lean and languis.h.i.+ng at all.

No ruffling winds come hither to disease Thy pure and silver-wristed Naiades.

Keep up your state, ye streams; and as ye spring, Never make sick your banks by surfeiting.

Grow young with tides, and though I see ye never, Receive this vow, so fare ye well for ever.

_Reiterate_, retread.

1029. PARDONS.

Those ends in war the best contentment bring, _Whose peace is made up with a pardoning_.

1030. PEACE NOT PERMANENT.

_Great cities seldom rest; if there be none T' invade from far, they'll find worse foes at home._

1031. TRUTH AND ERROR.

_'Twixt truth and error there's this difference known; Error is fruitful, truth is only one._

1032. THINGS MORTAL STILL MUTABLE.

_Things are uncertain, and the more we get, The more on icy pavements we are set._

1033. STUDIES TO BE SUPPORTED.

_Studies themselves will languish and decay, When either price or praise is ta'en away._

1034. WIT PUNISHED, PROSPERS MOST.

Dread not the shackles: on with thine intent; _Good wits get more fame by their punishment_.

1035. TWELFTH NIGHT: OR, KING AND QUEEN.

Now, now the mirth comes With the cake full of plums, Where bean's the king of the sport here; Beside we must know, The pea also Must revel, as queen, in the court here.

Begin then to choose, This night as ye use, Who shall for the present delight here, Be a king by the lot, And who shall not Be Twelfth-day queen for the night here.

Which known, let us make Joy-sops with the cake; And let not a man then be seen here, Who unurg'd will not drink To the base from the brink A health to the king and the queen here.

Next crown the bowl full With gentle lamb's wool: Add sugar, nutmeg, and ginger, With store of ale too; And thus ye must do To make the wa.s.sail a swinger.

Give then to the king And queen wa.s.sailing: And though with ale ye be whet here, Yet part ye from hence, As free from offence As when ye innocent met here.

1036. HIS DESIRE.

Give me a man that is not dull When all the world with rifts is full; But unamaz'd dares clearly sing, Whenas the roof's a-tottering: And, though it falls, continues still Tickling the cittern with his quill.

_Cittern_, a kind of lute; _quill_, the plectrum for striking it.