EDMUND SPENSER.
BORN, 1553; DIED, 1598.
Principal Works.-Faerie Queene, Shepherds' Calendar, Hymn of Heavenly Love, Ruins of Rome, Ruins of Time, Sonnets.
MAN THE CARE OF ANGELS.
AND is there care in heaven? And is there love
In heavenly spirits to these creatures base,
That may compassion of their evils move?
There is: else much more wretched were the case
Of men than beasts: but O the exceeding grace
Of Highest God! that loves his creatures so,
And all his workes with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed angels he sends to and fro,
To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe!
For that yourself you daily such do see;
But the true fair, that is the gentle wit
And virtuous mind, is much more praised of me.
For all the rest, however fair it be,
Shall turn to naught, and lose that glorious hue;
But only that is permanent and free
From frail corruption, that doth flesh ensue.
That is true beauty, that doth argue you
To be divine, and born of heavenly seed;
Deriv'd from that fair spirit from whom all true
And perfect beauty did at first proceed.
He only fair, and what he fair hath made;
All other fair, like flowers untimely fade.
GEORGE HERBERT.
BORN, 1593; DIED, 1632.
Principal Works.-The Temple, Country Parson, Church Porch.
THE CHURCH PORCH.
THOU, whose sweet youth and early hopes enhance
Thy rate and price, and mark thee for a treasure,
Hearken unto a Verser; who may chance
Rhyme thee to good, and make a bait of pleasure.
A verse may find him who a sermon flies,
And turn delight into a sacrifice.-
Lie not; but let thy heart be true to God.
Thy mouth to it, thy actions to them both.
Cowards tell lies, and those that fear the rod;
The stormy working soul spits lies and froth,
Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie.
A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.
When thou dost purpose aught within thy power,
Be sure to do it, though it be but small.
Constancy knits the bones, and makes us tower;
When wanton pleasures beckon us to thrall.
Who breaks his own bond, forfeiteth himself;
What nature made a ship, he makes a shelf.
Do all things like a man: not sneakingly.
Think the king sees thee still; for his king does.
Simp'ring is but a lay-hypocrisy :
Give it a corner, and the clue undoes.
Who fears to do ill, sets himself to task:
Who fears to do well, sure should wear a mask.
By all means use sometimes to be alone.
Salute thyself. See what thy soul doth wear.
Dare to look in thy chest, for 'tis thy own;
And tumble up and down what thou find'st there.
Who cannot rest till he good fellows find,
He breaks up house, turns out of doors his mind.
By no means run in debt. Take thine own measure.
Who cannot live on twenty pounds a year,
Cannot on forty. He's a man of pleasure;
A kind of thing that's for itself too dear.
The curious unthrift makes his clothes too wide;
And spares himself, but would his tailor chide.
Wit's an unruly engine, wildly striking
Sometimes a friend, sometimes the engineer.
Hast thou the knack? pamper it not with liking;
But, if thou want it, buy it not too dear.
Many, affecting wit beyond their power,
Have got to be a dear fool for an hour.
Thy friend put in thy bosom. Wear his eyes
Still in thy heart, that he may see what's there.
If cause require, thou art his sacrifice:
Thy drops of blood must pay down all his fear.
But love is lost, the way of friendship's gone,
Tho' David had his Jonathan, Christ his John.
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
Why should I feel another man's mistakes,
More than his sicknesses or poverty?
In love I should; but anger is not love,
Nor wisdom neither: therefore gently move.
Pitch thy behaviour low; thy projects, high,
So shalt thou humble and magnanimous be.
Sink not in spirit: who aimeth at the sky,
Shoots higher much than he that means a tree.
A grain of glory mix'd with humbleness
Cures both a fever and lethargickness.
Scorn no man's love, though of a mean degree.
Love is a present for a mighty king.
Much less make any one thine enemy.
As guns destroy, so may a little sling.
The cunning workman never doth refuse
The meanest tool that he may chance to use.
Sum up, at night, what thou hast done by day;
And, in the morning, what thou hast to do.
Dress and undress thy soul. Mark the decay,
And growth of it. If, with thy watch, that too
Be down, then wind up both. Since we shall be
Most surely judg'd, make thy accounts agree.
WILLIAM SHAKSPERE.
BORN, 1564; DIED, 1616.
Principal Works.-Tragedies, Comedics, Sonnets,
Miscellaneous Works.
THE quality of mercy is not strained
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthronéd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.
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