T H E C A VA L IE R P O ET S

Th e ir L ives Th e ir D ay, , an d
Their P o e try

BY

C A R L H OL L I D A Y , M A ,
. .

A cti ng H ead of the D epartme nt of E n gl i sh Li t

e r atur e , Van d e r b i lt Un i ve rs i ty , an d auth or o f
“
A
H i s tory o f Southern L i terature ,
” “
Th e Co tton
P ick e r an d Oth er P oe m s , Th e L i te rature o f
” “

Colon i al V i rgi n i a, On ce Upon a T i m e , Three

” ” “

Ce n turi e s of South ern Poetry ,

”
Etc .

NE W YO R K AND WA SHING TON

T H E NE A L E PUB L ISH ING COM PANY
191 1
 Cor n m ar '
, 1911. BY

THE N EA L E P UB L IS H ING C O M P A NY

S 0 31
 To
THAT MO D E RN C AV AL I E R P om ,

TH E M E n rr s , W rr n ov r '
TH E

T H E D A INT Y M E TA P HY S I CAL SING E RS ,

A USTIN D OB SON
 C ONT E NT S

WH O WER E THE C A V A L I ER OR M ETA P H Y S I C A L

P OETS ?

T H E L E ADE RS ; WH AT M A N N E R OF ME N ?
4 RO B ER T HERR I C K
FR A N C I S Q UA R L E S
G EORGE HE R B E RT
TH O M AS C A R E W
E DM UND WAL LE R
SI R JOH N S U C K L I N G
B I C H ARD
‘
C RA SH A W
RI CH AR D LO VE L A C E
AB R AH AM C OW LE Y
CA V A L I ER SO N G S
G EO R G E WI T H E R
RO B ER T HE R RI C K
FR A N C I S Q U AR L E S
G EO R G E HE R B E R T
DR . JOH N WI L S O N
T H O M A S C AR E W

E DM U N D WA LL E R
WI LL I A M HA RIN GTO N
 CON T E N T S
CAV A LI E R S O N G S on ti n ue d ) AGE
( C P

Sm WI LL I A M D AVE N A N T

S I R JO H N S U C K L I N G
WI LL I A M C ART WR I G H T
RI CH ARD C RA SH A W
RI CH A R D LO V E L A C E
AB RA H A M C O WL E Y
S I R E D W A R D S H E R B U R NE
4 AN D R E W M A R V E L L
\ HE N R Y V A U G H A N
TH O M A S S TA N L E Y
C H A R L E S C OTTO N
C H ARL E S S A C K VI LL E
S IR C H A RL E S SE D L E Y
WO R K S BY T H E C A VA L I E R P OET S

B I B L I OG R A P H Y

INDEX OF AUT H O RS A N D SE L E C T I O N S
I ND E X OF FI RS T LI N E S
 P RE F A CE

M uch h as b een s aid wr itten about th at d aint y

an d ,

e v en i f a r tifi c i al g,r o up Of s ev en teen th c en tury

-

s in g e r s known u n d e r the v ar i ous ti tl e s of M et aph s

y
i c al C av al i e r Rh et or i c al F an tastic an d C ar ol in e
, , , ,

Po ets Pr acti c ally ev ery cours e O f s tudy i n E n g

.

l ish l iter atur e d ev otes s o me s p ace to th ei r h app il y

p hr as ed s on gs an d in num er abl e m a gaz in e s ketch es
,

an d es s ay s h av e from ti me to t im e r emin d ed us o f

the b r av e r y an d ch iv alr y o f th es e b el ac e d but s tout

h eart e d cour tiers . m d yet s o far as I am aw ar e
, ,
“
n o ad equ ate tr eatm en t o f th is qu ain t metaphys
”
i c al m ov ement has b een att emp ted i n an y on e
book an d th ou gh m an y o f the ch arm in g lyr ics ar e
, ,

popul arl y kn ow n id eas c o n cer n in g th eir orig in an d

,

th ei r m ake rs ar e as a rul e ex tr emel y h az y

, , .

T h i s stud y of the subj ec t i s int en d ed f or bot h

g e n e r al r e a d e rs an d stud en ts of l ite r atur e T he.

l iv es an d works o f the m os t i mport an t p oets i n the

roup h a v e b e en d isc uss ed an d thos e s el e ct i o n s wh i ch
g ,

s eem m o s t ch ar act eri s ti c o f th em an d o f th eir day

h av e b een pr es en ted A n d th es e s el ec tion s it i s be
. ,

l ieved w ill c ome to m an y r ead ers n ot as s tr an g er s

, ,

but r ath er a s old f r ien ds d oubly w elco me n ow be

,

c aus e mor e in timat el y u n d er s tood .

T he no tes wh i ch n ee d n ot be num er o u s ar e ap
, ,

i at iv r a t h r th an t ech n i c al an d ar e in ten d e d
p r ec e e ,

11
12 P R E FA C E

n ot SO much for the ud en t who usu ally pr efers to

st ,

m ake h is o wn r es ear ch es as f or the ge n er al r ead er

, ,

who pr efer s in his p oetical r ead in g s words for th e

h eart al on g w ith words for the i n tell ec t I n s h o r t, .

I h av e en d eavor ed to m ake t h is , not an ex erc is e i n

ph il ol ogy but a pl eas in g an d s ymp ath eti c li ter ary
,
“ ”
w ork For the
. i n ten s iv e s tud en t how ev er, I ,

h av e add ed a l ist of wo rks ( w ith d at es ) by m eta

ph ys ic al p o ets a r ath e r f ull b ibl iog r aph y an d r ef
, ,

cr en e e s to the s ourc es of all cr i ti c al quo t at i on s .

I h av e h ad s ome d iffi cul ty in s ettl in g up on a n am e

'

f or thi s qu ain t cho ir of s in g ers A S i nd i cated

.

ab ov e , critics h av e O ffer ed at l eas t five t itl es an d ,

y et n o n e a c cur atel y d es c r ib es the i nt an g ibl e but di s

t in ct p e rs on al ity b el on g in g t o th e g roup P erh aps .
,

a fter al l , C av al ier w ill s erv e as w ell as an y ; f or

thou g h all w e r e n ot C av ali e r in p o li tics all w e r e at ,

s o me t ime i n th eir li v e s C av al i e r i n s i r i t I t i my
p s . . .

h op e th at th e sw eet n es s th e d ain tin es s the ch iv alry

, , ,

the art is tic temp er am en t o f th is s p i r i t m ay be t r an s

mitted in s ome d egr ee to th e r ead ers Of th i s volum e ,

an d th at as th ey r ead
, t h ey may c o m e to r eal iz e
,

th at, after all, life i s me asur ed

I n feeli n gs , n ot in fi gur es on a di al .

We S h oul d coun t ti me by h e art thr obs

- .

Vanderbi l t Un ive rs i ty,

Nashvill e, T enn ess ee .
 INTR O D U CT I O N

W H O WE RE THE C A V A L I E R P OE T S ?

T h er e i s s o mu ch th at an i n troduct ion , ho w ev er de
t ail ed , c ann ot m ake cl ear — s o mu ch o f the inn er
S p ir it wh ich o n ly the c tu al wr itin g s an d l iv e s of
a

th e writ ers c an br eath e for th I c an but s tat e som e

.

r eas on abl y c er tai n fac ts abou t the m ov ement wi th

w hi ch th is s tudy d eal s ; i f y ou w ould u n d erst and

w h at mo tiv es m ov ed the gr oup o f s on gs ters known
as the C av al ie r P oe ts wh at an d wh om th ey wrote
,

for why th ey ch os e to wr i te in c ertain ch ar acter is

,

tic w ay s wh at pl eas ant b its o f d ain tin es s th ey

,

wrou gh t y ou mu s t r ead the qu ain t s on g s th ems elv es

, ,

an d w ith th em th e n o l e s s lov abl e a n d o ften h e r oi c

l iv es of tho s e w ho thus s an g s o oddly an d so m elo

d ious ly .

S amu el Joh n son , w ith ch ar act er i s tic n ear s ight ed -

n es s an d bull h e ad ed n es s , h as s aid of th em
-

“
T he m et aphy s ical p o ets w er e men o f l earn in g,
,

an d to S h o w th e ir l e a r n in g w as th eir wh ol e en d e avor

but unlu ckily r es olvin g t o Sho w i t in rhyme in

, ,

s t ea d of wr i t in g p oetry th ey on ly wro te v e rs e an d ,

v e ry o ften such v ers es as s tood the tr i al o f the fin

r b ett e r th an o f th e e a r ; for the m odul ati o n w as
g e

s o imp er fe c t th a t t h e w er e onl y found to be v ers es

y
by coun tin g the s yll abl es .

13
 14 THE C AVAL IE R P OET S
“
If the fath e r r itic is m h as ri gh tly den omi
of c

n at ed po etry 7 51 077! affi rm! an i mi tat ive a r t , ,

t h es e wri te r s w ill w i th ou t g r e at wr on g l o s e th ei r
, ,

r igh t to the n ame of p o ets ; for th ey c an n ot be s aid

to h av e i mitated an y th in g : th ey n e i th e r c op ied n a
tur e n or l ife ; n eith er p ain te d th e form s of m att er
” 1
nor r epr es en ted th e op er ation s o f the i n tell ect .

Seldo m h as cr i tic is m b een m o r e f al s e H er e the .

ru f f ol d D o c to r s eiz e d upo n an i d e a fou n d i n D r y

g
d en s Di scus s i on Conc ern ing the Orig in an d P r og r ess
’

”
o f S atir e wh er e the
, fath er o f E n gl is h c r it i cism
d ecl ar es th at D r D o n n e who in p art f ou n d ed th i s
.
,
“
s ch ool o f s in g e rs aff ec ts the me tap hysi c s
, ,

an d p erpl ex es th e m in d s o f th e fai r s ex w ith n i c e

s p ecul a tion s o f ph il os oph

y wh en h e sh o uld e n g ag e

th ei r h e ar ts an d en ter ta in th e m w i th the s o ftn ess

”
of l ov e T h er eup on th e co ck-sur e S amu el ex
.

pl oited th i s u n doub ted d efec t o f D o nn e an d h is fol

l ow ers as a s al ien t ch ar a cter i s ti c an d s tr etch ed the,
”
n ame m et aph ys i c al u n til i t cov er ed n earl y all th e
p oets o f the e arl ier s ev en t een th c en tury who fail ed
t o l ean tow ard the D ry d en s ty l e of p o etry .

V ar iou s o th e r n am es h av e b een giv en th es e in gen

i ous s in g ers Fant as t i c i s the adjective sometimes
.

appl ied an d th is i s n ot un fair ; for sur el m u ch th at

, y
th ey wr ote i s pl eas in gly cur ious a n d su rpr is in gl y
far s tr etch e d
-
D e Qu inc ey h as c all e d th em the
.

”
rh etor i cal p o ets b ec au s e o f th ei r i n v en tiv e or ig
,

i n ali ty n ot in th ou ghts but in the m an n er of j o in

, ,

i n g thou gh ts ; but s uch a n ame is h ardly comp r eh en

1 L ives o
f E n glis h P as ta C owley — .
 I N TRO D U C TIO N 15
“
s iv e e nou gh . S till an ot e h r t itl e g iv en is C av a
l ie r but n ot al w er e l of th es e men
Af R oy al is ts .

”
ter all how ev e r
, C av al ie r i s d oub tl e s s the b est
,

n ame ; for ce r tain l h s e so n

y t e
g s s h ow the g all an try ,

the fr iv ol ity th e d ain tin es s th e art is ti c temp er a

men t the l ig ht—
, ,

, h e ar tedn es s the s en tim en t an d s en ,

timen tality an d at tim e s the lo y al ty an d the d as h

,

i n g br av er y o f tho s e h ig h-sp ir ited n obl es who f ou ght

,

for th ei r kin g .

B ut wh at s in a n am e ? T he i mport ant qu es tio n s

’

ar e : W ho w er e th ey ? W hy did th ey c ome in to
e x is t enc e ? W h at w e r e th ei r p oetic i d eal s ? H ow
did th ey affect E n gl ish po etr y ? I n ord er to g ain
s atis fac tory answ er s l et us co n s id e r briefly the er a
,

an d its ch ar a ct er is ti cs .

A t th e b egin n in g o f the s ev ent een th c entury the

Ren ais s an c e i n E n gl an d h ad l arg el y sp en t it s v ig o r ;
the thr ill in g e nthus i as m of the E l iz ab eth an t imes
had p as s ed T h en c ame the s tudi ed m or al ity of
.

J ames an d a l ittl e l ater the stud ied immor al ity o f

,

Ch arl es T he E n g l is h mind s eems to h av e ass u med

.

th at d ecoru m r es tr ain t an d d em an d for s tatel y for

, ,

malities wh ich often ch ar ac teriz e a hypo c ri tic al s in

n er , an d th er e n ow aros e qu ibbl e s ov er art is ti c
tr ifl es wh i ch the E l i z ab eth an g en ius magn an imousl y
ign or ed Y et I w ould not l eav e the impr es s ion
.
,

th at the i s l an d h ad b ec ome a h otb e d of s ecr et i mmor

al it an d outw ard pu n c t il i ou sn e ss I n s p i t e o f the
y .

fact th at son g w as fr equ en tl y in d ec en t an d the

st ag e wors e th er e w as b ein g wr it ten much th at is
looked upon to—
,

day as d eepl y, s inc er ely d evot ion al .

16 THE C AV AL IE R P OE T S

But such lit er atur e pr ais eworthy in i ts h eart fuln ess

, ,

i s n ot e m in en tl y t ru e to i ts day .

Now i n the op en in g y ears o f the s ev en teenth cen

,

tury the y ou n g er v er s e-wr it ers c am e u n d e r the in

fl uen ce o f two p o ets o f u n d en i abl e t al en ts — B en
Jo n s on an d D r J oh n D on n e A n d b ack of b oth
w as an oth er i n fl u en c e r emote but v e ry r eal — th at
. .

o f Sp en s e r .B ut Sp en s e r l acke d s el f r es tr ain t ; s o -

l on g a s the son g w as l ov el y h e w as en ti r el y w ill in g

t o l et i t w an d e r on for ev e r S om e on e w as n eed e d
.

t o t each l imi t ati o n co n ci s en es s in ten s e cond en s a

, ,

t ion an d th at on e c ame in th e p er s on o f r ar e B en
,

J on s on Pr ecis ion o f d i ction d ain tin es s f r ee

.
, ,

d om fr o m r ambl in g d is l ike for sc att er ed th ou gh ts

an d h a z y fi g ur es o f s p e ech — th es e w er e th e prim e
,

ch a r a c ter is ti cs o f the hu g e pl a -wr i te r th e v er y

y ,

t r aits th at h av e g ain ed h im l as tin g pr ais e T hu s to .

the S p en s er i an b e au ty w as add e d art is ti c e co n omy .

A n d th en c am e D on n e a d el v e r i n the r e al m o f the
,

ab s t r a ct a p o et w h o lov ed to choos e h is rh eto r i c al

,

fi gur es fr o m m y s ti cal ph ilo s ophy fr o m me dize val ,

l or e fr om r emote s cien c es f rom for g ot ten th eolo g ies

, ,

i n s h or t fr om the r ealm O f th e m et aph y s ic al

, .

T he time w as n ow r ip e an d the n ew s cho ol ap

,

ear e d I ts s in g ers a d o r e d b eau ty ; th ey w er e b ri ef ;

p .

”
th ey s ou gh t a far fo r th eir c on cei t s T he r es ult
.

w as a p o et r y w i th m or e fan cy t h an i mag in at ion ,

m o r e ar t th an e m o tion mor e cl ev ern es s th an in sp i r a

,
“
ti on . T h e s tr etch e d fi g ur e kn own as th e c on
”
c ei t
, wh ich J oh n s on s eiz ed upon as a cr iteri on o f
the m et aphy s i c al , w as in d eed us ed to a
, ,
 I N TR O D U CT I O N 17
t ent ; an d y et it w as but on e tr ait , an d n ot alw ay s
the mos t n otice abl e o n e at th at B e it r em emb er ed ,
.

t oo , th at wh en it w as u s ed it w as by n o m ean s alw ays

a d etr imen t A t t imes
.
, in d eed , i t r os e by its or ig
i n ality d ar in g an d l ofty c onc ep tion in to the v er y
, ,

kin g d om o f n obl e l it er atur e its el f I S th e r e n ot .

s o meth in st ar tl in g in the famous con ceit of

g
V au ghn s Wor ld ?’

I s awE te r n i ty th e oth er n i gh t
L i ke a r in g o f p ur e an d en dl es s l i ght
All cal m as i t w as bri gh t ;
An d r oun d be n e ath i t, T i m e, in h our s , d ays , y ear s ,
D r i v en by th e S ph e r e s ,
L ike a v as t S h adow m ov ed , i n w h i ch the w orl d
A n d al l h er tr ai n w e r e h url ed .

D o n n e h as b een m en t i o n ed as fost er in g th is far

fetch e d c omp ar is on the c on c eit ; i n fact h e h as b een
, ,

a ccu s e d o f
g i v in
g i t su ch p opul ar i t y a s to e n title
“
him to th e n ame o f f ath er Of the me t aph ys ic al
”
school . P erh aps it would be w ell th erefor e t o , ,

p au s e at th is point , an d cons id e r who th i s once ad

m i r ed p oet w as .

T homas C ampb ell h as d ecl ar ed th at the l ife o f

2
John D on n e is mor e in t e r es tin g th an his po etr y ,

an d C ampb ell i s r igh t ; for in th i s m an s l it tl e s p an

’

of y ea rs w e fin d co n d en s e d th e tr ag ed y o f hu man

ex i s ten c e —the f r iv ol ities the s in s th e r ep en t anc e

, , ,

th e e a rn es t str iv in g fo r a G odl ike r igh teou sn es s A .

h astl y wh it e m arbl e i mag e o f him st ands in a d ark

g

2 8390c f the B ri tis h

o Poets .
18 T HE C AVAL IE R P O ETS

n ich e of St P aul s an d in th at ch i s el ed s ton e w e

.
’
,

r ea d the s tory o f a soul worn by s tru ggl es w ith i ts

o wn p a s s i on s I n h is e arl ier d ays h e w as
. a g r e at

v is itor o f l ad ies a g r eat fr equ en t er o f pl ay s a

, ,
”
g r e at wr ite r o f c on ce i te d v er s es ; but a s th e y e ar s

p ass ed he b ec ame s o r ar e a p r each er th at h e w as

n ot o n l y c ommen d ed but ev en ad mir ed by all who ,
”3
h eard him . T o us o f to day i t s ee ms s tr an ge -

th at the g r eat es t w it of a l icen tious c our t s h ould

h av e b ec ome on e o f th e mos t b r ill ian t z eal ou s an d , ,

odl y d iv in es o f th e E n g l i sh Chur ch
g .

H e w as b orn i n L on do n in 1 5 73 of C athol i c , ,

p ar en ts an d w as a d ir ec t d es cen d an t of the famou s

,

S i r T h om a s M o r e A t ab ou t the age o f t en he en
.

t er ed H art H all O x ford Un iv er s i t y p as s e d in 1 5 87

, ,

t o T r in i ty C oll ege C ambri d g e an d s h ow e d s ch ol arl y

, ,

ab il ity i n b ot h i n s t itu t ions but r eceiv e d n o d e gr ee

, .

H e w as a w an d e r er on th e C on tin en t fr o m 1 5 88 to
1 5 9 0 an d a l ittl e l ate r b ecam e a s tud en t o f l aw at
,

L in col n s I n n L on d on F or s ome r e as on h ow ev e r
’
, .
, ,

h e did n ot suc c eed at an y th in g an d th er ef or e i t w as ,

’
p e r h aps v ery for tu n ate th at his fath er s d eath at
th is t ime m ad e him the p o s s e s s or o f thr ee th ou s an d
p ound s Now for a sp ace his c ar eer i s a l ittl e
.
, ,

h azy an d p erh ap s it is w ell W e kn ow th at in 1 5 9 2

, .

or 1 5 93 he b ecam e a Pr otes t an t ; w e kn ow th at he
w as r ap idl y squ an d er in g th e s mall fortu n e be
u e ath e d him ; w e h av e ev i d en c es th at h e w as ai i
q g n n
g
s om e r epu tati on as a p o et ; an d w e kn ow th at in 1 5 9 4 ¢

he took on ce m or e to h is c on tin en t al w an d er in g s .

8 Si r R ichar d B ake r Chr oni cle o

f the K i gs of E ngland
, n .
 I N TR O D U C TI O N 19

From th is time f o r th the g rows mor e d es tory

fin ite .

H e w as in the s e rv i ce o f the E arl o f E s s ex at C ad iz

in J an u a ry 1 5 9 6 an d f r om A u g u s t o f th at year h e
, ,

w as s ec r e tary t o Sir T h omas M or e .

Now c am e a cr is is in his l ife H e fell m adly i n .

lov e w i th A n n a M or e d au gh ter of th e l ord l ieuten

,
-

an t o f the T ow e r an d n ie c e of Si r T ho m as M o r e ,

an d s e cr etl y m arr ied h er For th is h e w as d is mi s s e d

.

fr om the s erv ice of Sir T hom a s an d w as thr ow n i n to ,

the T ow er L ib er ty s o on c ame how ev er an d f or a

.
, ,

t ime he l iv ed w ith r el ativ es at v ar i ous cou n try

pl ac es sp en d in g his en for ced l eisur e in w id e s tudy
,

an d wr itin g A n d r es ul ts b egan to be ev id en t
. He .

co mpl eted his S a tires an d T he P r o g res s of the S oul ;

in 1 6 02 t en s o n n ets addr es s ed to Ph ilomel app ear ed
, ,

in D av is on s Po e ti cal Rhapso dy ; o th er v ers e s s o on

’

f oll ow ed . S tead il y t oo he w as gain in g favor at

, ,

Cour t I n 1 6 1 0 Ox ford c o n ferr ed the M A upo n

. . .

him ; in 1 6 1 1 h e w as r equ es te d to a cco mp an y S ir

R ob e r t D rury t o P ar is on g ov er n men t bu s in es s ; i n
th at s ame y ea r the app ear an c e o f h i s A n a to my of
the Wo r ld br ou gh t h im w i d e n otic e Now c ame the .

royal pr essur e upon h im to en te r the Chu r ch .

J am es would l isten t o n o ex cus es ; all o ffices ou ts id e

the pr ies tho od w er e r efu s ed th e po et L ov e r of th e .

world thou g h he w as D o n n e buckl ed d own to his

,

th eolo g y w as ord ain ed in J an u ar y 1 6 1 5 w as o i

, , ,

fer ed four teen g oo d l iv in gs b e c am e ch apl ain t o th e

,

kin g in 1 6 1 5 r ec eiv ed th e D D from C ambr id g e

,
. .

at H i s M aj es ty s r equ es t w as m ad e r ector of K ey
’
,

s ton e i n J anu ar y 1 6 1 6 an d of Sev eno aks in J ul y,

, ,
20 T HE C AV AL IE R P OE TS

1 61 6, b ecame D iv in ity R e ad e r to L in coln s

an d
’
Inn
b efor e the clo s e of the y ear Sur ely s ucc ess .
, w as
hi s .

T he w ife for wh om h e h ad fo rm erly su ff er ed s o

much d ied i n 1 6 1 7 an d for a time the g ood d octor
,

w as in con s ol abl e For a y ear or m or e h e l iv e d a

.

r ath e r s eclud e d l i fe in G er man y ; but E n gl and w as

i n n eed of e ar n e st men an d i n 1 62 0 w e fin d him ,

D ean o f St P aul s H on ors n ow c ame th ick an d

.
’
.

f ast I n 1 622 h e w as m ad e r e ctor o f Blu n h am in

1 62 3 v i ca r of St D u n s tan in th e—
.
,

W es t an d the
.
- -
,

s am e y ear pr olo cu tor t o con voc ation T h is r ap i d .

r is e o f the v er s atil e chur ch man is n ot t o be won

d e r ed at ; for h e w as l ov e d by m ul titud es S ay s .

I z aak W al ton : T h e m el an ch ol y an d pl eas an t hu

“

m or w er e i n h im s o c on te mp e r e d th at e ach g av e ad
v an tage t o the oth er an d m ad e his c ompan y on e o f
the d el igh t s o f m an kin d H is as p ect w as
.

ch ee r ful an d s u ch a s e a s il en t t e st i mon
g av y of a
cl ea r kn owin g soul an d of a co n sc ien c e at p eac e
w ith its el f H is mel tin g ey e s h ow ed th at h e h ad a
.

s o ft h e a r t full o f n obl e comp a s s ion ; o f to o br av e a

,

s oul t o o ff er in j u ri es an d too much a Chr is tian n ot

,

t o p ard on th em i n o th e rs an d o f s o m e r c i

ful a sp ir it th at h e n ev er b eh eld the m i s er i es Of man

” 4
kin d w ith out p ity an d r el ief .

S u r el y ol d W al to n w as r ight in his b el ief i n the

p o et pr ies t s m o r al b eau ty ; for w h en D on n e s l as t
- ’ ’

hours dr ew n ear he s how ed his d is d ain f or d eath

by wr app in g h ims el f in his w indi n g-sh eet an d h av in g
4 L i fo of D r John D onne
. .
22 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
sn atch ed m om en ts fr o m the v ery t eeth of T im e to
s in g i n bri ef but m elod iou s s tr ain s D r D onn e s. .
’

s o n gs r e c e iv e d i n th e o ld d ay s e x ces s iv e p r a is e ; D r y

den l aud e d th em an d e v eryb ody kn ew o f th em

, An d
.

e t th e s eem of ten time s to be but h arsh an d cr abb e d

y y
v er s es E ar n es tn es s o f th ou gh t w e do n ot d eny
.

h im but the form o f the th ou ght i s s o o dd s o fan

, ,

t as tic W e can s ee the p oet s in s igh t in to the s p ir

.
’

i tual l i fe ; but w e c an s ee n o l es s cl e ar l y th e far

fet ch e d i m ag e r y the l on g s ea r ch f or O dd c omp ar i
,

s ons the du s ty r el ics of for g ot ten l earn in g

, in —
o th er w o rd s th e me taphys ics
, .

Now as to th at o th e r s in g er wh o app ar entl y af

,

fected the m etaph y s i c al s ch ool . W h en B en Jon s on

d ied i n 1 6 37 all E n gl an d m our n ed th e l os s T h e .

fi r s t p o et to be r ecogn iz ed as P oet-L aur eate a lit ,

c r ar
y d ictator d ur in g th e l as t d e c a d e o f h is l ife a ,

skil ful m an ipulat or of h ar mon ious phr as es w ith al , ,

a m an o f r ou g h but s in c er e n atur e h e w i eld e d ov e r

,

h is c en tury an i n fl u en c e n ev er g r ant ed an E n gl is h
wr iter of pr ev ious d ay s A few m on th s after his
.

d eath th er e app ear ed a v olum e o f p o etical pr ais e o f

him en titl ed Jon s on us Vir bius an d m an y a f am ous
, ,

man o f the times pr id ed h ims el f th at h e h ad pl aced

a s tan z a or tw o w ith in the b o ok .A u thor s n ow de
”
l ight ed in c all in g th ems elv es s o n s o f B en an d i n ,

th ei r ad mi r ati o n im itat ed n ot a few o f his vi rtu es .

P oets g r ew mor e c ar eful o f the form an d th e l en g th

o f th ei r s on s ; th e
g y d is pl ay ed th ei r l ea rn in g w ell ;
th ey introdu ce d f r equ en t ph il os oph i c al an d s atir ic al
touch es T h eir c o u n ter ad mi r ation for D r D on n e
.
-
.
,
 I N T R O D U CT IO N 23
how v r c us d th em to l ack r are B en s r es erv e in
'
e e , a e ’

th e u s e of u n u s u al fi g ur es of s p eech an d th e r esul t ,

w as th a t imitatin g D on n e s o ften s uc ces s ful e ffo r ts

,
’

i n c o n cei t r akin g th ey fr equ en tly fell far sh o r t o f

-
,

oo d t a s te an d m ad e th ems elv es r i d i culous I nd eed

g . ,

th es e c on c e its s o metime s arous e d is g u s t in th ei r mos t

s mp ath eti c m od ern r ead er s T hu s at l en g th th is
y .
, ,

c o n s tan t s earch for n ew co mp a r is on s m ad e s o me o f

th es e po et s h eedl es s o f the v er t r ait wh ich at fi r s t

y
th ey had s o gr eatly ad mir ed in J on s on p er fec t —
s ymm etry —
an d th ei r s on s d e en er at e d at times
g g
i n to down r ig ht slov en l in es s B ut i n g en er al i t may
.
, ,

be s aid th at th ei r w o rk r epr es en ts a r eaction from

th e rh etor i c al an d v e rs e f r eedom of the E l iz ab eth
an s.

Undoub tedly th es e po ets w er e i nt ell ectu ally f a

o

sup er io r cl ass I nt ell ec tu al ity in fac t o ften t ook th e

pl a c e o f r e al emoti on —a ch ar ac te r is tic t r ac eabl e
.
, ,

in p art to D on n e — an d cl ev er n es s i t s eems w as , ,

mor e to be d es ir e d th an d epth of tru th T h es e men .

did n ot t ake po etr y s er iou s l y en ou gh Jo n s on m ade

.

a l ife-work o f i t ; but th e C av al i er s in g ers w e r e cour

tiers s old ier s o r cl e r gy men fi r s t an d p o ets wh en

, , ,

ev e r th e h ad a sp ar e m omen t T o o o ft en th ei r
y .

w orks but p r ess hom e the fac t th at th ey d es i r ed only

to d is pl ay th eir s kill in d ain ty j u g gl er y Y et wh at
'

pl eas an t j u g gl ery i t is ! D oub t th ei r m ot ives an d

th eir s in cer ity as w e may w e mu st ad mit th eir s ur
,

i s in g l tru l r i c al qu al ity A v eri t abl e n e s t o f

p r
y e y .

s on g b i rd s
-
th ey w er e ; the qu estion h ow ev er is , ,

Wh eth e r y ou pr efe r the t am ed c an ary b ir d or th e -

24. THE C A VAL IE R P OE T S
w ild mo ckin g b ird W e mu s t n ot th ink th at in th ei r
-
.

w ord j u g gl in g th ey co n tin u ally u s ed a d is tor ted

-

s tyl e S ee h ow the words of sw eet-v oice d H er r i ck s ’

T o D affo dils fl ow —s o n atur all y w i th s o l i ttl e in

.

v er s ion w i th th at ch ild l ike s impl ici ty whi ch on l y

,
-

r eal ar tis ti c g en iu s c an as s u me
We h av e S h ort ti me to s tay as you ,

We h av e as s h ort a s prin g
AS qui ck a gr ow th to m e et d ecay
As you or an yt h in g .

We d i e
(AS you r h our s do an d d r y ,

A w ay ,

L ike to th e s umm e r s r ain ;

’

Or as th e p e ar l s o f m orn i n g s d ew
’

,
”
N e e r to be foun d again
’
.

T h er e i s fr equ en tl y a flipp an t w orld lin ess o f t on e

i n th e s e C av al ier l y r i cs ; but n o t alw ays Ver s de .

S o ci ete fl our is h ed , o f c our s e, for it i s an ou tg r ow th

Of a h ighly r tifi ci al s ocial l ife an d th e d ay s of
a ,

J am es an d Ch arl es w er e an y th in g but n atur al .

An d th er e is a c e r tain pl e as ur e in su ch v ers e e v en i f
'

my l ad y-lov e i s not exp ect e d t o tru s t i mpl ic itly i n

i ts d ecl ar at ions :

B i d me d es p ai r an d I ll des p ai r ’

, ,

Un d e r th at c ypr e s s t r ee ;
C r bi d m e d i e an d I w i l l d ar e
,

E e n d e ath to di e f or th ee
’
.
,

B ut it
must ev er be r ememb er ed th at th er e w er e
hundr eds o f th es e b el ac e d C av aliers as d eeply r e
 INTR O D U CT I O N 25
li gious s an y R oundh ead th at ev er tw an ged a ps alm
'

a .

Pro fesso r F el ix S ch ell in g expr es s es i t w ell wh en he

s ay s : A sup erfi c ial con s id er atio n o f th is c en tury is
apt to d iv i d e al l E n gl an d i nto the ho s til e c amps o f

Rou n dh ead an d C av al i er ; to c on s id e r all the f ormer

h yp o cr ite s an d all the l at te r as g ood l oy al men ; o r
to b el iev e all s upp or t er s o f the kin g u tterl y
m is gu i d ed an d to assume th at all the v irtuous fl our
”5
is hed i n the Puri t an p arty alo n e T h es e m eta
.

phys i c al p o ets did n ot alw ays choos e the fr ivol ou s

as a th eme ; at t im es th ei r subj ect s t ou ch th e n obl es t

em o tion s o f m an kin d . H err i ck ear th-l ov er as he

,

was tu n e d s om e h eartfelt s on gs of th an ks g ivi n g ;

,

Cowl ey w as g r andly m or al ; H erb ert w as ab s olut ely

purit an i c al in his s el f qu es t ion in g ; Cr as h aw sc al ed
-

h eav en w ith e cs tatic rh ap s odies But as a g en er al

.

c r i tic is m i t m a
y b e st at e d th at th e m etaph ys ic al

roup m ad e a r ath er sh arp d i s t inc ti on b etw een

g
e ar thl b a ut an d h e av en l y b eau ty a n d th at th e
y
y e y ,

had a v ery hum an p r efer enc e for the fo rm er .

Who th en w er e the M et aphys ical Po ets ? Wh at

, ,

d efin i t i on may be g iv en o f th em ? T h ey w ere a g roup

o f l y r i c al p ets o f th e e arl ie r s ev en teen th c en tur y
o
who with cons id er abl e att ent ion to form s an g g en
, ,

er ally , but rid ? alw ay s of the l ight er ph as es of

,

ear thl lov e an d who i n th ei r s in g in g m ad e s u ch us e

y ,

o f h p erb ol e s tr ain e d m et aph o r s an d th e o th e r far

y , ,
”
fet ch e d fi g ur e s kn o wn as concei ts as to s u g g es t
,

a s t at e o f m in d wh ic h may w ith s om e fai rn ess be

”
c all e d m etaph ys i c al .

B S even teen th C en tur

y L yri cs p 5 8
, . .
26 T HE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
Why did th ey p ass aw ay ? W ell , i t i s h ar d to
iv pr ci s e r eas ons for an y l it er ary ch an g e, but
g e e

c er tain mod ify in g i n fl u en ces may g en er ally be dis

c e rn ed A S the y e ar s o f th e s ec on d h al f o f th e s ev en
.

t een th c en tury p ass ed , tru e l y r i cs b e c ame m or e an d

m o r e s c arc e T h e r an g e o f p oeti c subj ect s an d o f
.

p oeti c v is ion g r ew mor e r es t r icted E n thu s ias m he .

c ame akin to cri me T h e h eal th ful r es tr i ction s th at

.

J on s on h a d in st itu te d h ad n ow b ec ome u n h eal th ful

i n th eir n a rrown es s Occ as ion al s ubj ects l arg el y
.

t o ok the pl ac e o f g en er al w orld w id e u n iv er s al ,
-
,

T he day o f P op e s r es erv ed gl itte r in g

’
th em es . ,

s t yl e w as appro achi n g M an y of th e C av al ier

.

s in g ers h ad n ow g on e to th e g r av e an d o f the oth ers , ,

thos e w ho had n ot thrown th em s elves in t o the s t r u g

g l es o f the C ommon w eal th w er e c on t en t t o reti r e t o
the pr iv acy of th e s tud y or to th e s eclus ion of th e
Church .

V a ri ous o th e r r easo n s for the d ecl in e of the m ov e

m en t h av e b een giv en G os s e h old s th at on e o f the
.

s on st ers who w as m etaph s ica l i n h i s ear l wor k

g y y
E dmund W all e r —e v olv e d the n ew s tyl e o f p oet r y
,

kn own a s the cl as s ic al out o f hi s cl ev e r i nn e r con

,

6
s c i ous n es s ; o th ers b el iev e th at G eorg e San dy s a ,

b r ill iant court ier of the hour fou n d ed th e n ew mov e ,

m en t ; wh il e o th er s d e cl a r e th at th e i d ea h ad cr ep t in
f r om Fr an ce an d w as br eath e d in w ith the E n gl is h
a ir . T he l as t th eo ry i s v e r y l ikely n ea r th e tru th ;
, ,

for the return o f Ch arl es II wh il e i t brou g ht a d eal

,

o f v il e w i cked n e s s in fu s e d a c ert ain stiffn es s f or

, ,

0 E i h teen th C e tu r
g n
y L i te ra tur e p 2 , . .
 I N T RO D U C TIO N 27
mal ity, an d cold b r ill i an ce i n to th e soci al l ife of the
day , an d, n atur all y, po etry vo i c e d the t on e o f the
life ab o ut it .

B e all th i s as i t may, the fact r em ain s th at th e

m et aph y s ic al p o ets p as s ed almos t as qu ickly an d as
S il ently as th ey had c ome an d for a time it s eeme d
,

th at th ei r i n fl u en c e had c ompl etel y p e r ish ed w ith

th em . But th er e w as too much s w eetn es s b eau ty , ,

wor th in th at g roup t o m erit s u ch a f ate H er e .

an d th er e dur i n g th e cl as s i c al p e r iod a timid s l en ,

der v oic ed l yr i s t kep t al iv e the s p ir it of r eal s on g

-
,

n our is h ed an d t r an smitted i t u n til at l as t i t bu r s t

,

for th i n to th e f ull -vo ice d chorus o f the R o man ti c

M ov em en t the p as s i o n ate mu s ic of Burn s B yr on
, , ,

an d Sh ell ey . T he i n fl u en ce of th at p as s in g ch oi r of
s ev en teen th c en tury s in g ers is s till ev id en t A mon g
'
-
.

the y o u n g er wr iters of E n gl and th er e s eems to be

s ome r ev iv al o f th e sp i r i t th at m ov ed H e rr ick an d

Su ckl in g an d L ov el ace an d to day A us ti n D ob s on

,
-

s tan d s for al l th at w as b e st i n the C av al ie r p oet s ,

w i th all th eir d aintin es s and g en ius for form w ith ,

out th e ir e x ces s iv e l ov e for r em ote r es e mbl an c e s In .

A me r i c a a m ul ti tud e o f m in or p oets b ea r t es timon y

t o the p ers ev e r an c e o f th e b es t p r in cipl es o f C av al ie r
so n g E sp e ci all y has th is b een tru e of the v er s e
.

wr i ters of the S ou th ern St ates wh er e Joh n Sh aw

, ,

W ill iam M axw ell R ich ard H en ry W ild e Ph il ip P en

, ,

dleton C ooke J ame s L ega r e Samu el M in turn P e ck

, , ,

an d m an o th e r s h av e c om pos e d mel o d iou s t r ifl es t o

y
in n u m er abl e lov el y m aid en s T he v ers e f ou n d i n
.

the m ag az in es of A me r i c a to d ay sho w s th at the

28 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
num erou s amateurs in s o n g fi n d s om eth in g d ec id edl y
attr act iv e in th e co n c is e d ain ty
, , an d e v e r lov abl e

l y r ics o f the Old d ay s o f r ou g e an d l ace I t i s a

.

t end en cy to be enc our ag ed ; for l y r ical gems ar e a

s ol ace t o the h ea r t an d a g r ateful g ift t o p os ter ity .

T h at th ey are n ot m ig h ty-l in ed ep ics i s n o c au s e for

s n ee rs ; the v i ol et i s as p er fec t a pl ant as the p alm

tr ee.

I t i s n ot gr ow i n g li ke a tr ee
I n bul k d oth make men bette r be ;
,

Or s tan di n g l on g an oak t hr e e h un d r ed ye ar
, ,

T o f all a l og at l as t d ry b ald an d s ear

, , ,

A l i ly o f a d ay
I s f ai r e r f ar i n M ay
, ,

A l th ough i t f all an d d i e th at n i gh t
I t w as th e p l an t an d fl ow e r o f l igh t.

I n s mal l pr op or ti on s w e j us t be auti e s s e e ;
An d i n S h or t measu r es l i fe may p e r fect be .
 R O B E R T H E RR I CK

( 1 5 9 1 1 674 )

G ath er y e r os ebud s w hi l e ye may,

Ol d ti me i s s ti ll a-fly in g ;
An d th i s s ame fl ow e r th at s mi l e s to-day
”
T o morr ow w i l l be dy i n g
-
.

We al l h av e h eard it b efor e — the famous old

s on g ; but h ow m an y o f u s h av e r each ed b ack thr ou g h
th e c en tur ie s g r as p ed th e s in g er s h an d an d l ear n e d
’
, ,

to kn o w hi m as a fr ien d ? T w elv e hu n dr ed s u ch
s on s h e wr ote
g m a n,y o f th em j ust a s b eau tiful ,

n on e o f th em w i th o ut ch ar m A n d y et th is m an H er
.

r ick w as but a c ou n try cl er gym an al mo s t n egl ec ted ,

by th e g r e at an d w itty an d b itterl y compl ain in g at

,

t imes o f h i s ex il e fr om the d ear l au gh ter r in g in g ,

-

in n s o f n o is y L on d on L i fe fl ow e d s mo othly w i th
.

R ob er t H e r r i ck s m o othl y as the m eadow br ooks i n

,

h is an c ient D evo n s h ir e p ar is h an d th at w as the r ea

,

s on o f hi s d is co n ten t H e ad mitted th at he wrot e

.

m or e an d b etter p oetry th an h e would h av e wr itt en

h ad h e b een amid s t the b elov e d ro ar of the metropo
l is ; but th en
, w ell who c an d en y th e fasc in ation
, , ,

th e thr ill o f a thr obb in g c ity ? W ell for h im ho w

, ,

e v er
, th at For tu n e w as temp or ar il y u n kind to him ;
for T ime h as c r own ed him the most v er s at il e s in ge r
of th em all . W h at fr eshn es s is h ere w h at in gen i ou s ,

31
32 T HE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
turn s o f thou gh t wh at a mul titud e
, o f s ubj ec ts !
I t w as n o i dl e bo ast of hi s to s ay
I S in g o f brooks o f bl os s oms bi rd s an d bowe rs
, , , ,

Of A pr i l
,
M a y o f
,
J un e a n d J ul y -fl ow er s
, ;
I s in g o f M ay-p ol e s h oc k carts w as s ai l s w akes
,
-
, , ,

Of br i d e gr ooms b r i d e s an d o f th ei r bri dal -c akes

I wr i te o f Youth o f L ov e ; —an d h av e acces s
.
, ,

B y th es e to s i n g o f cl e an ly w an ton n es s ;
,

I s in g o f d e w s o f r ai n s an d p i e ce by p i ece
, , , ,

Of balm o f oil o f s p i c e an d ambe r gr i s

, , ,
.

I s in g o f ti m e s tr an s s h i fti n g ; an d I w r ite
’
-

H ow r os e s fi r s t c am e r e d an d li li e s w h ite , .

I w ri te o f gr ov es o f tw i l i ghts an d I s in g
, ,

Th e court o f M ab an d o f th e F ai r y Ki n g
, .

—
I wri te o f H ell ; I s i n g an d e v e r s h all
Of H eav e n an d h op e to h av e i t after all .

IS th er e n ot a ch eeri n e s s ab ou t all thi s ? I t i s

"

ch ar a cte r i s t i c o f our h e art c ountr p a r s on ; for h e

y y
d r an k th e w in e of l ife d eepl y an d gl adl y H e w as a
r u gh l o okin g fellow —he h ad the asp e ct o f on e
—
.

m ed i ta tin g as s aul t an d b at tery T hom as B ail ey A l ,

d r ich d ecl ar es ; but to o ff s et the p i ctur e th er e i s m u ch

in d i r e c t t es tim o n y to th e ami ab i lity o f th e man ,

a s i d e fr om th e ev i d en c e f urn ish ed b h i s own wri t

y
2
in gs . T h is Rob er t H err i ck w as a pond e rous ,

e a rth
y lo okin g m an w ith hu g e doubl e ch in dro op in g
-
,

ch e eks , a g r e at R o man n os e pr omin en t g l as s y ey es , ,

t h at s how e d arou n d th em th e r ed l in es b eg ot ten o f

s t ro n po t i on s o f C an ar an d th e w h ol e s e t upon a
g y ,

m as s iv e n eck wh ich m igh t h av e b een th at of H el ioga

1 A r um en t o
g f the H es p er i des .

2 In tr od uct i on to H err i ck s P
oems p 28
’
. .
,
 R O B E RT H E RRI C K 33

b alus . It w as s uch a fi g ur e as th e rt i st w o uld

a

m ake m
ty p i c al of a m an w ho lov e s the g r oss es t
” 3
pl eas u r es .

He w as the
s on of a Ch eap s id e g old smith wh o f ell ,

( purp o s el y his p a s to r c l aimed ) fr o m an upp e r win

,

d ow o f h is dw ell in g an d d ie d fr o m th e effec ts o f his ,

inj ur ies l eav in g h is w id ow an d ch ildr en a s m all f or

,

t un e R ob e r t H e rr ick t hu s h ad th e opp ortu n ity o f

.

s e cur in g a g o od edu c a t i o n but l ittl e mor e We , .

kno w th at h e atten d e d W es tmin s te r Sch ool w as ,

b ound an app r en ti ce to his u n cl e in 1 607 an d in ,

1 6 1 3 w a s a s tud en t i n S t J oh n s C oll eg e C am
’
.
,

br id g e W e kn o w too th at l ike all coll eg e b oys he

.
, ,

w a s c on s tan tly c ompl ain in g of l a ck o f f u n d s an d th at ,

h e e v e n wr o t e h is u n cl e t h a t h e w as h amp e r e d in his
pu r s u it of kn owl ed g e by w an t o f mon ey to p ay t each
e r s a n d t o buy b ooks I n 1 6 1 6 h e r emov ed t o T r in .

i ty H all i n o r d e r th at exp en s es migh t be l ow e r a n d

,

t h a t h e m ig h t h av e opp or tun i ti es i n th e s tudy of

l aw an d th er e h e ob tain e d hi s B A i n 1 6 1 7 an d
, . .
, ,

u n d er took in a d es ul tory w ay s ome o f the r equ ir e

m en ts of the M as te r s d eg r ee ’
.

A n d n ow w e c o me t o s o me ten o r twelv e years the

r eco r d o f wh i c h i s r ath er h az y ; an d p erh ap s i t i s

b est for in th os e w ild d ays of B en J o n s on men l iv e d

,

fur iousl y O r ar e B en Jo n s on ! H ow s tr an g el y the

.

big-h ear te d fell o w i n fl u en c ed the d r e am er s o f hi s

day ! H e r r i ck m et him at th e fi r s t p e r for man ce —
o f the A l ch emi s t i n 1 6 1 0 i t i s s ai d an d w as ev e r
, ,

8 M i tchell ’
s i
E ngl s h L an ds , L etter s , an d K i ngs, E lizabeth to
A nne,
'

p . 1 94 .
 34 TH E C AVAL IE R PO E T S
“ ”
a fte rw ards an adm ir in g gr ateful s on o f B en
, .

T h e j oy ou s v i ew o f l i fe t aken by Jon s on th e f ay s ,

a n d el v e s of h is d ainty m asqu e s th e s impl e b eau ty

,

o f h i s l r i cs b ov e all th e s ymp ath et ic br i mm i

—all th ese app eal ed t o
y a , ,
n
g ,

s o ul o f the burl y dr am atis t

~ H er r i ck s g en i al n atu r e an d hi s h eart n ev e r fo rg ot
’
, .

Y ea r s l ate r th e m emor y of th es e r i o tous d ays brou ght

the fl u s h to h is ch eek H e cr i es
.

Ah , B en !
S ay how or wh en
Sh al l w e, th y gue s ts ,
M eet at th os e ly ri c f e as ts .

T hus H e rr ick p ass e d th e year s , a t t im es in p ea c e

ful C ambr id g e, at tim es i n g ay L on d on , u n til in Oc
t ob er , 1 6 2 9 , h e w en t to D ean Pr io r i n D ev on shi r e
t o sh o w th e ru s tics th e w ay t o h eav en How mu ch .

m or e aptly h e m igh t h av e s h ow n th em the w ay t o

the n oi s i es t al e-h ou s e in L on d on ! B ut a fter all i t , ,

i s s urpr is in g an d g r ati fy in g to s ee h ow qu i ckl y

t h es e s ev en teen th c en tu r y r akes r e form ed an d b ec am e
-

n ot o n l y s e r ious m en but s in cer el

y d ev ou t Chr is ti an s .

R ob e r t H e r r ick th e h app y-g o-l u cky f r i en d o f h app y

,

B en an d m an y an oth er L on d on w i t, g r ew t o be at
l e as t o n e o f th e m o s t s ymp ath eti c cl er gymen i n all
E n gl an d T ru e i t is how ev er th at h e w as
.
, ,

Of w i cke d w i t by n o m e an s ch ary
Of r ud d y l i p s n ot at al l af r ai d ;
I f y ou gav e h i m m il k i n a D ev on s h i r e d ai ry ,
”
H e d p r obably ki s s th e d ai ry m ai d 4
’
.

4 M or ti mer Coll i ns H erri ck

’
.
 R O B E RT H E RRI CK 35

I n the m ain , his p aris h ion ers w er e a rou gh crowd ,

”
rud e almo s t as rud es t s av ag es , he h ims el f de
cl ar ed, an d doubtl es s hi s s oul w as o ft e n v e x ed In .

fa c t , t r ad iti on s ay s th at on e Sun d ay mo r n in g fi n d ,

i n g th em i n atten tiv e, he th r ew hi s s er mon at th em ,

an d d r ov e t h em w ith cur s es fr om th e chur ch P er .

h ap s he had b een th in kin g at b r eakfa st th at m o r n in g

o f the cl e a r , s av ory i n n s o f ol d L on d on ! A m an l ike
H err i ck h ow ev er c ould but take a h eal th y v iew of
, ,

an y kin d o f e x is ten ce an d w e fi n d him d is co v er in g

,

pl eas ur e in m an y a l ittl e th in g W eeks y es , mo n ths .

,

h e S p en t t e ach in g a p et p ig t o d r ink fr om a tan kard ,

an d th en i n v it ed his ru s ti c n eighbors in to s ee
th e exh ib iti on H e fou n d D ev on sh ir e ol d—
. fas h ion e d
e n o u g h t o h av e M ay p ol e s an d o th e r an cien t s p o r t s
2
-
,

an d in th e en c our a g emen t o f th e s e an d i n th e i d e al

i z in g o f th em he fou n d a qu ie t s or t o f joy H is .

“ ”
fai th ful h o u s em aid P r ew den ce B aldw in
, wh os e ,

n ame h e h as i v en s ome f am e i n h is v er s es kept his

g ,

l ittl e hom e in o rd e r an d l ife for h im c on tain ed mu ch

,

p eac e R em ov e d fr Om o cc as ion s of m ental d i s s ip a

.

tion w i th l i ttl e to d is turb h i s l on g d ays w i th abou n d

, ,

i n g h e al th an d w ith p i ct ur es qu e s cen e r y o n ev ery

,

s d e ,h e wr o te w ith an e a s e
i a fr h d f
l
-
e s ,
n e s s an a r e ,

u th at a s h e a d m i tte d far s urp as s e d wh at h e

q en c
y , ,

“
w ould h av e d on e at the Sun the D og an d the , ,

”
T r ipl e T un . E v e r y p oet n eed s a d r eaml an d an d ,

“
t h is w a s h i s H err ick al on e w ith imp e r tu rb abl e
.
,

s er en ity con tin u ed t o p ip e out his p as to r al d itties

,

an d c r own h is h e a d w i th d aff od il s wh en E n g l an d w as

t or n to p iece s w i th th e mo s t m omen tou s s t r u ggl e for

36 T H E C AVAL IE R PO E T S
l ib er ty in h er an n al s P eopl e w er e invi ted
t o l is ten t o l ittl e m a dr igals up on Jul i a s s t oma c h e r
’

at th e s in gul ar l y i n o pp o r t u n e m omen t wh e n the ey es

o f the wh o l e n ati on w e r e b en t on th e u n pr ec e d e n t e d

ph en omen on of the procl amation of an E n gl ish r e

” 5
publ i c .

But in 1 64 7 th er e c ame a rud e s ho ck T h e .

R o u n dh ead s w e r e in p ow e r a n d th e g en i al H erri ck
,

w as ej e c te d as a R oy al is t B ack to L on d on h e w en t
.

l adl w en t b ack wr o te an e n thu s i as tic p o em e n

g y ,

t i tl e d H is R e turn to L o n d o n an d i n h is F ar ewell to
,

D ean B o ur n d e cl ar ed th at h e would r eturn to the

p ari s h w h en ro cks turn t o r iv ers r iv ers turn t o ,

H e s ettl ed in W es tmin s te r an d as h e h ad
”
m en .
, ,

s ev er al w e al th r el ati v e s doub tl e s s d id n ot s u ff e r fo r
y ,

r eady m on ey A gain th e r e i s a h az y in terv al W h at

. .

i s on e p oo r l ittl e i n d iv i du al in t eemin g L on do n es

p eci all y i f h e be on l y a p oet an d n ot a h ab erd a sh er ?

W e kn ow o n l y th at in A u g u s t 1 662 on e R ob ert , ,

H err i ck w as r es tor ed to his p ari sh at D ean Pr i or ;

n or h e d id h e w ai t i t s eems f or rocks to turn t o
, ,

r iv ers an d riv ers to men L ittl e en ou gh w e h av e o f

.

him fro m th is tim e on I n the d eep sh ad ed g r av e

.
-

a rd o f D e an Pri or th er e i s a s t on e w i th th e w ords :
y
R ob ert H err i ck Oc tob er
,

T h at i n c on v en i en t but in ev itabl e affai r of d eath

worr ie d H erri ck H e lov e d l ife in ten s ely ; he foun d
.

h is dr eam s s o pl eas an t h e g ain ed su ch joy fro m sky

,

an d tr e e an d fl ow e r on e can n ot c en s ur e his r eluc

,

t an c e to go . H e w as the A r i el o f fo ols suckin g ,

y S tud i es p 1 1 4
5 G osse s S even teen th C en tur
’
. .
,
38 T HE C AVAL IER PO E T S
i t an y wond er th at su ch a n atur e r es olv ed to s eiz e
th e pl eas ur e of ev ery fl eeti n g m omen t ? H ow mu ch
o f jo h e c ould d is cov e r in th e l i ttl e th in g s o f l if e !
y
H i s mu s e w as n ot abov e p articip atin g in the mix in g
of a w e dd in g
-
c ake , th e d e ckin
g o f a M a
y
-
p ol e, th e

p r ep ar ation s for a c ou n try d an c e I n d eed t o th is .

,

s oph is ti c ate d ag e his u s e of ord in ary th in g s s eem s

to v erg e o n the r id i culous H e d oe s n ot h es itate t o
.

write a v er s e or two ab out his t eemin g hen wh ich

l ay s her egg e ach day his ew e s wh ich b ear t wins
,

e a ch y ear , his g oo s e wh i ch w i th a j e alous ear

, ,

l oos e
L e ts
H i s ton gu e to tell w h at d an ge r s r
’
n ea .

In sh or t ,
r ath er in ter es ted in h is p ig an d hen
he is
an d g o os e an d th in ks ev e r y o n e el s e w i ll be ; a n d h e
,

i s ab ou t r igh t for all th e w o r ld l ov e s a l o v er e v en

, ,

i f h e be but a lov er of p ig s an d h en s an d g ees e A .

s impl e, kin dl y s in -fo r g iv in g m an n ev e r a d ee p

, ,

th in ke r but a d es p i s er o f S h ams h e r ath er s mil ed

, ,

upo n th e mean in gl es s s p or ts o f th e ru s ti c folk an d ,

j om ed h ear til y in g r a s p in g the fr agmen t ary gi fts

o f cl o s e fi s t ed T ime
-
.

Such a m an would do al l i n h is p ow er to tr an s
form a pl eas in g s en s at ion i n t o a s ub tl e d el ici ou s ,

pl easur e W i thout d oub t th e ru s ti cs ab ou t D e an

.

Prior w er e rou gh clu msy s en s u al c r eatu r es hu g e

, , ,

e ater s, p ig gis h dr inker s an d pr ol ifi c br eed er s ; but

l o ! H er r ick i d eal iz e d h is cl o dh opp e r s a s th ey tum ,

bl ed ab ou t th e M ay p ol e an d th ey b e c am e Gr eek
-
,

s h eph erd s d an cin i h

’
g t o P a n s mu s c H e m a d e t .e
 R O B E RT H E RR I C K 39

w orld a dr eaml an d —an d wh at oth er w ay i s th er e

“
o f b ein g h app y ? S ays E d mu n d G o s s e : H e w as
an e x il e fr om A rc ad i a all his d a s w al kin t hr ou gh
y g ,

o ur s ob e r m od e rn li fe w ith o u t r evol t or p as s i on but ,

alw ay s con s c iou s th at h e had s e en m o r e glor ious

s ig h ts an d w al ke d thr o u g h a l an d mu ch m or e e mi
,
”
n en t f or luxur
y an d b eau t
y F or h is w as a p ag am
.

t ur n of min d an d h e s eeme d r e all y to lo n g for an

,

ag e i n wh ic h h e m ight g ar l an d s ome w o odl an d i d ol

an d p o ur out a cup o f w in e b e for e i t Pr e ach e r .

thou gh h e w as he o ften in v is ion s aw the l ittl e v icar

,

ag e tur n to a colu mn e d h all o f an tiqu e w o r sh ip an d ,

h e ard i ns te ad of th e c r oon in g s o n g of the h ou s e

,

m aid Prud en c e th e l o fty ch an t o f the G r eek ch o r

, ,

i s ter s s in g in g b efo r e s ome n ow f o r g ot ten g od Y et .

,

a s w e h av e s een h e w a s a g o od cl er gyman an d wr ote

,

orth od o x s er mon s an d d ev ou t s on g s to th e On e G od .

But h ow l ackin g he w as in th e g r av e e ar n es tn es s o f
S H erb er t s med itations an d the v as tn es s o f M il ton S
’ ’

g c on c e pt ion s ! L ov er o f the an c ien t th at he w as h is

fan cy to ok the pl ace o f r el ig ious fervor an d he s an g
t o G o d as to A p oll o .
,
,

Now an d th en h ow ev e r he s ound ed a t ru e d evo

, ,

t ion al n o te H is w as n ot a d eep p ass ion ate n atur e

.
, ,

but g iv en s o m e l ittl e ev en t i n h is own ro u

,
n d of l i fe

or s om e p ictur e s qu e ep i so d e fr om th e s c r iptur al r ec

o r d he c ould s in g w ith sw eet n es s an d w ith ear n es t

,

R e ad h is D irg e for J ep thah s D aug h ter an d

’
n es s .

h e a r the H ebr ew Vi r g in s ch an t l ike Gr eek s h eph erd

e s s es Or b ett e r s till S in g w ith h im th at lowl y an d
.
, ,

hu man far mer s h ymn wh ich he c all ed A T han ks

’
 40 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
gi vi ng to G od for H i s H ous e T rul y , a s S a i
.n ts

bury h as s aid , th e r e i s n o thi n g in E n gl is h v ers e to

equ al th e T han ksg iving as an expr ess i on of r el i
8
g i ons t ru st .

K in d qu ickly forg iv in g s oul , he w as to o eas ily

,

\
s atis fi ed , how ev er w ith th i s earth to r is e v ery far
,

abov e i t . W hy s tr iv e to s ou n d a migh ty an th em to
G od wh en h e could in d ite s uch d ain ty l yr i cs to V en u s
or Jul i a ? H e kn ew s o li t tl e of the w orld t o co me ,

a n d th is on e w as so b eaut i ful !
“
A fter all his ex il e in
, lo ath ed D evon sh ir e g av e
him h is ch ief ch arm s hi s lov e of ab ou n di n g l ife an d
hi s ev e r -qu i cken in g l ov e o f N atu r e an d h er cr eatur es .

Wh at op en air fr eshn es s an d c o u n tr y f r eedo m a r e

-

h ere ! T h e N atur e of wh i ch h e s an g kn ew n oth

in g o f the ho tb ed s o f a L ondon p al ac e ; th es e pl an ts
w er e n ev er p ot ted H err i ck c ould affo r d to be un
.

co n v en ti o n al t o ro am at l eis ur e throu gh the w id e

,

m eadow s an d the wo od ed upl an d s for life ab out D ean ,

Pr i o r w as s an e an d h eal th ful ev en if a l ittl e crud e

,
.

T hus h e w as pr es erv ed f r o m th at publ i c r iot an d

c on stan t d i s turb an c e of th e c omm onw e al th wh ich di d

its b es t t o drown th e vo i c e o f ev ery po et from C ar ew

to D ryd en wh ich drov e Cr ash aw aw ay to m ad n es s
,

an d d eath wh i ch m ad e h ar s h th e l i qu i d m el o d ie s o f
,

M il t on wh ich b el ied the pro mis e of D av en an t an d

,
” 9
broke the h ear t of Cowl ey I t i s for th is r eas on
.

th at h e r efl ects so l ittl e th e b itte rn ess an d tur moil

of hi s time . W h il e Sir J oh n Su ckl in g c as ts a c yn i cal
l ee r at the g r an d ees o f th e cour t wh il e L ov el ac e ,

8 H is tor
y of E l i za be than L i te r a tu r e p 35 6 , . .

9 E d mun d G oss e i n W ar d s E n l is h P oets

’
V ol II p 1 25
, g , . , . .
 R O BERT H E RR I C K 41

sw ears et ern al lov e t o qu een ly l ad ies of rou g e an d

powd e r H err ick is d own on hi s kn ees in a fi eld o f
,

d aff od ils so ftly w h is p er in g to th em

,

F ai r daffodi ls w e w ee p to s ee
,

Y ou h aste aw ay s o s oon .

He sp oke of N atur e n ot b ec au s e it w as the fad

,

at court but b ec au s e i n h i s s impl e-min d e d w a h e

, , y ,

l ov ed her C ar ew s fl ow ers may be of the mos t ele

.
’

g an t kin d of s c en te d p ap er but H err ick s s p arkl e

’
,

w ith the dew -drops fr es h from the g ard en Oh how .

,

the w orld lov e s a m an o f r ed blood ! L ac es an d s car

l et co ats may bl in d for a l i ttl e tim e ; but after all
l ife —spo n t an eou s s urg in g l ife — fas cin at es man
, ,

kind . An d H err i ck s aw s o m uch of i t ab o u t him

i n the glow in g fi elds of D evon sh i r e W e kn ow him
th er efor e as a lov er of ph ysi c al b eauty —p erh aps
.
,

d an g erousl y so as s o me of his u n s avory v e r s es w ould f

,
l
i ndi c ate ; for d eep d ow n in h is h eart he b el iev ed th at
”
few b eads ar e b es t wh en o n c e w e g o a M ayin g
-
.

L ife w as to him at t im es an i nt ox i c ati on .

When w e r ead the so n g s o f many of H err ick s con

’

t empor ar i es w e ar e w eig h ed d ow n w ith h e av y od or s

,

the s tu ffy plush an d v elv et s the d eep c arp ets an d

,

t ap es try B ut h ere at D ean Pr ior h ow full of sun

.

s hin e ! On e c atch es the fl avo r o f ri p en in g fru it

h an gin g ov er the su nli t w all s ees the s in g in g h ar
,

ves ter s r akin g in the yello w fi eld s h ear s the low o f ,

the c attl e down by th e w i d en in g br ook T h er e is a .

qu iet s ort o f suppr ess ed p ass ion in it all ; n o storm ,

42 T HE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
it i s tru e but r ath er the sunn y s kies o f mo rn ing an d
,

th e rudd y glow Of the su n s et .

T hu s whil e oth ers w as ted th ei r pow ers in ri otous

,

r ev elry he of n e c es s ity gl id ed thr ou gh his qu iet d ays

, ,

u ard in g ev e r y r esourc e an d t akin g t ime t o co n v ert

g
e v er s on g i n t o a g em H e w as n ot un amb itiou s
y .
,

an d y et h e s eemed to w ri t e mor e for h im s el f th an fo r

fame an d appl aus e E v en his co mpl imen t ar y v e r se

.

t o the n ob il i ty sho w s non e of th at cr av in g for ad

mir ation such as on e m ay fin d s o e as ily in o th e r
lyr ic is ts of his ag e H e publ ish ed i t s eems but tw o
.
, ,

c oll ec ti o n s the H es p er i des of 1 6 4 8 an d the No ble

, , ,

Number s d ated 1 64 7 an d the r ead ers o f the d ay

, ,

kn ew him b ett er p erh aps throu g h hi s co n tribut i on s

t o s uch hod g e— pod ge c oll ec tion s as Wi t s Recr ea ’

ti on , Wi t s I n terpre ter T he A cademy of C o mpli

’
,

men ts an d T he M ys teri es of L o ve an d E lo quen ce

—
.

W ond e r f ul boo ks w e r e th ey wond er ful in th ei r

s tr an g e m ix tur e s won d er ful in th e amount o f cl ev e r
,

n e ss h i dd en b etw een th ei r l id s T h at H err i ck s w as ’

.

pr etty su cces s fully h idd en is ev id en t ; for he w as al

mos t co mpl etel y for g o tt en u n t il th at keen -eyed in
v es tig a tor N i chols pr ais ed him in the G en tleman s
, ,
’

M ag azi n e o f 1 79 6 T h e r eas on is pl ain

. G en ius .

thou gh h e w as H err i ck affe ct ed hi s i mmed i at e s uc

,

c e s s or s far l es s th an did C ar ew Su ckl in g an d , ,

W all er ; for th es e men w er e in th e l in e of m ov emen t

tow ard th e cold an d br ill ian t cl as s i c s ch ool ,

wh il e H erri ck s to od asi d e tun e d his h ealthy son g

, ,

an d h ad t o h ide hi s time .

A n d y et, c omp ar e th em all , an d wh o s an g s o t en

 R O B E RT H E RR I C K 43
r
d erly, so S imply, s o n atur ally, s o p ers on all y, so orig
in ally as Rob ert H e rri ck ? H is w as

T h e s p arkl in g rhy me
That, li ke a d i mp l e i n an ol d d ame s
’
c h in ,
” 1°
L augh s out at T i me .

We rea d th at famous l yri c ,

G ath e r ye r os ebud s whi l e ye m ay,

”
Ol d ti me i s s ti l l a flyi n g,
-

w e i n st antl y ask,
“
Why had n ot some on e el s e s ai d
”
t h at l on g b e for e ? T he l in e s are s o fr an k, s o ut
t erl y un forc ed SO, . too , are th e v ers es T o An thea
.

B i d me to l i v e, an d I w i l l l i ve
”
T hy pr otes tan t to be .

E v ery po em i s c ompl ete rou n d ed s o artl essl y s aid

, , ,

a n d y et w ith wh at s upr em e ar t ! T he m od e rn J ap
a n es e hold the P oe i d ea th at a p o em s h ould be
.

s hort an d s hould expr e s s w ith supr eme t e r s en e s s an d

,

h app in ess on e fl eet in g s en timen t an d our mod er n

m ag az in es ar e forc in g the v ers e-wr it e r s o f the d ay to

th is s ame co n clu s ion L on g ag o H e rr ick g r asp ed
.

th e i d ea an d wh at pol i sh e d g ems r es ul te d !
,

Sp ace w ill n ot all ow a d is cu s s i on o f h is nu mer ou s

p o etic al v i r tu es : s mooth n es s h e ar i t in his H ymn to
L o ve ; qu ain t n ess s ee i t in th e P r ayer to B en Jon

10 W el ch , I n an A n ci en t C opy f
o H err i ck s H esperi d es , C en
’

r
tu y, V ol . L V II , p4 77
. .
254 TH E C AVA L IE R PO E T S
s on ; or igin al ity —n ot e i t in T o E l ectr a an d To
D i ane me . M an y , m an y w e re his m etr ic al exper i

m en t s an d in all w e fi n d a l iqu id fl ow o f word s an d a

,

happ y r ecurr en c e of rh yme ; the son gs s in g th em

s elv es . W h at m or e m ay on e s ay ? I n qu ant ity ,

s po n t an ei ty v erb al mus i c h e sh in es forth abov e th e

, ,

o th er son g-writers of h is c en tury wh il e p erh aps in ,

all E n gl is h l i ter atur e h e i s e xc ell ed i n the l yri c qual f

’
s

ity by B u rn s an d Sh ell ey o n ly .

R ob ert H erri ck i s a man t o lov e H e t akes y ou .

i nto h is co n fid enc e A c ert ai n p erson al not e gi v es

—
.

hi s v ers es at t imes a t in ge o f p athos n ot th e w ild ,

h ear tbro ken p atho s of Bur n s but a subdu ed t end e r

, ,

r eg re t th at l i fe i s s o s h ort an d th at w e must all g o .

H e is an eg ois t ; he do e s n ot h es itat e to m en t i on
hi s own n ame .H er e h er e the to mb of R ob in H er
,
”
r ick i s he wh isp er s in Robin Red-B reas t
, .

M ake the w ays mooth for me ,

Wh en I thy H erri ck
, ,

Hon or in g th ee on my kn ee
”
Offe r my ly ri c ,

he pr ay s to B en Jon son An d h e c ompl ain s in T he

L os s of H is M is tres s es

All gon e,
ar e
”
Only Herri ck s l e ft lon e
’
a .

He t ells us of Jul i a an d all his oth e r lov es an d ev en ,

thou gh th ey w er e but cr eatur es o f his dre ams w e ,

s orrow w ith h im w h en th e frow n an d r ej o i ce w ith

y
 FR A N C I S Q UARL E S

( 1 5 92 1 64 4 )

“
M ilton w as forc ed t o w ait unt il the w orld h ad
don e a d mi r in g Qu ar l e s ”
So s ays Hor ac e W alpol e
.
1
.

Gr eat in C av al ie r d ay s w as the n ow f or got ten po et s ’

fame F or g o tt en ? NO n ot qu ite T o day in

.
, .
-

’
s c att er ed cot ter s h o me s in rur al E n l an d Qu arl e s
’
g
D ivin e E mblems w ith i ts qu ain t old cu ts by M ars h all
, ,

i s st ill to be f ou n d an d ev en y et on Sund ay after

,

n oo n the v en er ated volu me is r ead b th e anc i en t

y
f olk of th e h ou s eh old T h at g ru ff S cotch m an
.
,

J ames Be attie wr itin g in 1 776 p ut it too blu n tly

, ,

wh en he s aid o f Qu arl es an d Bl ackmor e th at bad

“
w ri tin g c ould be fou n d an yw h er e in th em ; but a s
n ob ody r e ad s th ei r w o r ks n ob o dy i s l i abl e to be mis
,
” 2
l ed by th em . H ear wh at our own A meri c an ,

T h or eau w r ote to M r s E mer s on thr ee qu ar ter s o f

, .
-

“ ”
a ce n tur y l at er : I th ink y ou would l ike him he ,

s ay s . I t is r ar e t o fin d on e who w a s s o much o f
a p o e t a n d s o l ittl e of an a r tist Hop e .

l es s l y qu ain t as if h e l iv ed all alo n e an d kn ew n ob od y

,

but his w ife who app ears to h av e r ev er en c e d h im

, .

H e n ev er d o ub ts h is g en iu s ; i t i s o n l y h e an d his
G od in all th e w orld H e u s es l an g u ag e s o metimes
.

a s g r eatl as S h akes p ear e ; an d thou gh th er e i s n ot

y
l L e tter s E d Cun n i n gh am V ol I I I p 9 9
, . , . , . .

y on P oetry an d M us i c
2 E ss a .

46
 F R A N C I S QUARLE S 47
,

much str aight g r ain in him, th er e is pl enty Of tough,

”
c roo ked t imb er .

A n d s o th er e i s ; an d i t w ould h av e b een S pl en di d
t imb er for a Pur it an m eet in g hous e too AS we -
, .

r ead the p iou s med it at ion s of th is volum in ous

”3
s ai nt w e who h av e r e ad the conv ent i on al t ext
,

b ooks on h istory can but wond er th at he i s c all ed a

,

C av ali er How o ft en the thou ght is i mpr ess ed upon

.

us by the p ed ag o gu es th at the C av al ier w as a bo ast

ful , d eep -drinkin g loud sw ear in g l ace-ador n ed
,
-
,

sw aggerer ; an d h ow erron eous the id ea ! M any of

th em w ere g ood men g ood enou gh in d eed to be , ,

li ev e th at God did n ot d esp is e a M ay-pol e or a ru st ic

d anc e H er e in Fr anc i s Qu arl es i s a gen tl eman
—
.
, , ,

thou gh tful mor al a st eady man o f fam il y

, , he h a d
eig h t ee n ch ildr en a l ov e r of th in g s o f g o od r eport ,

an earn es t b el iev e r in h is r el igi o n a g en u in e pr ais e ,

m aker o f G od Cr omw el l could n ot h av e b een

.

as h ame d to put him at the v ery h ea d of his p s al m

s in gin g an d G o d fear in g I r on s id es L et us gl anc e

-
.

a t h i s unu s u all y c al m l ife o f thou ght an d son g .

H e w as b o r n at R omford E s s ex Of a fam ily Of , ,

s ome imp or tan ce in the gov ern ment s er v ice T he .

fath e r d ie d e arl y i n l ife l eav in g fi fty pounds a y ear

,

t o the boy A ft e r att end in g a c ou n try s chool he

—
. ,

e n t e r ed Chr i s t s Coll eg e
’
am
C br dg ei ,how m an y a
f amo us man h as h eard th e l ectur es th er e ! an d r e

c eive d h is B A i n 1 608
. . H e d ec id e d to be a l awy e r
.
,

a n d to th is en d en t e r ed L in coln s I n n ; but th a t he
’

w as m or e i n l o v e w i th h armon y th an w ith d isco r d i s

3 Campbel l S eci m ens o
, p f the B ri tis h P oets .
48 T H E C AV AL IE R PO E T S
e v id enc ed by the fact th at h e s old his l aw-g owns t o
buy a lut e-c as e . On e mig h t p erp etr ate a v e r y
tru th ful p un by i n s in u atin g th at i t w as pr a ctic ally
the o n ly c as e h e ev e r s e cur ed A lr e ad y the y ou n g
.

fell ow w as s ometh in g o f a Pur itan in h is th ou gh ts

an d a c ti on s , o ften d e cl ar in g th at h e d es p i s e d th e

l it t r i n c our t l i fe of th e d a
-
; an d t wh n h w a s
g e g y y e e e

o ffer ed the h onor o f cup— b ear e r t o th e Prin ces s

E l iz ab eth on h er m arr iag e to the E l ector P al a -

t in e in 1 6 1 3 h e w as n ot sl ow in a cc ep tin g an d ev en
, ,

a cco m p an i e d h er t o H e id elbur g D oub tl es s m an y a

.

a C av al ie r would h av e b een c o n t en ted to s p en d h i s

g y
r emain in g d ay s amid s t th e ov erfl ow in g tuns o f th e
an cien t c oll eg e-t ow n ; but evid en tly th e mor al
Qu a rl e s w as o f a d iffe r en t n atur e for in 1 62 0 w e s ee
,

him o n c e m or e i n the f o ggy s tr ee ts o f L o n don

—
.

D ur i n t h n xt y a r h w as not et tw en ty

n in e —on e of his bo oks H ades s a the H i s tor y of

e
g e e e y
, ,

Q u ee n E s th ,e r app ear e d , an d w as r ec eiv e d w ith s o

mu ch favor as to en cour ag e him t o follow i t w ith

su ch o th e r r el ig i ous v ers es as S i o n s E legi es in 1 624
’
, ,

S i o n s S o nn e ts in 1 625 an d A Fe as t of Wormes s e t
’
, , ,

fo r th in a P oems of the H is tor i e of Jon ah in 1 626 , .

T he c on t en ts o f th is l a s t v olu me w er e p erh aps n ot

S O u n s avor y as the d el e ct abl e t i tl e w ould in d ic at e for ,

the p ious fol k of Ch arl es day s eem to h av e found

’

con si d er abl e d el ight in the feas t T h er e w er e how .

,

e v e r in th e b ook o th e r p o em s t h at d o ub tl e ss a ccoun t
,

for much of th e pl easur e ; su ch as A H ymn to G od ,

e l ev en s p i r i tu al m e d itati ons an d a coll ec ti on o f d e

,

voti on al v ers es ent itl ed P en telog i a or the Quin tes ,

 FR A N C I S QUARL E S 49

s en c e o f M e d i t a ti on .
y h W h en
av e r ead th e l i s t
ou

o f t itl e s i n th a t v olu me o u h av e i d v r f i r
y a a y a

i d e a o f wh a t Q uarl es l i fe-w ork w as to be —a study

n e
g e
’

o f m an s r el ati o n s to th e D iv in e
’
.

I n 1 6 25 how ev e r he tur n e d a s id e for a sp ac e to

, ,

el e g ia c v e r s e A t th is t ime came his qu ain t A lpha

. /

be t of E leg ies up o n the M uch an d T r uly L amen ted

D ea th of D o c to r A ylme r — tw en ty tw o tw el v e l in e - -

s t an z as an d a v e r s e e p itaph e ach l in e b eg in n i n
, g w ith
th e r equ is i t e l ette r H ow p eopl e a d mi r e d i t thr ee
.

c en tur i e s ag o ! T h is qu iet fell ow Fr an cis Q uarl es , ,

b eg an to c ut so meth in g of a fi gur e in the l iter ary

w o r ld T h at h is p op ul ar ity had n ot d imin ish ed by
.

1 6 31 i s s h own by th e fac t th at his ep itaph on M i

ch ael D r ay ton w as c arv e d up o n th e br av e O ld s in g er s
’

t omb in W es tmin s t e r It w a s th is s ame year th at

.

”
he t old w i th m an y a fl ir t an d fl u tte r h is H is to ry
, ,

of S ams on . Cl earl y Sams on w as out Sams one d ;

,
-

but th e s tory su ite d th e tas te o f th e times an d wh en ,

i n 1 632 D ivin e F an ci es D ig es ted i n to E p ig r ams

, ,

M edi ta ti o n s an d Obs er va ti o n s app e ar e d th e p eopl e

, ,
’
w e r e all but r ead y to c r ow n him kin g of E n gl and s
“ ”
b ards T he p eopl e n otice pl ease ; for the l iter
. , ,

a r y l ig hts s at ab o u t th e L on d on c offee tabl es an d

-

e i th er s n e e r e d at h is r el ig i ous effu s i o n s o r ign or e d

t h em al tog e th e r .

B ut l i ttl e c ar e d F r an c is Qu arl es for all th is He .

s at at h ome w i th h is ad mir in g w ife an d eig ht een

h ildr — or th o s e o f th em w h o h a d app ear ed on

—
c e n

t h e s cen e a t th i s d a te an d wr ote f or th at m o s t

e n dur in o f aud i en c es th e co mmon fol k N ot th at

g
.
,
50 T H E C AVAL I E R PO E T S
he l acke d f r ien d s amo n g the L on d on cr itic s an d au ~

t h o rs
. W e fi n d th at a fte r addr es s in g s ome v er s es t o
E dw ard B en l ow es h e w as in t r odu ce d by the fl atter e d
e t l em an to Ph in e a s F l etch e r an d lo ! th e r es ul t i s
g n ,

tw o o f F r an cis Qu arl es p oems i n Fl e tch e r s P urp le

’ ’

I s l an d pr in t e d i n L o n don i n 1 633
, M or al iz in g phi
.

l o s opher th ou gh h e w as h e s eems alw ay s to h av e h ad

,

a keen ey e f o r his e ar thl y p r os p er ity T he cour t .

r ecord s S h o w th at in 1 62 6 he w as pro s ecut in g a L on

d on w oman fo r p ickin g h is p ocket s a n d dur in g th e ,

s am e a r h e w a s s tr iv in i n a m os t bu s in es sl ike
y e g
m an n er t o h av e P a rl i amen t e r e ct w orks for m an u
factur in g s al t p etr e by a n ew pro c ess
-
D oub tl es s . ,

h e w as fi n d in g th at his nu merous f amil y could n ot

s ub s is t on p o et i c al m ed itat i o n s .

Y et i t mu s t h e c o n fe s s e d th at o n l y n e c es s ity kept
his m in d fi x e d o n ea rthly th in g s A l mos t ev e ry con
.

t emp or ary m ent io n of him d ecl ar es him a m an o f

g e n u in e p i e t
.
y I n 1 6 2 9 wh,il e he w as p ri v ate s ec
r et ar y to A r chb is hop U s h e r o f A r magh an d w as ,

l iv in g in D ubl in th at church man frequ en tl y r e ferr e d

,

t o him in l etters to L o n d on fr ien d s an d alwa ys the ,

p o et w as c on s id er ed a s on e wh os e d e ed s befitted his
'

s o n gs A g ain h ow ev er w e fi n d th at h e did n ot n eg
.
, ,

l ect worldly dut ies for h e av enly m ed itat ion s s in c e ,

i n 1 6 31 he obt ain ed c on tr ol o f th e imp o rt du ties o n

tob acco an d p ip es brou ght in to I r el an d g ain in g ,

th er eb y n o s m all r ev enu e I t w as wh il e in D ubl in

.

th at h e wr ote hi s fi r s t s ecul a r p oem A rg al a s and ,

'

P a r then i a a s tory dr aw n fr om S id n ey s A r
’

c a dia . I t m ay h av e app eal e d to hi s pl ain er s p oken -

 F R A N C I S QUARL E S 51

ag e ; but to-day w e find in o meth in g th atp arts of it s

s macks o f th e i n d ecen t I t w as , h ow ev e r but a t em

.
,

r ar l ap s e an d i n the e es of h is ol d t i m e r ead -
p o y , y
er s m ay h av e b een con s id er e d n on e at all .

I n all ages men h av e g en er ally a s s oc iat e d m edi

t ation w ith th e c al m an d p eace o f d eep wood s an d
qu iet fi eld s F r an cis Qu arl es had thu s far wr ou gh t:
.

i n s a d s in c er ity amid s t th e burl burl o f t emi n g -

y y e

L o n d o n o r amid s t the an cien t s ten ch of D ubl in ; but

i n 1 6 35 h e qu ain t old fell ow an d l ov er o f an gl in g
w a s b ack i n E s s ex an d th er e at R oxw ell w as fi n
,

i sh in g th at work wh ich w as to m ake his n a me r e

m emb er ed for c en tur ies — E mbl ems D ivi n e an d
M o r al H ow m ar v el ou s l y s u cc es s ful it w as ! H ow
.

i t w as quo ted ! H ow m en r e ad i t f r om y outh to tot

t er in g ag e ! I ts ch ar ms h ad n ot v an ish ed ev en as
l at e as the n in et een th cen tury R ob er t Br own in g de .

4
c l ar es I n on e o f h is l et t e rs I t w as my Ch i ldh ood s
’
,
”
t b But al l c r it i cs h av e n ot b e en s o ch a r
p e oo .

i table S ou th ey d is d ain full y as s e r ts th at o n l y the

'

qu ain t prin ts by W illi am M ar sh all m ad e the b ook

p opul a r ; wh il e sn app is h P op e d ecl ar es th at it is a
w o rk
Wh e r e p i ctur e s for the p ages aton e
th e ,

An d Q uar l es i s s av ed by be auti e s n ot h i s ow n .

I t mu s t be a d mitt ed th at i n a s en s e n ot r eal iz ed by ,

h im the g r eat I n t err og at ion P oin t told the t ru th

,

ab out th e m at te r : fo r o f th e five b o oks co mp o sin g,

4 L e tter s V ol
,I I p 4 44 .
, . .

5 D un ci ad B k 1 pp 1 39 1 4 0 . , .
,
. ,
52 T H E C AVAL IE R PO E T S
t he volum e the l as t thr ee ar e m er ely tr an sl at i o n s
,

a n d p ar aphr a ses o f a o n c e n o te d J es u it wor k P i a ,

D esi deri a E mblema ti s wr i tten by H er man n Hu g o

,

an d publ is h e d i n A n tw erp in 1 6 2 4 B ut wh at o f .

th at ? T he w ork w as en te r tain in g an d pl eas ed the

p eopl e an d in the g oo d old d ay s th ey w er e n ot s o
,

p ar ti cul a r ab out the or ig in al ity of a book .

F or tu n e w as n ow in d ee d s mil in g up on Fr anc is
Qu arl es In 1 638 an o th e r v olu me of his H ier o
.
,

g ly p h ic kes o
f th e L i fe of M an i llu s tr at e d b
y M a r ,

sh all w as w el comed by the co mm o n fol k an d s n eer ed

,

at by th e c o ff ee h o us e fol k an d al tog e th e r r ec eiv e d

-
,

much n otic e T h at s ame y ea r too he w as r equ es te d

.
, ,

t o s en d out to the lo n el y c olo n is ts in New E n gl an d

s o me b i t s o f p ious v e r s e an d as a c on s equ en c e h e
,

av to J ohn J o s s el n t o t ake to J oh n C o tt on an d
g e y ,

J ohn W in thr op metr ical v er s i o n s of s ix p s alms al l

, ,

o f wh ich app e ar e d i n th at an t iqu e c ur ios ity T he ,

Whole B oo k of P s alms publ is h ed at Bo s ton in 1 64 0

, .

W e h av e s e en th at Qu arl e s po s s es s ed con s id er abl e

bu s in es s s en s e an d as h e w as alw ay s exceed in gl y
,

shr ewd in the d ed i c a t io n o f h is b ooks h is c ompl imen t s

o ft en brou ght r es ul ts of d ecid e d m at er ial v alu e .

T he ho n or i n D ivi ne F an ci es an d H i er og lyphic kes

h a d b e en b es t ow ed up on the w ife o f the E arl o f D or
s et an d on e m or n in g Qu arl es awoke t o fi n d h i ms el f
,
.

app o in ted thr o u gh t h a t n o bl e s in fl u en ce Chr onol ’

, ,

o e r of L on do n
g T h e w ork w as l ight the inco me
.
,

w a s fai r an d th e po et h ad l eis ur e to evolv e v ast n um

,

b er s o f rh ymin g m ed itation s .

B ut h e fail ed to do so T roublous d ay s w er e at
.
54 T HE C AVAL I ER PO E T S
S olomon s Recan ta ti on a p a r aph r as e o f E ccl es ias te s
’
,

i n 1 64 6 T he S hep her d s Or acles d eal in g w ith th e

’
,

th eol ogi cal qu arr els of the day ; an d i n 1 64 9 T he

Vi rgi n Wi do w a pl ay wh i ch h ad b een acted p r i
,

vately at Ch el s ea, an d wh ich L an gbain e h as ch ar

”
itably d es cr ib ed as an inn o c ent , i no ff e n s iv e pl ay .

T hu s , ye a r afte r y ea r works wh ich doub tl es s h e h ad

n ev er hop e d to s ee in p ri nt , an d n ev er did s ee, c ame
fr om the pr es s an d s old w ell .

Wh at w as th e ch arm o f i t all ? w e of to -day ask

i n som e as ton is h men t . I n much of it w e can s ee but
the c o n v en tion al , dull th inkin g of a d ev ou t but un
i n s p ir ed chur ch man . W e fi n d mu ch r ep etitio n , n o
l ittl e c ar el es s n es s in ver s ifi cation , an d at times a
b itt e r m el an choly th at sou n d s fal s e to our m or e
o pt i mi s ti c e a r s . Ju s t h e r e, how ev er , in th is ar ti
”
fi cial s ad n es s , i s the s ec r et of mu ch of Qu arl e s ’

s ucc e s s ; a p o eti c m el an ch ol w as e x tr emel y p opul a r

y
i n C av al ier d ays . A ccord in g to th ei r own v er s es ,
m an y o f the kn ight s of the time w er e ab out to ex
p i r e for the s ake o f th eir l ady-l ov es ; w e fin d fr an k,
g ay h ear te d S ir Joh n Suckl in g c on s id er ed s o meth in g
-

o f a wo n d e r b ec aus e o f h is r e fu s a l t o die i n t h is

m an n er ; w e h ea r men s ou n d in g the s ame ar tifi ci al

n ot e in th ei r r el igious p oetry D oub tl ess , F r an ci s
.

Qu arl es did n ot co n s id er his n ot e at a n y time fal s e,

for he w as a s in c er e man ; but , l eav in g out o f con s id
er ati on th e da a n d i ts t as tes , an d v i ew in g h is m e d
y
itati on s w ith t he eye s of comm on s en s e, w e o f th i s
cen tur
y f eel t h a t h i s n o t i on s o f l ife an d i t s a t tend an t

ev ils w e r e m o s t e x t r av a an t
g . Un ce as in gly h e s eems
 F R A N C I S Q UARL E S 55
“
to be cr y in g : O wr e tch e d m an th at I am , who s h all
d el ive r me fro m the b od y o f th i s d eath ?

An d wh at s a l i fe a w ear y p il gr image
’

,
-
,

Wh en gl or y i n on e day d oth fi l l the s tage

Wi th ch il dh ood man h ood an d d ecr e p i t age
, ,
.

D oubtl ess th e Pur it an faith w as b eg in n in g to

c au s e men ev en C av al iers to qu es t ion mor e earn es tly
, ,

th e v an i ties the b eau ties ay e th e v ery c om fo r ts o f

, , ,

th is e a r thl y e x is ten c e an d th is but aid ed in the tend

,

en cy t ow a rd a w id er s ep ar ation of the a e s th eti c an d

th e eth i c al H ow H err ick s s oul l on g ed fo r the ’

.

ae s th eti c an d how Qu a rl es emb r ac ed the eth ic al !

’
,

L ife an d i ts l ov ely th in g s w er e e ar thl y an d w er e ,

th ey n ot th er efor e s in ful ? S in g o f G o d con clud es

Qu arl es—G od an d h is r el ation s to o ur s oul ; th ese
, , ,

ar e the o nl y wor th y th em e s T hu s our C av al ier .

s in e r b ec a m e wh at Pr ofes s or S ch ell in
g g c all s a d e
”7
vo tion al p amphl et eer an d l o n g r emain ed the
,

m os t popul a r of the nu mer ou s tr ib e wh ich soo n

spr an g i n to exis t en c e An d by the fal s e s tan d ard s
.

o f th e d ay d ev o u tn es s m e an t cr y in g aloud V an it y , ,

al l i s v an it y

C an h e be f ai r , th at w i th er s at a bl as t ?
” 3
Or h e be s tr on g, th at ai r y br eath c an cas t ?

Ho w h e p ar ad es the eth i cal purp os e ! B ut a

po et mu s t s in g to his age or el s e fail an d the i nn u ,

6 T he S h o t es s o
r n f L i fe .

7 S even te en th C e tur
y L yr ics p 4 7
n , . .

8 M ors T ua .
56 THE C AVALIE R PO E T S
mer able d iti o n s of Qu arl es r el ig ious v ers e d ecl ar e
e
’

th at he mu s t h av e s atis fi ed a lo n g in g in thous an d s
an d th ou s an d s o f s impl e t ru s tin h ea r t s D ull he
g , .

m ay s eem to us at t h is l ate hour ; d id act i c he un

d oubt edly w as ; but after al l if he bou n d up the
, ,

broken h ear t an d dried the p en itent s tear s he ’

,

s erv ed hi s ag e as ev e r S ur el y his
y po e t s hould . .

s o n s w er e n o t w r i tt en i n v ain
g .

To h e av en s h i gh ci ty I d i rect my j ourney
’

Wh os e S p an gl ed s ubur bs e n te r tai n mi n e ey e ;
M i n e ey e by con tem p l ati on s gr e at attor n ey
'

, ,

T r an s cen d s th e c r y s tal p av eme n t o f th e Sky

B ut w h at i s h e av en gr e at G od comp ar ed to th ee !
, ,

Wi thout thy p r es en ce h eav en s n o h eav en to

,
’

We w ell b el iev e Ph ill ip s who wr it in g in

may , ,

1 675 d ecl ar e d th at Qu arl es p oems h av e b een ev er

’
, ,

an d s till a r e in w ond e r ful v en er at io n a mo n g th e vul

,
” 1°
g ar , an d c ond emn at th e s am e t im e A n tho n
y a
W ood s s neer in g r emark th at h e w a s the s ome
’ “

”
t ime d arl in g of our pl eb eian j ud gm en t T he po et .

mu s t s in g n ot to the coll eg e p ro fes sor but t o th e ,

p eopl e ; els e he w ill n ev er h av e th e pr e c i ous ho n o r of

b ein g d is cu ss ed by th e s ai d pro fes s or ! T h e c om
mon fol k ar e the sur es t gu ard ian s o f p oetry an d ,

Qu arl es app eal ed d ir ectl y t o th em T h os e av er ag e .

r ead er s of the s ev ent een th c en tury b el iev ed in a

wr ath ful G od an d con s equ en tl y th ey ad mir ed the
,

r ig or o f such l in es as thos e found in O Whi ther S hal l

9 D el ight i n G od .

1 0 Th eatrum P oe tar wm .
 F R A N C I S QUAR L E S 57
O w hi th er S h all I fly ? w h at p ath un trod
Sh all I s e ek out to s cap e th e fl ami n g r od
’

Of my offen ded o f my an gr y G od ?,

T he r el igious r ead ers Of the c en tury b el iev ed too , ,

i n a s ter n r epr ess ion of s el f ; for p as s ion s app etites , ,

m er e d es ir es w er e of the d ev il T he s t er n n ote o f
, .

Ol iv e r s d au n tl es s I r on s id es may be h eard alr ead y in

’

Qu arl es po em Fai th :
’
,

B ut w ould st th ou c on que r, h ave th y con ques t crow n d

’

B y h an d s o f S e r aph i ms , t r i umph d w i th th e s oun d

’

Of h e av en s l o ud tr um p et, w ar bl ed by the s hr i l l
’

C e l es ti al ch oi r , r ecor d ed w i th a qui l l
P l uck d f r om th e p i n i on o f an an gel s w i n g,
’ ’

C on fi r med w i th joy by h eav en s ete rn al K i n g ;

’

”
C on que r th y s el f .

”
S om e po et s s ay s blunt old fash ion ed T hom as
, ,
-

“
Full er ,
i f d eb arr ed pro fan en es s w an to n n es s an d
, ,

h t h m n eith e r abu s e G od
s aty r i cal n es s ( t a t ey ay ,

th ems elv es n or th ei r n eighbor s ) h av e th ei r ton gu es

,

cut out in effect O th e rs o n l y tr ad e in w it at the

.

s eco n d h and b ein g all for tr an sl ati ons n oth in g for

-
, ,

i n v en t ion .Ou r Qu a rl es w as fr ee fr om th e f aul ts

o f the fi r s t as i f h e h ad dran k [ s i c] o f J o rd an i n
,

s te ad o f H el ico n an d sl ep t on M ou n t Ol iv et for his

,
” 11
P a rn as s us ; an d w as h app y i n his own inv en ti on .

A ll v er y w ell f r ien d F ull er ; but th is mor e cr itic al

,

day d eman d s the r ea s o n for c er tain bl emi s h es wh ich

doub tl es s y ou n ev er con s id er ed worth y of n ot ic e .

1 1 Wor th i es o
f E n glan d .
 58 THE C AVAL I ER PO E T S
L ike o th e r s in ger s in the m etaph ys ic al cho ir
all , ,

Fr an c is Qu arl es w as en tir el y too pr ofus e w ith fig

ur es W h at sh iftin g of s imil es an d metaphor s i n
.

hi s lo v e s on g M y bel o ved i s M in e an d I A m H is !
-
,

T he fi rst st an z a d ecl a r es the lov ers to be

E v n l ike th e tw o l ittl e b an k-d i vi d in g b r ooks ,

’

ll h at w as h the p ebbl es wi th th ei r w an ton s tr eams ;

‘

I n th e s e c on d st an z a she h as turn ed to fl ax an d
he to a con s um in g fl am e I n the fi fth Sh e excl aims : .

”
He mi n e by w ater I am hi s by wi n e ;
‘

s ,

an d in the s ixth s he d ecl ar es

”
He my p p or tin g e l m an d I vi n e
’
s su hi s .

'

A n d yet, in sp it e o f th e in co n g ruou s m ixtur e , g r ac e

an d b eau t b nt ar e n o t a se
y .

T h is co n s tan t str iv in g for rh etori c al surpr i s es ,

th is d is cov eri n g o f l iken es s es wh e r e l iken es s es n ev e r
ex is t ed th is in d is c r imin ate l oqu aci ty on ev ery s ub
,

ject th is c ar el es s n es s o f co mp ar is on an d fi g ur e
c aus ed by too in ten s e g az in g a t the subj ect — th es e
, ,

co me n ea r t o d es tro yin g Qu arl es ch anc e for l ast in g ’

fame Y et on e mus t f eel th at h er e is r eal an d s in

.

c er e emot io n T he s o n g s ter i s flyin g h ard ; n ow an d

.

th en he h it s th e g rou n d w ith a r id iculou s fl op ; but ,

afte r all his a im i s h ig h an d he s oar s a t t imes

, .

T h er e i s m an y a n o tabl e th ou g h t amid s t th is m as s
of c omm onpl ac e S ubdu e th ys el f ; th ys el f s a
’
.
 FRA N C I S QUAR L E S 59
”
w orld to th ee H ath H eav en despoil d wh at his
.
’

” “
ful l ban d h ath g iv en th ee ? H eav en holds not
out H is bow for ev er b ent .

M ay p otter th at f r om out
n ot a th e groun d
”
H ath f r amed a v es s el s e arch i f , i t be s oun d ?

‘
A nd are th er e n ot i n th es e l in es fro m l
an e egy on on e
o f his fr ien ds the ch ar act er i st ics of ood po etr ?
g y

NO az u e r d app l es my be-d arken ed s ki es ;

My p ass ion h as n o A pr i l i n h er e y e s
”
.

N o , Fr anc is Qu arl es h as h ardl y r ec eiv e d fai r tr eat

m en t from d is gru n tl ed old T ime A n or ig in al ity o f .

i mages , a mult itud e o f n obl e th ou gh ts a s pl en d id ,

us e of l an g u ag e c an n ot be d en i ed h im
, A t t imes .

he is too f an ciful ; at time s he i s ob scur e ; but n ev e r

i s he w i th ou t sp i r it an d a c ertain r ou gh v ig or a r e al ,

kn owl ed g e of hu man n atur e an d i ts n eed s a mor al ,

upl ift born of h is ea r n es t e ffor ts to r el ieve th o s e

n e ed s
. P erh aps a ft e r all, the m an w as cap abl e o f
,

r eat e r w or k but w as l imi ted b th e t as tes of the

g , y
day t as t es wh ich comp ell ed him t o turn out cop y
”
to o r d er , t as tes wh ich m ad e him wh at S ain ts bury
”
c all s a j our n al is t in v er s e I sh ould n ot l ike
. ,

con tin u es th is m o s t ar tist i c cr iti c o f th es e l at e r d ay s ,

to be ch all en g ed to produc e tw en ty g ood l in es o f

his i n v er s e or pr os e wr itt en c o n s e cut iv el y yet i t ,

might be a s t ill mo r e d an g er o u s ch all en g e to pr o d uc e

an y j ourn al i s t in v e r s e or p r o s e o f th e pr e s en t day

who h as wr itten s o much an d in whom the oc c as ion al

,
60 THE C AVALI ER PO E T S
fl ash es —th e S ign s po et ic al pow er in the i nd ivi d
of

u al an d of wh at m ay be c all ed p oeti c al atmosph er e

in his surrou n d in g s — ar e mor e f r equ en t

” 12
.

Wi th th es e kin d words let us ceas e from inqu iry

into the l ife an d v ers es o f Fr an c i s Qu arl es T im e s .

l imit m en s v is i ons H e c ould n ot qu it e s ee the

’
.

r a t r m s t er i es w ith Sh akes p ear e ; h e could n ot

g e e y
h ear th em w ith T en n ys on H is age in i ts con ven
.

tion al r el ig i ou s m o od s loo ked upon e arth as a s lou gh

o f d es pond , an d h e kn ew onl y h ow to s in g accord

in gly .

Wh at w el l advi s ed e ar r e gards
-

Wh at e arth can s ay ?
Thy w o r ds ar e gold but thy r ew ard s,

A r e p ain ted cl ay .

T hy c un n in g c an but p ack th e car ds ,

” 13
T h ou can s t n ot p l ay .

12 H is tory o f El izabethan L i ter atur e, p . 878

.

13 T h e V ani ty of the Wor ld .

62 THE C AVAL IER PO E T S
”
fac e i s the fac e of asp ir it d imly b r ight wri tes ,

M rs B r ow n in g ,
.
2
wh il e Al ex and er G r os a r t z eal o u s ,

s ch ol a r an d keen ob s erv e r n otes the thou gh t-l in e d

,

burd en ed ey ed t r a n slu cen t as i f tr an s fig ur ed fac e

-
, .

T h er e I s a n obl e ivor y p al a c e for the m eek

‘ ’

an dh ol s oul th e r e ; br o w s teep r ath e r th an w i d e l ips

y
tr emul o u s as w ith mu s ic ; n os e pro n ou n ced as Ri ch
a r d B ax ter s ; ch e eks w o r n an d th in ; h a i r full an d
’

fl owin g as in y ou n g e r d ays : alto geth er a f a c e wh ich ,

o n e could s c ar cel y p a s s w ith out n o t e al l th e m or e

th at th e r e a r e l in es in it wh i ch i n ev i tabl y s u g g e s t
th at i f G eor g e H e rb e rt mell ow ed in to th e sw eet l ov
i n gn es s an d g en tl en es s o f Joh n wh om J es u s l ov ed ,
’

i t w as o f g r ac e an d thr o u g h m as terd om o f a n atu

” 3
r all y l o fty fi e ry s p iri t
, .A n d qu ain t old I z aak
W al ton w ho w al ked am o n g m en w ith a s hr ewd but
,

e v e r kin dl y d i s p os e d s o ul looked upo n h im w ith l ov e

, ,

an d wr ote : H is a s p ect w as ch eer ful an d h is ,

s p ee ch an d m ot ion did bo th d ecl ar e h im a ntl m a

g e e n ;

for th ey w er e all s o m eek an d obl ig in g th at th ey pu r

”4
ch as ed l o v e an d r es p ect f r om al l th at kn e w him .

A nd l is ten : S ome o f the mea n e r s ort o f h is p ar is h

did s o l o v e an d r ev er en c e M r H erb e rt th at th ey .

would l et th eir pl ou g h r es t wh en M r H erb ert s .

’

S ain t s b ell ru n g to pr ayer s ; th at th ey m ight al s o

’

o ffe r th ei r d ev o tion s to God w ith h im ; an d w o ul d

th en r etur n b ack to th eir plou gh An d h is most .

hol y l ife w as such th at i t b eg ot such r ev er enc e t o

2 Th e B ook of th e Poe ts V ol I I , p
, .

i
3 L e s u re H our s
, V ol XX , p 4 5 5
. II . .

f f G eorge H er ber t
4 Li e o .
 G E ORG E H E RB E RT 63

G od an d to him th at th ey thou ght th ems elv es the h ap

p ie r wh en th ey c arr ied M r H e rb er t s bl es s in g b ack
’
.

w i th th em t o th eir l abor T hu s p ow er ful w a s h is

.

r e as o n an d ex ampl e to p er s u ad e oth ers to a p r act ical

”5
p iet y an d d evotion
—
.

W h at an opp ortun ity for an ar tis t l the plow

m an b ow in g i n the l on el y fi eld wh il e w ith in th e dis
t an t church the b elov ed pr ies t c alls up on th ei r co m
m on G od . S uch a m an , th en , w as th e au th o r o f T h e
T emple . I n th at s h or t l ife o f fo r ty year s th ere w as
a s oul b at tl e full o f m erc il ess an g u is h
-
a s oul -bat

l
t e w a g e d f ro m th e g a ud i e st t empl e o f world -
pr i d e t o

the wh ite s t ep s o f H eav en i ts el f .

I n the proud d ays b e for e Cromw el l th er e s t ood

n ear M ont g omery , W al es , an an c ien t c as tl e wh er e
m an y a gay an d br ill iant c ourt ier had li v ed an d l ov ed
an d r ev el ed an d g o n e fo rth to b at tl e for h is kin g .

T h at ho me n o l on g e r s tan d s , for the s tor my d ays o f

the Co mm o n w eal th s aw i t fal l in t o ru in B ut h e r e
.

i n the old d ay s the H erb erts h ad dw elt , an d h ad

p o in t ed w i th pr id e to the lo n g l in e f kn ights th at
o

l ed b ack to the br av e E arl o f P embr oke, i n the t ime

o f K in g E d w a rd IV H er e the po et , G eo rg e H er
.

b er t, w as born in 1 5 9 3, a you n g er son i n a famil y

o f ten ch ildr en T he old-fash i o n ed family gr ew t o a
.

mo s t e st imabl e m an hood an d wo man ho od , an d on e

s on b es id e s G eo r g e brou ht fr es h fam e to th e n ame
g
the t al en te d an d som ewh a t err atic L ord H erb e rt o f
Ch erbury T he fath er d ied wh en the fu tur e p oet
.

w as a ch ild o f fou r , l eav in g the l i t tl e on es to the

5 Wal ton , Li fe f G eorge
o H er ber t.
64 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
r o f th eir b eau tiful brill ian t lov abl e but
ca e , , , un
d oub tedl y i mp er iou s moth e r I n ad mi r ation o f . h er
in tell ec tu al s t r en g th D r D on n e a fou n d e r of
.
, th e
m et aphy s i c al s cho ol w ro te :
,

I n all h e r w o rd s to e v e r y h e ar e r fi t,
”
Y ou m ay at r ev e l s or at coun ci l s i t .

She i t w as w h o fi rs t d i r ec ted h is min d tow ard th at

i n ten s e r eg a r d for r el ig io n wh ich , i n cr e as in g w i th th e
ea r s a t l en th ch an e d h is s oul i nto a l iv in s ac
y , g g g
r ifi ce f o r t h in s d iv in e
g .

Und e r h er g u id an ce h e l ai d th e fou n d at ion o f his

t h o r ou gh e duc ation an d en te r e d W es tmin s te r S cho ol
e x c ep ti on all w ell pr ep ar ed I t h as b een s ai d th at
y .

p r id e of f amily m ad e him s om ewh at r es e rv ed t oward

the o th e r b oy s th er e ; but h ea r o n c e m o r e the w ord s
o f qu ie t v oi c e d W al to n :
-
T he b e a u ties o f h is p r etty
b eh av io r an d w it s h in ed an d b ec ame s o emin en t an d
l ov el y in th is h is i n n ocen t ag e th at h e s eemed to be
m a r ked out for p iet y an d to b ec o me the c a r e o f
H eav en an d o f a p ar ticul a r g ood an g el to gu ard an d
”6
g u id e h im . H e en te r e d T r in i ty in 1 6 09 w as a , .

B A in 1 6 1 1 w as el ec ted a fell ow of T r in ity i n

. .
,

1 6 1 4 an d r ec eiv ed his M A i n 1 6 1 5
, . .H is c ar eer
.

as a u n iv e r s ity m an w as n o th in g sh o r t o f br ill i ant .

H e w a s ch os en Publ i c Or at o r of th e Un iv ers ity i n

1 6 1 9 an d h eld th e p os i tion for eight y e a r s He .

cou n te d am on g h is in timate f r ien ds su ch men as Sir

H en ry W otton th e D uke of Ri chmond , the M arqu is
,

6 Life f George H er bert

o .
 G E O R G E H E R B E RT 65 .

of H am ilton an d the famou s D r D on n e E v en . .

L ord B aco n h ad t h is you th l o ok o v e r his ph ilos oph

i cal w orks an d m eekl y i n d eed the g r eat ph ilo s oph er
, , ,

r e c eiv ed the y ou n g m an s c ri t ic is ms On e day the

’
.

amb itious or at or wr ot e a L atin l e tte r to the kin

g ,

t h an kin g h im for a b ook an d so exqu is i tel y form e d

,

w as the L atin th at the rul er d ecl ar ed hi m the j ew el

o f the U n i v er s it E xc ll en t s tud ent th at h e w as
y e .
,

h ow ev er h e w as s till a g ay a n d w orldl y fello w H e

, .

s eldom att en d e d to the du ties o f h is or ator s h ip un

l es s the kin g h ims el f w as to be pr es ent ; but on such

o cc a s io n s h e d el iv er e d addr e s s e s s o b r ill ian t an d s o

s ki l full y ph r as e d th at hi s r oy al aud ien c e w en t aw ay

e n thu s ias ti c A n d his r ew ar d w as n ot sl ow to fol

.

l ow : w e fi nd th e s ov er eign g iv in g h im an o ffi ce wh ich
r equ ire d not o n e wh it of l ab o r s av e dr aw in g on e hun
d r e d an d tw en ty p ou n ds a ye ar W i t h t h i s m on e y
.
”
,

wri tes W al ton an d his an n u i ty an d the adv an tages

,

o f h is c oll e e an d o f h is or a to r sh ip h e en j o ye d h is
g ,

n teel hu mo r f or cl o th e s an d c ourt -l ike comp an y

g e ,
”7
an d s eld om l ooke d t o w a rd C ambr id ge

T hu s at tw en t y s ix h is c our s e throu gh l i fe s eem ed

,
-
,

as s u r e d o f s mo oth n e s s pl eas ur e an d idl en ess

, , .

A t l en g th how ev e r th er e came in to his li fe a s

, , ,

i n t o ev e ry m an s a c r is is a tur n in g p oin t wh er e his

’
, ,
-

d ec i s ion m ean t eith e r s ucc es s or d es tru ctio n For .

s ev e r al e ars H er b e r t h a d b e en hop in g an d w ith g ood

y ,

r eas o n for h igh offic e in the g ov ern men t s e rv i ce

,
.

H is in fl u en tial fr ien d s an d the kin g s outspoken ad

’

m ir ation en tir el y w a r r an t ed such exp ect ati ons But .

f f G eorge H b r t
7 Li e o er e .
66 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
Ki n g J am e s p as s ed aw ay, an d s o did oth er fr iends ,
an d H e rb er t, h op el es s o f adv anc emen t in s ecul ar o f

fice, turn e d t o th at i n s t itution f or wh ich h e w as so

ad mir abl y fi tt ed — the Church T h e u n feign ed de
.

voutn es s o f th e man w as r emarkabl e Searchi n g .

am o n g his e ffe cts af te r his d e ath , his fr ien d s c ame

a cr os s an en g r av e d fi g ur e of th e Chr is t cru c ifi ed on

an an ch o r th e i mag e a p a rtin g g ift of D r D onn e s ’

.

an d upon i t the s ain tly H erb ert h ad w r i tt en :

Wh en my d ear f ri en d coul d w r ite no more,

H e gav e thi s s eal an d s o gav e o er
’
.

Wh en w i n d s an d w aves r i s e h igh est I , am s u e r

”
T hi s an ch or keep s my f ai th th at me
, , r
s e cu e .

For a l ittl e t ime b efor e en t er in g his n ew sph er e

o f l i fe h e l iv ed i n al mo s t c ompl ete s ol itud e at a

fr ien d s h o us e in K ent H e fear ed to und e rtake the

’
.

w o rk of a pr ies t ; s tr an ge to s ay he did n ot con s id e r

,

h ims el f g ood en ou gh ! I n July 1 62 6 h e w as g iv en

, ,

a s hi s ch arg e L ey ton E c cl es i a a v ill ag e i n Hu n t in g

d on —an d wh at a ch ar g e i t w as ! T he church w as
,

i n s o d il ap i d at e d a c on d ition th at i t h ad n ot b een us ed
for tw enty year s ; th er e w as n o hom e f or th e cl er gy
man an d the p eopl e h ad s eemin gl y los t all sp ir itu al
,

amb i tion . Und is mayed h ow ev er th e i n exp er i enc ed

, ,

H erb ert en ter e d the fi eld b eg g ed co n tribu ti o n s from

,

rel ativ es an d frien ds far an d n ear an d s oon bu il t on e

,

of th e m o s t art is ti c s mall c hurch e s in al l E n gl an d .

S till h e h es i t ated t o b eco m e a r egul arl y ord ai n ed

m ini s t er of the Ch urch of E n gl an d Th e const ant .
 GE OR GE H E RB E RT 67
qu est ion b efor e him s eems to h av e b een : W ill my “

s oul s t an d the t es t ? B ut z ealous N i chol as F e r r a r

an d th at might y w orker L aud w er e n u mb e r ed am on
, , g
his fr ien d s an d th ey s o pl aced the m att e r b efo r e h im
,

th at h e w as in du c ed to t ake hol y ord ers in 1 630 .

H e s eemed to be bl in dl y foll ow in g wh at he con s id

e r ed G o d s w ill f o r h e a r wh at he w ro te i n H
’
, i
ffl on
c ti ,

s oon a fter b eco min g a r ector

Now I am h er e w h at
, T h ou wi l t do w ith me
N on e o f my books w i l l s h ow ;
I r ead, an d s i gh, an d w i s h I w ere a tr ee ;
For th en s ur e s h oul d I gr ow
T o f r uit o r s h ad e ; at l e as t s ome bi r d w oul d tr us t
H er h ous eh ol d to m e, an d I s h oul d be j ust .

A mis e r ably p oo r c o mp ar is on , p erh aps ; but i t s hows ,

at l e a s t, the u tt er tru s tful n es s an d r eal d es i r e of th e

man .

T he r em ain d e r o f H erb ert s l ife w as to be s p ent at

’

B emer ton , i n W il tsh ir e L ike mo s t s en s ibl e men , he

.

v er y s oon r each ed the c o n clu s i on th a t l if e as a b ach

e l or w as n ot th e i d eal st at e o f m an , an d he m arr i ed

hi s w ife th e th i rd day aft e r meetin g her .T h is w as ,

ind eed , s h o r t w o rk ; but I z aak W al ton d ecl ar es th at
th e g irl s fath er h ad s o pr ais ed th e g en tl e p o et an d
’

pr each e r th at she w as in lov e w ith him b efor e th ey

e v er m et
’
. A n d l is ten to the qu ain t ol d fi sh er s a c
“
cou n t of th ei r h on eymoon e xp er ien ce : T he th ird
day after h e w as m ad e r ecto r o f B emer t on an d h ad
c h an d hi sw rd a d i l k clo th es i n to a c an on i c al
g e s o n s

h ab it , he r etur n e d so h ab ited to B em er
68 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
ton ; an d im med i at ely a fter he had s een an d s alut ed
his w ife h e s ai d to h er : Y ou ar e n ow a min ister s
,
‘ ’

w i fe an d mu s t n ow s o far for get your fath er s h ou s e

,
’

a s n ot to cl ai m a pr e c e d enc e o f an y o f y ou r p a r i sh

i on ers ; for y ou ar e t o know th at a pr ie s t s w ife c an ’

ch all en g e n o p r ec ed enc e or pl ac e but th a t wh i ch s he

pur ch as es by her obl igin g hum il ity ; an d I am s ur e
8
pl aces s o purch as e d do b est b ec o me th em An d .
’

W al ton s ays the br id e ch eer fully a cqu ies ced an d ,

fr om th at day w as almo s t a s n ot ed for h er m eekn ess ,

co n s t an t s acr ifi ce an d ch a r it ies as w as her hu sb and

, .

T h er e i s a m o d er n ev an g el ist wh o holds th at the

cl er gym an o f to day i s pr each in g the R ev e r en d Joh n
-

Sm ith an d him d ig n ifi e d in s tea d o f J es us Chr is t an d

H im c ru cifi ed No t s o w i th G e or g e H erb e r t H is
. .

fi rst s e r mon at B emerton w as a br ill i an t expo s it io n ,

full of l earn in g an d or n a ment j u s t to sh ow th em

th at he could —but a t the clo s e o f it he m eekly an
,

n oun ced t o hi s h ear e rs th at his l an gu age an d his

e xpr es s i o n s s h ould be m or e pl ain an d pr a c t ic al in his
” “
f u tur e s e r m on s as he d id n o t w is h t o
, fi ll th ei r
” 9
h e ad s w ith u n n ecess ar y n ot ion s T h en too l ook .
, ,

s om e t ime thr o u g h h is l i t tl e book T he C o un try P ar ,

s on . H e s et h i m s el f to the t ask o f m akin g th es e

rul es n ot for th e gu id an c e o f oth er s but for him
,

s el f ; an d et as I z aak W alt on h as s aid the pr e ach e r

y , ,

th at can sp ar e tw elv e p enc e an d yet w ants it [ the

” 1°
bo ok] is sc ar ce ex cu s abl e .

L i fe to su ch a man could n ot be a l on g day of lux

8 Li e o
f f G e orge H er ber t .

9 W al ton L i e o
f f G eorge H er ber t
, .

1 ° W al ton L i e o
f f G eorge H erbert
, .
70 T HE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
ood p astor T h en too all th e cou n tr y roun d h ad
g .
, ,

h e ard th at a s h e w as w al kin g to S al isbury to att en d

,

a m eetin g o f h is b elov e d mus i c club h e m et a p oo r ,

ll
f e ow dr i v in g a wor n -
out n a g , s tagg e r in
g u n d e r i t s

l o ad an d th at throw in g off hi s cl er gym an s c oat

, ,
’
,

he h elp e d u n lo ad the an imal Wh en h e app ear ed .

,

s w eaty an d d irt y at th e m eet in g o f th e club wh at

, ,

an an s w er w as th at whic h h e g av e to a d is g u sted
“
memb e r : If I be b ou n d to pr ay for all th at be i n
d is tr es s I am sur e th at I am b ou n d to p r actis e wh at
,
” '
I pr ay for . A g ain as he w ent al on g th at s ame
,

an c i en t S al isbur r o ad m et in g a c ou n tr y g en tl e
y e ,

m an h e ask ed h im ab ou t h is faith an d s o g en tl y an d
, ,

s o m eekl
y adv is e d h im th at the m an fell in l ov e w ith
the u n kn own cl ergyman an d o ften w en t out of h is ,

w ay to m eet the sw eet faced fo ll ow e r o f Chr is t

-
He .

l iv e d as h e t au g ht E v er y m or n in g an d ev ery ev en
.

i n g he w en t w i th his l ittl e f amily in to th e chur c h

an d r e ad th e s erv i c e ; a t en th p ar t o f h is tot al in

come he g av e t o his w ife to d is tr ibut e to th e poor ;

h e l iv e d t o s e rv e A fte r bu ild in g his B emer ton
.

h ome at his own exp en s e an d w ith mu ch a ctu al l ab or

on hi s ow n p art h e asked but on e th in g of h i s s uc
,

c es sor s, an d th is r equ est h e en gr av ed on th e fi r e

pl ac e
T o M g S uc ce s s or .

I f th ou ch an ce to fi n d
A n ew h om e to thy min d ,
An d buil t w i th out thy c os t ;
B e good t o th e p oor
A s G od gi ve s th e e s tor e ,
A n d th en m y l abour s l os t
’
n ot .
 G E O RGE H E RB E RT 71
T hus he w ent in an d out amo n g men e u e x empl ar —
for all his humbl e p ari sh on ers .

But n ow c ame the l ast s tru ggl e For som e years .

he h ad b een thr eat en ed w ith consu mp tion , an d in

1 631 h e b eg an to s ho w al armin g s ign s o f a d ecl in e .

H e l ab or ed on , how ev er , h 0p in g d ou btl e ss to for g et

h is d is eas e in his work, but at l en gth b ecam e too fee
bl e to r ead the chur ch s erv ic e H e kn ew th at n ow
.

at l as t D eath s tood b es id e him T hos e l as t fe w d ays

.

w er e full o f p ath et i c i n c id ents T he S un d ay b efor e

.

his d eath h e r os e s udd en ly from his c ou ch , c all ed f or

his mus i c , an d s an g his own onc e w ell -known ly r i c :

T h e Sun d ay s o f man s l i fe ,
’

T hr ead e d togeth e r on T i me s s tri n g,

’

M ake br ace l ets to ador n the w i fe

”
Of th e ete rn al gl or i ous K in g .

As the l as t hour ppro ach ed his fr ien d M r D unc an

a , , .
,

v is ited h im T he d yin g H e rb er t brou ght f orth a

.

m an u s cr ip t volu m e of po em s h an d ed i t to the v is itor

, ,
“ ”
an d w ith a th ou ghtful an d c on ten ted l o ok s aid
to him : Sir I p r ay d el iv e r th is l ittl e b ook to my
,

d ear bro th er F err a r an d t ell h im he s h all fin d i n i t

,

a p ic tur e o f th e m an y sp ir i tu al c on fl i ct s th at h av e

p as s ed b etw ix t G od an d my s oul b e for e I could s ub,

j e c t m i n e to th e w ill o f J e s u s my M a s te r ; i n who s e

s erv ic e I h av e n ow f ou n d p er fect fr eedom ; d es ir e hi m

t o r e ad i t ; an d th en i f he c an th ink i t may turn to

,

the adv an tage o f an y d ej ect e d p o or soul l et i t be ,

m ad e publ ic ; i f n ot l et h im burn it fo r I an d it ar e
, ,
” 12 '

l es s th an th e l ea s t o f G od s merc ies
’
An d thus .

1 2 W al ton L i e o
, f f G eorge H er be r t .
72 THE C AVA L I E R PO E T S
“
he p ass ed on br eath in g the s impl e pr ayer
, L ord , ,
”
n ow r e c eiv e my s oul H e w as bury ed ( a ccord in g
.

“
to his own d es ir e ) s ay s John A ubr ey
, w i th the ,

s in gi n g s erv ices for th e bu r i all of d e ad by th e s in g

”
in g men of S arum H e sl eeps at B emerton an d
.
,

as o n e w al ks o ut fro m S al isbury on e m ay s ee amon g

the tr ees in the dis tan ce the b eaut iful church er e ct ed

‘

to his m emory .

”
Sir I pr ay d el iv er th i s l ittl e book
, T h e l i ttl e
.

b ook w as the famous T empl e or S acr ed Po ems an d ,

P r ivate E jaculatione a qu ain t c oll ect io n th at h as

,

b een br ead an d w in e to m an y a w eary an d hun g ry

s oul . W e o f th is ag e som ewh at ind iffer ent as to
,

mod es an d r egul ar ity o f w ors h ip fi nd l i ttl e o f the ,

foo d wh ich oth er g en e r atio n s d is cov er ed ; p erh aps ,

how ev er th at i s our f ault an d not th e b ook s T o us

,
’
.

“
it i s a qu aint an d cur io u s volum e o f forg ot ten
”
l or e, an d i ts expr es s ion s s eem at t imes ev en g r o
t es que . An d tru e e nou gh i ts fi gur es of s p eech an d
, ,

car efully i nv olv ed phr as es ar e ecc entri c B ut th is .

tr ait h as p erh aps b een ov er-emph as iz ed Gos se .

“
sp eaks of his exc ess iv e p s eudo ps y ch olo gi c al in
-

g enu i ty
”
; W h ippl e c alls hi s v er s e a
“
bi z ar r e ex

pr es s i on an d J am es M ont g om er y d ecl ar e s th at i t
”
is d evot ion turn ed into ma squ e r ad e ; but a clo s e
study o f his phr as es w ill l ead on e to b el iev e w ith ,

Cr aik th at the qu ain tn ess l ies in hi s thou ghts

,
“
r ath er th an in th eir expr es s ion wh ich i s i n g en
,
” 13
e r al s u ffi c ien tl
y s i mpl e a n d lu min ous .

I t must be admitt ed h ow ev e r th at th er e ar e too

, ,

13 i
C ompen d ous H is tory f E ngl is h L i terature V ol
o , . I I, p . 19 .
 G E O RGE H E RB E RT 73
m an y r iddl es too m an y odd ities too m an y fant ast ic
, ,

f anc ies . R el ig ion had b ec ome s o famil iar t o h im

th at he d all ied an d toyed w ith i t T oo o ft en the .

p age i s bl emi sh ed w ith such a conc eit as .

G od gav e thy so ul brave wi n gs ; put n ot thos e feath ers

I n to a bed to s l e ep out al l i ll w eath er s .

'

A n d yet it r equ ir es som eth in g of an inv ent ive m ind

t o cr eat e such w ebs of unsu s p ec ted r el ati o n sh ips an d
c omp arisons C e rt ain l y he w as or ig in al ; c ert ainl y
.

he was imag in at iv e ; c e rt ainl y in ano th e r day throu g h ,

th es e g ifts he m ight h av e produ ced b eau tiful stru e

,

tur es ; but the styl e o f his age tur n ed his thou ght s
i nto the ali en ch ann el o f the far fetch e d an d ov er -

qu aint an d his t al ents fail ed to br in g forth th eir

,

hi gh est p oss ib il it ies H is rh yth m s ar e o ft en in tr i

.

c at e, an d ev en the v ery f orms of so me of his most

h eart felt po ems ar e fan t ast ic N ot e, in E as ter .

Win gs how the v er s es fall in to the ou tl in es of w in gs

, ,

how the l in es d imin ish as h is pr i d e d im in ish es h ow ,

th ey i ncr eas e as his con fi d enc e in God incr eas es

L or d , w ho c r eatedst man i n w eal th and r

s to e,

T h ough f ool is h ly h e l ost th e s ame,

D ec ay i n g mor e an d m or e
T i l l h e became
M os t p oor :

Wi th th ee
'

0 l et me r i s e ,

As l arks h ar mon i ously

'

, ,

An d s i n g th i s d ay thy v i ctor ie s
T h en s h all th e fall f urth e r th e fli gh t i n me .
74 T HE C AVAL IE R PO ET S
T he d ay d eman d ed p o et i c w in g s an d al ta rs an d
c ro s s es an d s o did suc c ee d in g d ays
, un til D ryd en ,

r id icul ed the w hol e m atter in M ac Fleckn oe :

Choose for thy comman d

Some p eaceful pr ovi n ce i n ac r os ti c l an d ,

Wh e r e th ou may s t wi ngs d i s p l ay or al tar s r ai s e

’

,
”
An d to rtur e on e p oor w or d ten th ous an d w ays .

T h in k w h at w e m ay about th es e e cc entri c it ies w e ,

must s ee th at H erb ert lon g fill ed a n eed Sinc er e .

man th at h e w as r el igi ous by n at ur e, an d bo rn

,

t o be thou ght ful hi s s impl e-m ind ed an d s in gl e

,

m ind ed d evout n ess encour ag ed an d insp ir ed m an y a

fl agg in g s oul an d l ed men to b el iev e w ith R ich ard
, ,

B axt er th at h eart -work an d h eav en -work m ake up

,
” 14
his b o oks . T o th i s day cr it ics m ay co me t o
s co ff in H erb ert s T emple ; but th ey ar e m or e th an
’

l ikely t o r emain t o p r ay M an y a r ead e r would .

e cho the s ent imen t o f fr ee th in kin g Samu el Col er id ge

-
,
“
w ho wr itin g in 1 81 8 d ecl ar ed : I fi nd mor e s ub
, ,

s tan ti al co m fort n ow in p i ous G eor g e H er b e r t s T em

’

l e wh ich I us e d to r ead to amus e m s el f w ith his

p , y
qu ain tn ess , in short , o n l y to l au g h at th an in all ,

th e p oetry s inc e th e p o em s of W alton ” 15

Cowl ey .
,

Qu arl es Cr ash aw an d o th er r el igi ous so n g writer s

, ,
-

o f th e er a may h av e b een m or e br ill i an t an d far mor e

a ccur at e i n thou ght an d in co mpos ition ; but h er e i s

an in t en s e e a rn estn es s a clutch in g at th e th in g s
,

e t e rn al , a d esp er at e b attl in
g wh i ch i s al ien to hi s
,

1 4 P oetical F ra men ts
g .

1 5 L ectures and N otes on S hakes ear e

p .
 GE O RGE H E RB E RT 75
fellow-s in gers R ead his L i n es on M an
. on e o f the,

”
pro fou n d es t utt er an c es of the E l iz ab eth an ag e, ac
cord in g to Wh ippl e, or n ote in Fr ail ty th e p s al m
16

l ike v ig o r an d d ir ect n es s wh en his s oul r is es to i ts

full v is i on of the world s t empt at ions
’
.

S oul -
rn est n es s g o es a l on g w ay in art an d wi ll
ea

cov er a mult itud e o f t echn i c al s in s I n sp it e of the

.

con fus ion o f comp ar is on s the ill ogi c al m in gl in g o f

,

fi g ur es th es e outpour in g s from the h eart of H erb ert

,

t ell an d t ell effect iv ely of su ffer in g an d t ears an d

, ,

p atient w ait in g ; an d be th ey a r tis ti c o r crud e th ey ,

fl ow on into the h earts o f oth e r men R ea d the l ast

.

l in es of E mploymen t an d con fes s th at i n th ei r s ad

, ,

s inc er ity an d s impl ic it y o f mood th ey mu s t be cl as s ed

,

am on g the b eau tiful pr ay er s of man .

P erh aps the r eason of H erb ert s succ ess l ies in the
’

f a ct th at ev ery on e l ov es to s tud y th e d ev elopm en t

o f a hu m an s oul . H er e i n T he T emple w e fin d j u s t

—
such an asp ir in g soul as all men g ood or w icked , ,

a dm i r e a soul stru ggl in g to as s er t i ts el f an d to

cl aim m ast ery ov er the t emp tat io n s of a mos t t empt

i n g ag e .T o such a sp i r it th e w ar far e n ev er can be
m ild Wh at a fev er is h an x iety i s in his in w ard
.

g l a nce ! W h at pos it iv e t e rro r at times ! T h e ly r i c

c o n fi d en c e of th at gl ad -h ear ted d evo tee Cr ash aw is , ,

i mpos s ibl e to him ; h e can but cry for mercy H is .

w as a m in d o f n atur all y g r ea t po s s ib il it ies an d , ,

a ct iv e e nt erpr is es for th e s e b ein g d en ied th at hun ,

ry min d b eg an to feed up on i ts el f T h er e for e in

g . ,

sp it e o f the d ecl ar at ion th at as a man u al of d evo

1 6 Li teratur e o h A E li zabeth p 24 8
f
’

t e ge of ,
. .
76 T HE CAVAL IE R PO E T S
t ion it is as thou gh a s er aph cov er ed his face with
,
” ‘ 7
hi s w in g s in r ap tur o us ad or at i on in s p ite o f ,

E mer s o n s b el ief th at s o much p i ety w a s n ev e r m ar

’

” 18
ried to s o much w it in sp it e of F er r ar s cl aim
,
’

“
th at th er e i s a p ictur e o f a d iv in e s oul i n ev ery
”
p age it m ust be ad mit ted th at th es e s on g s of H er
,

b ert s p ain -wrun g h eart ar e c oldly puri t an ic al wh en

’

c omp ar e d t o th e r i ch g or g e ou s c ath edr al ton e o f

, ,

C r ash aw s ch ant s
’
B ut h e r e in H erb ert i s a p s ych o
.

l og ic al in s ight f ar b ey on d the s cop e of his lyr ic al

c on t emp or ar
y H er e i
. s s o meth in g B rown in g-l ike

i n the keen obs erv ati o n o f cr itic al mom en ts in s oul

gr ow th H e h ad s u ffe r ed as oth e r m en h ad s u ff er ed ;
.

h e h ad f el t the blu s h o f hu mil iati on an d th e p an g s

o f r em ors e ; an d he c ould p i c tur e w i th app eal in g an d

eff e cti v e r eal is m th e c on fl i ct s o f sp ir i t an d e arth .

T he b es t po etry o f the man c am e i n th o s e tw o

e ars o f keen est an g u is h wh en h e w a s h es itat in b
y g e

tw een the world an d the Chur ch ; an d p erh ap s th i s

i s th e r eas on th at he b etr ays a c on s cie nc e morb id an d
alm o s t d i s eas e d i n i ts t en d e r n e s s H is is a st e rn .
,

! Pur it an v i ew o f the v an i t of all e ar thl th in s :

y y g

L or d, i n my s il en ce how do I d espi s e
Wh at up on tr us t
Is s tyl ed h on o r r i ch e s or f ai r e es
, , y ,
”
B ut i s f ai r d ust !

A n d yet h e i s n ot w i th out t en d e rn ess H ow . m an y a

h eart his l ittl e po em Vi r tue h as c o n s ol ed !

1 7 J ohn B r own . “
Th e P arson of B eme r ton ,
”
G ood Wor ds ,

V ol XXX I p 69 7
.
, . .

1 8 Parnas sus Pre face , .

78 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
much i s c ert ain : M y r i ads tr eas
be kn own ; but th i s
o f h ear ts th e p o ems of G e o r e
ur e i n th ei r h eart g
H erb ert who kn ow l ittl e an d d o n ot c ar e to know
” 20
mor e of the m igh ty s on s o f s on g .

20 G rose rt, L eis ure H ours V ol

, . XXII p, . 325 .
 T H OM A S C ARE W

( 1 5 98 1 639 )

Si r Su ckli n g , wh o s eemed to
J ohn b eliev e po etry
th e e as y offs prin g of i ns p ir ation , on c e e xpr ess ed h im

s el f conc ern in
g C ar ew in th es e w ord s

T om C ar e w w as n ext, but h e had a f aul t

T h at w ould n ot w e ll s tan d w i th a l aur e at ;
'

H i s m us e w as h i d e-boun d, an d th e i s s ue of b rain
’
8
Was se ld om br ought forth but wi th troubl e an d p ai n .

All that w e r e pr es en t th er e di d agr e e ,

A l aur e ate m us e s h oul d be e as y an d f r e e ,

Yet s ur e tw as n ot th at but tw as th ought th at h i s

’ ’

gr ace
C on s i d er e d h e w as w ell h e h ad a cup-b earer s pl ac e ’
.

T h er e i s an ol d b el ief, howev e r , th at h ard wri tin g

m ake s e as y r ead in g , an d T om C ar ew s po ems , es
’

“
p eci al ly his l yr i cs , s o c o n ceal ed the tr oubl e an d
p ain o f th ei r b irth th at th ey w er e m or e i n d em an d
th an the v er s es o f an y o th e r p oet o f the d ay An .

thon y a W o o d , the s ev en t een th -cen tur y chr on i cl e r ,

t ell s h ow th e E n gli sh folk w er e pl eas ed w ith the

ch arm in w t s f hi l r i c d s a d am or ou s
g s ee n e s o s y o e n

s o n n ets ; tho s e qu ain t compos ers , W illi am an d

2

1 S ess i ons of the Poets .

2 A then ae Oxoni ens es, V ol

'
. I p , . 630 .

79
80 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
H enr y L awes d el ight ed t o put h is s on gs t o mu s i c ;
,

w h il e the kin g h ims el f did n ot d isd ain to act a p ar t

in th at h e avy but g or g eous m as qu e C aelum B r i tan ,

nicum p er f o r med at W hi teh all in 1 633 w i th H enry

, ,

L aw e s i n ch ar g e of the fiddler s an d I n ig o Jo n e s
s h iftin g th e s c en es T he kin g a d mir ed his s omewh a t
.

i n d ol en t but p oeti c all y con s ci en tious s in g er , f east ed

him in to fatn es s an d in a n ot u n u s u al burst of lib
,

er ali ty g av e him the r o y al dom ain o f Sun n in g sh ill ,

in W in d s or F or est .

W h at m ann e r o f m an w as th is who h eld the friend

s hi p of ki n g an d c our ti er s an d lo s t i t n o t ? I z aak
W alton who kn ew him d ecl a r ed h im a g r eat lib er
,
“
,

t in e in his l ife an d t alke 3

A n thon y a W ood s ai d
“
o f h im H e b e c ame r eckon d amon g the ch iefes t ’
,

o f hi s time for d el i c acy o f w i t an d po e ti c fan c

y
w hil e his p er s o n al fr i en d L o rd Cl ar en d on wrot e i n , ,

l ater d ay s C ar ew w as a p ers on o f a pl eas an t an d

,

faceti ous w it an d m ad e m an y p o ems ( es p ec i all y in

th e am o rou s w a ) wh ich
y for t h e sh arp n es s of th e ,

f an cy an d th e el eg an ce o f th e l an gu age in wh i ch
th at fan cy w as spr e ad w ere at l eas t equ al i f n ot , ,
”5
s up e r i o r to an y o f th at t ime
, C ar ew h ad ampl e .

—
“
ti m e in d eed t o air th a t
, ,pl eas an t an d fac eti ous
”
w it , for l i fe w as for him but a p at h o f ros e s of

th e ho th ous e v ar i ety .

B o rn i n L o n d on the son of a favori t e and h ighly

,

r es p ect abl e kn igh t Sir M atth ew C ar ew M as ter i n

, ,

8 Fu lman MSS . See Nates an d Q ue ries , Secon d Se ri es, V ol .

V I, p . 19 .

4 A th en ae Oz on i ens es , V ol . I p , . 630 .

5 r
C l a en d on , L i fe, 9 p . .
 T HO M A S C AR E W 81

Ch an cery the boy atten d e d C o rpu s Ch r is ti C oll eg e

, ,

Ox ford r ead mu c h th at w as n o t in the curr iculu m

, ,

an d v e ry l i ttl e th at w as in i t an d l eft w i th ou t h is ,

d eg r ee T he old fath er w o rr ied o v e r the s on s w ild

.
’

h ab its the s ame h ab its d oub tl es s th at the fath e r

, ,

h ims el f h ad f ollow ed in h is y outh in Sh akes p ear e s ’

m erry L ondon an d wro te to a fr ien d Sir D udl ey ,

C arl eton th at T h omas ha d b een s en t to the M iddl e

,

T empl e to s tud y l aw but w as d oin g l it tl e C arl et on .

g e n erousl y o ff e r e d to m ake the y ou n g s c ap eg r ac e h is

s ec r etar a n d i n th i s c ap aci t t k h i m to V en ic e
y , y oo

an d T ur in B ut in 1 6 1 5 y oun g T om C ar ew had r e
.

turn ed to E n gl and ; even a s ecr et arys h ip to a kn igh t

w as too arduou s an occup ation for him T he g r ay .

h air ed fath e r in d esp air ov er the bl ack s h eep in his

,

e min entl c o n s er vat iv e a nd r esp ec t ed fl oc k n o w

y ,

t urn ed t o an oth e r son the g all an t Sir M atth ew J r ,

, , .

t o uphold the an cien t gl ory o f the f amily Could he .

but h av e l ooke d in to the d is t ant fu tur e ! “

Whil e
the l iv es an d for tun e s o f the h i g h j ud ici al f u n ct i on
a ry an d th e br a v e y oun g kn ig ht b ann e r et ar e for g o t -

t en wh il e the p e r s o n s of r ank fash i o n an d i n fl u en c e

, , ,

w ith wh om th ey m ix ed h av e p ass ed for the m o s t p art , ,

co mpl etel y aw ay an d wh il e ev en S ir D udl ey C a rl e

,
o

t on i s famil iar only t o a few an t iqu ar ies the lu s tr e ,

wh i ch on e m an o f g en iu s h as sh ed on the n ame o f
” a
C ar ew r emain s u n fad ed an d can n ev e r v ,
d ecl in e .

I n sp ite o f the fath er s fe ars For tu n e s mil ed upon

’

the youn g r as c al an d in 1 6 1 9 w e fi n d h im bow in g

,

h i s h an d s o me h ead in th e F r en ch cour t in comp an y ,

0 W . C H az l tt,
. i ed . Poem: of Carew p , . 18
.
82 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
w ith the c o mpl i sh ed L ord H erb ert o f Ch erbur y
a c .

Th en c am e h i s app oin tmen t for h is m o s t a d mir abl e

,
”7
i n gen u ity G en tl eman of the P ri vy Ch amb er an d
,

S ew e r in Ord in ar y t o H is M aj e s ty Ch arl es I an d h e , ,

f eas ted an d d anc e d an d p r es en ted th e ad mi r in g l a

,

d ies w i th g all an t c ompl imen t s an d pr etty l yrics an d ,

g r ew pr em atur ely ol d fro m too mu ch l eis ur e w in e , ,

an d s in an d s o e nd ed in his fi fti eth

, y ea r L ord .

Cl ar endon who as h as b e en n ot ed w as h is p ers on al

, , ,
“
f r i en d s ay s of th at end in g :
, H i s glory w as th at
afte r fi fty y e ars o f h is l if e s p en t w ith l es s s ev e ri ty

or e x actn es s th an it ou g h t to h av e b een h e d ie d w i th

the g r eates t m an i fest ation s of Chri s ti an i ty th at hi s

b es t f ri en d s could d es i r e ”8
But I s aak W al ton .

tells a di ff er en t an d a d arke r story o f th at p ass in g

out of a p o et s s oul R ob e r t Burn s on c e s aid th at a
’
.

man m igh t l iv e l ike a fool but h e s c arc e d ie d l ike ,

on e ; an d s o a ccordi n g to W al t on i t w a s w i th C a r ew
, , .

“
Seiz e d w i th an ex tr em e il ln es s h e s en t fo r M r , .

H al es t o co me to him an d d es i r e d h i s ad
,

v ic e an d absolut ion wh i ch M r H al es upon a pr omis e

, .
,

o f am en d men t g a v e h im , B u t M r C a r y .

[ C ar ew ] c ame to L on do n fell t o his ol d co mp an y , ,

an d in t o a m or e vi s ibl e s c an d alou s li fe an d e sp e c i all

y ,

in his d is c our s e an d he b ein g t aken v er y s i ck th at

, ,

wh ich prov e d his l as t an d b ein g mu ch t roubl ed in ,

m in d pro cur e d M r H al es to c o me t o h im in th is his

, .

s i ckn es s an d a on f m i d d e r in a r s tl
g y o n e s y g e n e y , ,

after a c on fes s i on o f m an y o f h is s in s t o h av e his ,

7 W ood , A thena e Oxorviem ee, V ol . I p , . 630 .

8 Li e p
f , . 9 .
 T HOM A S C ARE W 83

p r ay ers an d h is ab s olu tio n M r H al es told him h e . .

s h ould h a v e hi s p r ay er s but w ould by n o e mean s,

” 9
iv h i m t h n e ith e r the s a c r amen t o r ab s o lu ti on
g e en .

A s w as his l ife s o i s h is p o etr y H e l ov ed w in e .

,

an d ros es an d fai r fl or i d wo men to wh om h e c ould

, , ,

i n d i te j o y ous or p en s iv e p o ems about th ei r b eau ty ,

a d or in g i t wh il e i t l as ted r eg r ettin g i t wh en i t ,
” 1°
fad ed . From such a man w e mu s t n ot exp ect the
m ou n tain -m aj es ty o f a M il ton o r the s oul in s ight o f -

a B row n in g H e r each es n o g r eat h eigh ts o f g en iu s ;

.

but on th e oth er h an d he r each es n o g r eat d ep th s

, ,

o f m ed i ocr i ty T hrou gh out th e fr ag il e tex tur e o f

.

h is s on g s he sus tain s a pr etty h ig h l ev el ; for th ou g h

i n al m os t ev e r y p oem th e m icr os c op ic cr iti c m ay fi n d
at l e as t on e i ll expr es s e d phr as e
-
i f the cr iti c w ill ,

c as t a s id e his micros c op e an d v iew the w ork w i th

s mp ath eti c hu m an ey es h e w ill fin d e ach l y r i c n ot
y ,

m er e di s c on n e c ted l in es of b eau ty but a w ell w ov en ,

-

e n ti r e ty an or g an i c w hol e On e ex ampl e w ill s uf

fi c e —the w ell -expr ess ed comp ar is o n in T he M an
.
,
'

g o ld

M ark h ow the b ash ful morn i n v ain , ,

C our ts th e am o rous m ar i gol d

Wi th s igh i n g bl as ts an d w e ep i n g r ain ;
Y et s h e r e fus es to un fol d .

B ut w h en th e p l an et of th e day
A ppr oach eth w i th h i s p ow e r ful r ay ,

T h en s h e s pr e ads th en s h e r e ce i v e s
,

H i s w ar me r be ams i n to h er v i r gi n l eav es .

9 W alton ,
F u lm e n M S S . S ee Notes an d Q uer i es , Secon d
Se r i e s . V ol . V I, p 1 2
. .

1° Ward s ’
E n gl is h P oets , V ol . II . p . 1 12 .
84! THE CA VAL IE R PO E T S
So s h al t th ou thri v e i n l ov e f on d boy ; ,

I f thy tear s an d s i ghs d i s cov er

T hy gr i e f th ou n ev e r s h al l e n j oy
,

T he j us t r e w ar d o f a bold l ov e r .

B ut w h e n w i th movi n g accen ts th ou
, ,

S h al t con s tan t faith an d s e rv i ce vow ,

T hy C el i a s h al t r ecei v e th os e ch arms
Wi th op en e ar s an d wi th un fol ded arms .

U ndoubt edly th is po et pp ro ach ed m ast ery in the

a

p ar ti cul a r fi eld th at he chos e to occup y H e w ield e d .

E n g l is h phr a s e s w ith adm ir abl e ev en i f co n s c iou s , ,

ab il i ty ; h e p o s s es s e d a co mm an d o f the ov e rl app e d

h ero i c coupl et wh ich for sw eep an d ru s h of rh yth m

c an n ot be surp as se d anywh e r e he al mo s t g av e
a c ert ain formul a to the courtl y lo v e po et ry o f
E n gl an d ; h e n urtur ed if he d id n ot b ege t B r i t is h
, ,

wer e de s oci é té ; an d a c c ord in g to th at car e ful criti c

, ,

E d mu n d G os s e, h e w as surp as s ed i n gen ius by H er

” 12
r i ck only . T ru e his faults ar e not a few
, H is .

s h eph e rd es s e s dr ess i n l ac e an d s il k H e kn ew l ittl e .

o f rust i c li fe an d lov e d br ill ianc r ath r th an the

, y e

fr e hn e s of f ull blood ed op en air l ife

s s - -
H e l acked .

b old n ess of i d ea an d w as cont ent to s in g ag ain the

con v en tion al s ent im ents on lov e s ch arms d is d ain ful ’
,

l ad ies an d broken h earts T h en too his co n c eits

, .
, , ,

u n d er the control of r eason thou g h th ey ar e an d n ot ,

t o be co mp ar e d in p ed antry to W all e r s , ar e bad

’

en ou g h . T h e sur g eon bl eed in g C el ia i s r emind e d

th at the blo od h e dr aw s c om es n ot from the fai r dam

1 1 Sai n tsbury H i s tory of E l iza bethan Li teratur e p

, , . 360 .

1 2 W ar d s E ngli s h Poets V ol I I p 1 1 1
’
, .
, . .
86 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
an d th at , e v en wh en he b ecom es l ic ent i ous h elp , to
” 13
s av e h im .

L ike H erri ck an d S u ckl in g

o th er s h e s an g
an d the ,

o f th e co n v e n ti o n al s pr in g an d m aid en s th e br ev ity ,

o f l ife an d i ts s w eets th e c h ar ms o f s en s u al lov e an d

, ,

w as con ce r n e d al tog eth er w ith e ar thl y en j oymen ts .

T h at w as wh at his age w an ted an d l ittl e h e c ar ed for ,

th e f utur e s op in i o n th er e i s a d is
’
B ut n ote .
, ,

t in c ti on to be m ad e H e l ifted his vo ice n ot in th e

.
,

c ar el ess h app y-g o lucky w ay o f m an y of his com

,
-

p an i on s but w ith a g r ac e a p ol ish e d eas e a n ic ety

, , ,

o f exp r e s s i o n th at h av e aff ect ed co n sc i ou sl y or un ,

c on s ciousl y all succ eed in g s in g ers O th ers s an g

, .

fe rv en tl y ; o th e rs s an g m el od iou sl y ; but few s an g

w ith the s am e c ar eful ar t Cr it ics h av e n ot g iv en .

T om C ar ew h is full s h ar e o f cr ed it in th at ch an g e o f
t as t e wh ich r esul ted in the br ill ian c y an d c old but
”
a d mi r abl e ar t of the cl as s i c al sch ool L on g ag o .
,

in 1 787 the E n g l is h s chol ar H en ry H eadl ey pr ais ed

, , ,
” 14
th i s m an o f s en s e gall an tr y an d br ee d in g
, for
, ,

th e i mpor tan t p art h e h ad b orn e in the qu iet but

c ert ain r ev olu tion from sl ipsh od v ers e to t ight-l ace d
,

coupl ets an d H eadley s words ar e w or th the a tt en

,
’

“ ”
t ion of stud en ts to day -
T h ou g h lov e
°
s ays he , ,

had l on g b efor e so ften e d us i n to c ivi l ity y et i t w as ,

of a fo r mal o s ten t a tiou s an d r o m an t i c c as t ; an d

, ,

with v ery few exc ept i o n s i ts eff e cts on c ompo s it ion ,

w e r e s imil ar t o thos e on m an n ers S om eth in g mor e .

l ight un affect ed an d allurin g w as st ill w ant in g ; in

,

1 3 Li fe of M i l ton , V ol , ch vi . I . .

14 S ele ct B eau ties of A nci en t E n gl s h i Poetry , V ol . I .

 T HO M AS CARE W 87
ev eryth in g but s in cerity of int ent ion it w as d efi c ien t .

C a r ew an d W all er j o in tly b eg an to r em ed y
th es e d efects I n th em G all an try for the fi r s t t ime
.

” 1°
w as a c c o m p an ie d by the G r ac es T he d ays of
.

tr imn es s w er e appro ach in g ; h ear i t in P er suas io ns to

Nor l et the brittl e b eauty make

You y our w i s e r th oughts f or s ake
For th at l ov ely f ace w il l f ail ,
B e auty s s w eet, but b eauty s fr ai l
’ ’

T i s s oon e r p as t, ti s s oon e r d on e
’ ’

T h an s umme r s r ai n or w i n te r s s un ;
’ ’

M os t fl e eti n g w h en i t i s mos t d ear

T i s gon e w h il e w e but s ay
’ ’
tis

T rimn ess may be h er e, an d som e appro ach to prim

n ess ; but h er e an d el s ewh er e in h is work w e fin d not

the cold , th in bl oo d o f a P op e, but the w a rm , red

blood o f a C av al ier T h is h eat an d exub er anc e som e
.

t imes , i n fac t, l ed him t o s h out a l icen t iou s not e ; but

i n l at er l i fe w e fi nd him po s s es s ed o f the g o od s ens e
to be ash am ed of th is an d to r ep en t it s in cer el y All .

in all h e pl eas e d his day exc eed in gl y w ell four edi

'

t ion s his po em s w e r e is s u ed b etw een 1 64 0 an d 1 671

of

an d al l in all th e day pl eas ed h im j ust as w ell He .

“ ”
w as , in d eed , an i dl e s in g e r o f an empty day, pos
s ess ing s ome of the foll y an d fal s e gl itt e r o f the age,
a tr ifl e too in d ol en t to i mit at e the p ed an try of
W all er a tr ifl e too w orldl y t o kn ow the s p i ritu al ity
,

o f D o n n e but too much o f an art i s t to be s at is fi e d

,

15 S el ect B eaut i es of A nc i en t i
E n gl s h P oetry, V ol . I .
88 THE C A VAL I E R PO E T S
“
w ith rou gh -
an d
r dy, h
- i t-
o r -mi s s
ea effe cts A .

v i ol ent l ov er , but a c ar eful s in ger , h e w on the u su al

r ew ar d o f the day —
the h earts of nu me rous l ad ies
— an d w h il e L ov el ac e an d m an y an o th e r C av al i e r

crep t aw ay t o l an g u ish in d es p air , he h ims el f m ight

truly bo as t , at l eas t t empor arily

B utI d i d en te r an d en j oy ,

Wh at h app y l ov e r s pr ov e ,

For I coul d ki s s an d s p or t an d toy

, ,

A n d tas te th os e s w e ets of l ove .

T om C a r ew v n Kin g Ch arl es c all ed him

, as e e ,

kn ew not s o w ell wh e r e to s top as did W all e r an d

H err ick ; he p os s es s ed l es s j ud g ment p erh ap s in s ev , ,

e r al po eti c matt er s th an th e but h a v th s ur

y e e
y ,

p as s ed him i n fervo r an d t en d er n es s ? H is w it w as
po in ted an d y et he w as ev e r c a r eful in his us e of it
, .

F or h e lov ed m en an d wo men , s uch a s h e kn ew an d ,

c ar ed n ot to w ound I n his g all an try his s en timen t

.
, ,

his i d eal s hi s us e of v e rb al m el od y h is for ms of

, ,

v ers e his p or tr ay al l iterary an d p er s o n al of his

, , ,

d ay he r epr es en ts a con n ec tin g l in k b etween B en

,

J on son an d Pri o r an d h en ce to P op e B ut o f all

, .

th i s h e kn ew l ittl e an d c ar ed l ess Bow in g g all an tly .

t o righ t an d l eft an d w ith most t end er gl an c es t o

,

w ard th e l ad ies he l ead s us g en tl y u n w ittin gly p er

, , ,

h ap s throu gh th at p er iod wh en the luxur i an c e an d

,

the h ea r ty fr eed om of the E l iz ab eth an s w er e s l owl y

c h an in
g g in t o the brill ianc e an d cold r estr ain t of the
cl as s i c al d ays .
 ( 605
1 1 687)

I n an ancien t p ar is h g r av ey ard at B eacon sfield i n ,

B u ckin gh ams h ir e th er e i s a time-w or n s ton e b ear in g

,

the n ame E d mu n d W all e r an d th e w or d s I n ter

p o e ta s s u i tem p or is facile
p r in cep s . S u ch is fam e .

E p itaphs do n ot o f cours e c ome u n d e r th e l it er a

—
, ,

ture of fact th ey gen er ally b elon g to the m or e

e nt ert ain in g fi eld of fi c ti on — but h er e in the v en er
abl e cou n tr y chur ch y ard th at L at in i n s c rip ti on was

c a rv ed in all tru e faith an d s inc er ity T he man .

sl eep in g b en eath the sto n e h ad f or m or e th an eigh ty

e ar s l iv e d throu gh on e o f the st o rmi est er as i n E n g
y
l is h h is tory , h ad s un g c ar efully his sl end er r ep er toi r e ,

an d h ad g o n e to th e g r av e w i th th e fi r m co n v ic ti on

t h at the p eopl e s b el i ef in h is g r e atn es s w as corr ec t

’
.

A n d T ime h as s c a rc el y l ef t hi m a n ame
'

F ame s fi ckl e w ay s ar e o ften d ifli cul t to e xpl ain ;

’

but as w e r ea d the s to ry o f t ime s er v in g E d mu n d

-

Wall er the r eason for his pr esen t day ob s cur ity i s

-

n ot h i dd en fr o m us H e w as b orn in his fath er s

.
’

m an s ion in H er tfo rd s h ir e in 1 6 05 an d s tar ted the

, ,

j ourn ey of l ife w ith w eal th an d in fl u en tial c on n ec

ti ons . T he fath e r b el on g ed t o a famil y of w e al th y
l andow n ers wh il e th e moth e r th ou gh a Royal ist
, , ,

89
 90 T HE CA VAL I E R PO E T S
w as r el ate d r ath er cl os el y t o the i mp or tant Cr om
w ell family T he p ar en t s earl y r emov ed to B eac on s
.

fi eld an d th er e in th at p eaceful c ommu n ity W all e r

,

s p en t h is h app i es t d ay s tu n ed an d r e tu n ed his u n im
,

p as s ion ed s o n g an d at l en g th r etu r n ed to the du s t

, .

As a boy h e a tten d e d E t o n an d K in g s Coll ege C am

’
,

br id ge ; but at the ag e of s ix teen h e had l eft su ch

o u th ful bu s in e ss an d w as s i ttin
y g as a m emb e r o f
'
P arl iamen t A ft e r all how ev er th e h alls of l aw h ad
. , ,

but l ittl e ch arm f or him i n th os e d ays ; for it s eems

th a t as s oon a s he h ad m arr ied th e w eal th y an d
pr etty A n n e B an ks an d had p ai d h is fin e for do in g
,

s o w i th ou t h e r g u ard i an s c on s en t h e r e ti r e d to th e
’
,

B e acon s fi el d h ome an d pr ep ar ed to sp en d l on g years

I

in qu i et d omes t i c h app in es s B ut the b eau ti ful .

y oun g w ife d i e d w i th in thr e e

y e ars ( 1 6 345
) an d f or

a t ime th e po et s eeme d u tt e rl y d is c o n s ol at e .

“
Sin c e the t im e howev e r wh en m an s min d run ’
, ,

n eth n ot to th e co n tr a r y w idow ers an d w id ows ,

too h av e b e en abl e to r ecov er fr om the s ho ck o f th i s

,

b er eav emen t an d thus i t w as w ith W all er Fo r fou r

, .

e a rs h e strov e in v ain to w in th e s w eet fa c e d L ad -

y y
D oro th ea Sidn ey th e S ach ar iss a o f hi s o n c e a d
‘

m ir ed lov e l y r i cs T he L ad y D oro th ea m arr ie d

.

anoth e r an d as th e r e w as l i ttl e s in c e r e p ass i on in th e

,

p o et s cour tsh ip h e r ead ily r ec ov er ed fr om th is sh o ck

’
,

also . Y ears afterw ard s sh e asked him wh en h e would

again w ri te su ch p o etr t o h er H is an sw er be
y .

t r ay ed h is c old bl o od e d w it : -
W h en you are as
”
y ou n
g m a
, d a m an d a s
, h an d s om e as
y o u w e r e th en .

'
An d yet h e h ad onc e d e cl ar ed ,
 E D M UN D WAL L E R 91
B ut for Sach ar i s s a I
D o n ot on ly gr i ev e, but d i e !

Wh en he h ad l ost all h op es o f S a char iss a s ay s ,

“
D r J oh n s o n
. h e l ooked a r ou n d for an e as ier con
,

qu es t an d g ain e d a l ady of the famil y o f Br es s e or ,

B r eaux . H e d oub tl es s pr ais ed s o me wh om

he would h av e b een a fr a id to m a r r y an d p erh ap s ,

m arr ied on e w ho m he w ould h av e b een as h amed t o

” I '

pr ais e . A n d yet if old A ubr ey s d es crip tion be

,
’

t ru e our p o e t w as r ath e r lu cky t o g ain an y s o rt o f

,
“ ”
h elp meet H e is . s ay s the pl ain s p oken b io g
,
-

“
r aph er of somewh at abov e a m iddl e s tatu r e t hi n
, ,

b ody not at all r obu s t fin e th in skin his face

, , , ,

s omewh at o f an ol iv as ter ; h is h ay r e fr iz z ed of a
brown is h col our ; full ey e p opp in g out an d w o rkin g ; ,

o v all fa c ed his for eh ead h ig h an d full o f wr inkl es

, .

H i s h ead but sm all br ain e v e r y ho tt an d ap t to be

,

c h ol e r i u e
q H .e i s so m eth in
g m ag is ter i al l ,

an d h az a g r eat m ast er s h ip o f th e E n gl is h l an gu ag e

H e h az but a t en d e r w eake b ody but w as al , ,

w ay s v ery t emp e r at e ( qu ae r e S amu e l B ut

l er ) m ad e h im d amn abl e drun ke at S omer s et hous e -
,

wh er e at th e w ater st ayr es he fell dow n e an d had a

-

c ru ell fall T w as p ity to us e s u ch a s w eet s w an

’
.

s o i n hu man l
y he w i ll o ft en t imes be gu il ty

o f m i s p ell in in E n g l is h H wr it es a l am en t abl
g e .
y
”2
bad h an d as bad as the s c r atch in g of a h en
, .

D ur in g his yea r s of p oeti c al lov e m akin g w i th -

S ach ar is s a h e w as t akin g n o sm all int er est in the n a

1 L i ve of th e E gl is h P oets
s n .

2 A ubr y s B r i e
f L i ves
’
e .
92 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
ti on s poli ti c al act ivities H e w as fr equ en tly in Far
’
.

liamen t w as m akin g num er ou s sp ee ch es mor e e ffec t

, ,

i ve in th ei r d ispl ay of wi t th an i n th ei r ab il ity to w in
vot es an d w as wr itin g c omp lim ent ary v er s es of a
,
.

c alcul atin g n at ur e to my lords an d l ad ies Poli t ic

—
.

all y h e w as a w eath er-cock like L ow ell s G in er al ’

C he h ad be en on e v ery s i d e th at g av e eith e r pl a ce
—
,

o r p elf an d to day w e ar e d i s gust ed wh en w e s ee

s id e by s ide his P an eg yr ic to M 3] L o r d P r o tecto r an d

hi s D ea th of the L ate Usurper O C , B ut a r eady
. .

w it s av e d him from all emb arr as s m ents a ri s in g from

s uch i n c on s is ten c y Wh en Ch arl es II c am e i n t o his
.

o wn , W all er w el c om e d him wi th the usu al flatterin g

li n es an d wh en c all ed to t ask by th e kin g for h av in g
,

w ritten b ette r v er s es t o Cromw ell in s tan tly r epl ied

, ,
”
Si r e po ets succ ee d b etter i n fi c ti o n t h an in t ru th
, .

B ut ev en a w eath er v an e i s b at ter ed in a to r n ado

-
,

an d th os e w er e t o rn ad o d ay s in E n g l i sh h is tory A ll .

th e world kn ows th e s tory o f how the ki n gs and th e

P arl iam en t w er e browb eat in g e ach oth er in a des
p er at e stru g gl e t o r ul e or ru in an d all the world
,

kn ows t oo how th e d iv in e right s o f ki n g sh ip s uf

, ,

f er ed a d e cis iv e shock W all e r if h e h ad any r eally

.
,

s in c er e v iew s on p ol it i c al m att ers w as agains t inno

,

vation s an d thus i t h appe n e d in th at y ear o f s us

,

pi cion an d an g e r 1 6 4 3 th at h e w as s id in g wi th th e
, ,

ki n g ag ain st th e loud -t al kin g row d ie s in the Com

m on s T h en c ame th e exc itin g W all er s Pl ot
.
” ’
.

I t w as al l s o ro m an ti c an d s o dis astrous W all er .

w as t o s ee th at th e R oy al ists of L ond o n w ere g ath

er e d i n t o an a rm
y ; the E arl o f B ath w as t o be t e
94 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
th at h e ac te d a mor e m an l y p ar t after his r eturn
fr om e x il e a n d ev en d ar e d t o s p eak out b oldly to th e
,

n arr ow min d ed P a r li amen t for tol e r ati on tow ar d th e

-

p er s ecu te d Qu aker s D oub tl es s w eath e r-v an e th ou gh

.
,

he h ad b een he h ad l e a rn ed at l as t t o be w is e r ath e r
,

th an cu n n in g h ad l ea rn e d the w ell —
, exp r es s e d t r u th

o f h is o w n p o em Of the L as t Verses in the B oo k

,

T h e s oul s d ark cott age , batte r e d an d d ecay ed,

’

L ets i n n e w l i gh t thr ough c h i n ks th at ti me h as m ad e .

I t h as alway s app ear e d to me th a t th i s m an s h ould

be i n clud e d am o n g the s on g s ter s whom J oh n s o n
dubb ed the M etaph y s ic al P oets A n d in s ay in g
th is I do n ot for g et the wo rd s o f E d mu n d Go ss e :
T he in g en u ity o f W all e r i s en tir el y d is tin ct fr o m
th at m etaph y s i c al w i t for wh i ch hi s con temp or a r ie s
”
w e r e f am ou s But sh ould n ot E d mu n d Go ss e h av e
.

“
b eg un th at st atemen t w ith th e w ords i n his la ter
,

d ay s ? ”
F or W all e r w as a l ite r ar y w e ath er-v an e
as w ell a s a p ol i ti cal on e , an d the l y ri c po et r o f h i s
y
y ou th w as n ot th e p r ec i s e v ers e of his ol d ag e H ear .

th es e words

G o l ov ely r os e,
T e ll h er th at w as tes h er ti me an d me ,
T h at n ow sh e kn ow s
Wh en I r e s embl e h er to th e e ,

H ow s w eet an d f ai r sh e s eems to be .

D o thos e f ar-fam e d l in e s sou n d o f th e sp ir i t of S u ck

l in g an d C ar ew or o f D ry d en an d Pop e ? A n d,
a ain , n ot e th e s on
g g to F l a vi a
 E D M UN D WAL L E R 95
’
Tis n ot your beauty c an en gage
M y war y h eart
T he s un i n al l hi s pr id e an d r age
, ,
H as n ot th e art ;
An d yet h e s h i n e s as b ri gh t as y ou,
I f bri gh tnes s c oul d our s oul s s ubd ue .

No, E dmun d W all er , in his rly li fe w rot e as hi s

ea ,
“
fr iends wr ote an d his fr ien ds w er e th e me taph ys
,
”
i c al s in gers But afar off he s aw the s igns of
.

ch an e a nd prud nt a d s l f- u ard in
h w as
g , ,e n e g g a s e ,

h e earl y pr ep ar ed for the n ew s on g Fo r W all er .

clun g to n o i d eals n o cl e ar th in g s of old en d ays ; h e

,

l on ge d for immed i at e appl aus e ; an d he fr am ed hi s

s t yl e as h is aud ie n c e d em an d ed Un blu s h in gl y he
.

p il fer ed wh at he co n s id er e d b est from the old er po ets ,

“ ”
r emo d el ed i t formal iz e d
, it brou ght i t strictl y
,

up t o d ate an d p r es en te d to the cou r t r ead er th e

,

ol d wi n e in n ew bot tl es An d the b ot tl es c annot be

.

d en ie d a c e rt ain pl eas in g pr imn ess I n the son gs .

o f his you th h e allow e d h ims el f mu ch o f th e l ic ens e

found in the o th e r C av al ie r s in g ers but as the f ad ,

o f cl ass i cis m r e w he r ew w ith i t an d in t ime E n g

g g , ,

l is h r ead ers forgot the fr ee r l yr ics of his yo uth ful

hour s an d r ememb er ed on l y the smoothl y turn ed
coupl ets of m atur e d ays W h en the R estorati on .

c ame he an d C owl ey h ad b een b efore th e publ i c

,

mor e th an th irty ye ars ; the w ild y oun g r akes of th eir

e arl ie r d ay s h ad r eturn e d to dust , an d th e son gs o f

th es e du s ty r akes had p as s ed in to a c ert ain obs cur

i ty. T h i s w as W all er s oppor tun i t y
’
H e re-s an g .

th ei r son gs H e w ash ed the rou g e from C ar ew s an d

.
’
96 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
’
H err ick s an d Su ckl in g s s w eeth ear t s n ipp ed off a
’
, .

f ew y ar d s o f h er s u g g es tiv e l a ce tau gh t h er t o p ut ,

p r imn es s in to h er th ou gh ts an d p r es e n ted her w i th

,

r ppl au s e t o th e a dm i r i n
g e at a g co u rt T r ue sh e .
,

c o uld n o l on g e r s i n g but she c ould m or ali z e ; h en ce

,

the a ppl a us e T he l y r ic al d ay s h ad g o n e an d n ow
.
,

c n ic al
y , br ill i an t v e r s es p a ce d m e ch an i c all
y two by ,

two thr o u g h th e g l itte r in g h alls

, .

A n d yet s ometh in g o f the old ton e r em ain ed .

How e x t r av ag an t ev en W all er s g all an tr y s eem s ! ’

L oo kin g up on h is l ady s g irdl e h e e xcl aimed

’
,

I t w as m y h e av en ’
s e x tr emes t s ph er e !

G i v e m e but w h at th i s ri bban d boun d

T ak e all th e r es t th e s un goe s r oun d .

D oe s i ts ou n d s o v ery u n l ike th e p oets o f his y ou th ?

A n d is th e r e n ot an ech o of S ir J oh n S u ckl in g in t he
temp or ar in es s of su ch lov e as t h at o ffer e d to Ph ylli s ?

L et n ot y ou an d I en qui e r
Wh at h as be en our p as t d es i r e ;
On w h at s h e ph e r ds you h av e s m i l ed ,

O r w h at n ym ph s I h av e be gui l ed ;
L eav e i t to th e p l an e ts too , ,

Wh at w e s h all h e r e afte r do
For th e j oy s w e n ow m ay p rove ,
”
T ake ad v i ce o f pr e s en t l ov e .

After h ow ev er W all er s c arc ely b elo n ged t o

all , ,

an y s ch o ol Pl ian t as he w as he s erv ed as a con

.
,

n ec tin li n k b etw een th e po et s of the Jo n son e r a an d

g
 E D M UN D WAL L E R 97
the po ets of the Res toration H e p artook of the .

qu al ities o f b oth ; an d i n h is min u te w eigh in g of

w ord s skill ful arr an gemen t o f phr as es an d ev e r con
,
-

s ci ou s d es ign he produ c ed a pol is h ed co mp ac tn ess

,

w h ich g r eatly in fl u en ced ev en i f i t d id n ot fou n d

, ,

th e s cho ol o f D ry d en an d Pop e W ell m igh t D ry .

d en s ay : E d mu n d W all e r fi rst sh ow e d us to con

“

clu de the s en s e m o s t c om mon l

y i n d is tichs ; wh i ch i n
the v er s e o f tho s e b e for e h im ru n s on for s o m any
l in es to g eth er th at the r ead e r i s out of br eath t o
”
o v ert ake i t .

L ike hi s d ay , he w as h ighly ar tific ial E v en his .

l en gth y r el ig ious p o ems such as th e p o etic al r e,

fl ection s on the L ord s Pr ay er l ac k the w arm th an d

’
,

fe rvor exp ected t o d ay of su ch works -

E v en h is .

“
l ov e v ers es ar e fri gid ; but as Gos s e p oin ts out if , ,

th ey do n ot t ake the h e art by s tor m th ey b el eag u e r ,

i t w ith g r eat s tr at eg i c ar t an d an in fi n it e sh ow o f
p atien ce ”3
. A mb it iou s W all e r lov ed n o t w ith h is
h e ar t but w ith h is in tell ec t i f he lo v ed at all an d , ,

th er e for e i n the w ord s o f w orldl y w is e W alp ol e

,
he -
,

e x c ell e d in p ain t in l ad ie s i n en am el but could n ot

g ,
” 4
succ ee d in por tr aits in oil l ar ge as l ife Only
, .

l ov e produc es m as terp ie c es .

Co n s ci ous ar t th en w as the ch ar act er ist ic of the

, ,

man . T he sl en d e r b o ok o f h is v ers e show s m an y an d

m an y a s ig n of th e felt bru sh an d ch amo is skin ; but -
,

ah ,h ow l ittl e of h eart of s in cer e p as s io n of s ter n

, ,

b el ief i s th ere ! T he full flushed suns et of Sh akes -

S w ard s ’
E n glis h Poets, V ol I I, p 9 79 . . .

4 L etters , ed Cunn in gham, V ol I I I, p 5 64

. . . .
98 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
p e ar e an d Jo n s on had p ass ed ; the ch ill st eel y d awn
,

o f a P op e w as al mo s t at h an d . W all e r h ad m emor ie s
o f th at g o r g e o us sun s e t ; but su ch a day h ad g o n e

f or ev er , an d w i th l i ttl e of r eg r et h e h as ten ed to meet

the fi r s t p al e r ay s o f an o th e r d aw n . T hu s E d mu n d
W all er tu r n ed an d v eer ed w ith e ach g ust of p opul ar
t ast e s ayin g as he v eer ed :
,

H ow s m all a p art o f ti me th ey s h ar e ,
”
T h at are s o w on d r ous s w eet an d f ai r .
 SIR JOH N SU CKL ING

( 609
1 1 64 2 )

Fr ank impud en t Sir John Su ckl in g ! H e w as the

,

sl av e of n o wo man , n o n ot on e W hy ex cl aimed h e
, . , ,

If of h e r s el f s h e wi ll n ot l ov e ,

N othi n g can make h er ;

”
The d evi l take h er !

H ow h e r eason ed i t all out th i s m adn es s — ll ed ca

l ov e ! H e had stud ied the p s y ch olo gy o f it ev er

y
wh it n ot from b ooks n ot from ph ilosoph ical lec
, ,

t ur es but fro m r e al exp e r imen ts from e x p er ien ce

, ,

s el f
. T he s y mp tom s w e r e s o pl ain to h im

I f w h en sh e app e ar s 1 th r oom
’

T h ou dos t n ot q uake , an d ar t s tr uck d umb,

A n d i n s tr i v i n g th i s to cov e r ,

D os t n ot s p eak thy w or d s tw i ce ov e r ,
Kn ow th i s ,

T h ou l ov s t am i ss ,
’

An d to l ov e t r ue ,

T h ou must begi n agai n , an d l ov e an e w .

H e w as , in d eed , v al ian t l ov e r
a for a d ay or two .

I n h is time b o as ted h e h e h ad w on h is m an y a pr iz e
fai r d am es h e a r ts —by m an y an i n gen i ous
,
’
of

99
1 00 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
an dd ar in g adv en tur e ; he h ad und erm in ed her h eart
“ ”
by w hi sp er in g in th e ear , or

b rou gh t d own
G r eat cann o n -oath s an d s h ot,

A th ous an d th ous an d to th e town .

Who th is un ab ash ed g all ant th at b ad e the

w as
l adi es lo v e him but told th em fr ankly th at he w as
,

l ike t o fo r g e t th em day afte r t o-morrow ? Qu ain t

ol d Joh n A ubr e wh o w a f h is o w c en tur s a
y s
, o n
y y s ,
“
H e w as the g r eat es t g all an t of his t ime an d th e ,

g r eat est g ames t er both for bowl in g an d c ard s s o

, ,

th at n o sh op keep e r would tru s t him for 6 d as to ,

d ay for in s tan c e h e mig ht by w inn in g be w orth 2 00

, , , ,

li the n ext day he m ight n ot be w o r th h al f s o m u ch

'
.
, ,

o r p erh ap s be so met im es min us n i hi l o Sir W ill iam.

[ D av en ant ] ( who w as his in timate fr iend an d l ov e d ,

him i n tir ely ) would s ay th at Sir J oh n wh en he was ,

at his low es t ebb e i n g amein g I m ean wh en un for ,

tun ate th en w ould m ake h ims el fe mo s t gl o r iou s in

,

app ar ell an d s ay d th at i t ex alt ed hi s sp i rits

, an d ,

th at h e had b est luck wh en he w as m o s t g all an t ,

” 1
a n d h i s s p i r i ts w er e h igh est T h en s p eakin g o f
. ,

t he h app y-g o lucky po et s app ear an ce A ubr ey c on

- ’
,

tin ues : H e w as o f m iddl e s t atur e an d sl igh t

s tr en g th br is qu e rou n d eie r edd ish fac t an d r ed
, ,
’

n o s e ( ill li v e r ) hi s h ead n ot v e ry big his h ay r e a

, ,

kind of s an d c ol our ; his b e rd turn ed up n atur all y

a -
,

s o th a t h e h ad br iks e an d g r acefull l ooke

” 2
We .

1 A ub re s B r i e ’
y f Li ves .

2 A ubrey s B ri e ’
f L i ves .
1 02 T H E C AVAL IE R PO E T S
b een r ath e r s t iflin g to the hot blood ed y oun g g al
-

l an t an d w e fin d him b etw een his n in et eenth an d

,

tw ent y-th ird year w and er in g ov er E urop e m arch ,

i n g w ith the arm y o f Gu s t avus A d olphu s fi gh tin g ,

w i th as tou n d in g r eckl es s n es s in S il esi a an d at l en gth

,

qui tt in g the army b e c au s e war did n ot o ffer en o ug h

vari e ty ! Wh at a full l i fe phy s i c all y tho s e c o urt ier s
o f th e ol d d ay l ed ! W e o f the Pu r itan inh e r itan c e
c an s c arc el y r eal iz e i t an d c ert ain l y c an n ot ap p r e

c iat e i t M en dr an k d eeply s w or e v al iantly lov e d

.
, ,

m adly an d d r ain ed the s tirrup cup wi th a s mack

,
-
.

F or s ix y e ars w ild S ir J oh n n ow i n L o n do n l iv e d
, ,

a l ife s o p r oflig ate th at h e al mo s t squ and er e d on e

o f the
g r eat est fortu n e s o f h is c en tury T h en h e
.

w en t t o B ath on the pr etext o f l iv in g f rug all y

G o d s av e the m ar k l —an d m ad e h ims el f s o con
s icuou s
p b y h is m o ck r e p en t an ce th at th e ki n g
b eg ged h im to r eturn to the er s twh il e l on es ome
“ ”
c o urt . Bon n ie K in g Ch a rl ie had ev e r y r e as on
to l o v e the s p en d thr ift kn ight for m an y a th ou s an d
,

p ou n d s of Sir J oh n s h a d a c comp an ie d th e w itty

’

mo ts an d w ild pr an ks of his y o u th ful s p iri ts I n .

the tr oubl e d d ay s o f 1 6 39 S i r J oh n w i th all th e ,

e s th eti c en thu s i a s m o f a p o et an d the d as h in al

g g
l an tr y o f a s old ier had g ath er ed his tr oop o f a
,

hu n dr ed h an d som e Cav al ier s h ad arr ay e d th em

,

br av el y in sc arl et an d wh ite ay e h ad sp en t tw el v e
, ,

thou s an d pound s o n th ei r acc ou trement an d th en ,

h ad s een th em at th e fi r s t s igh t o f the b ar e l egge d

,
-

S c otch a rmy fl ee to a man ! I t w as a g r eat shoc k

,

t o Sir J oh n s s en s e of ho n o r an d p r id e ; but th e
’
 SIR
JOHN SUC K L I NG 1 03
kin g kn ew his int en ti on s w er e g o od forg av e him , ,

an d lo v ed h im j us t th e s ame I t i s s aid th at at th is
.

p oin t in his c a r eer he th ou ght o f marr yin g a w oman

o f g r e at w e al th ; but al as a r iv al s tr o n g o f ar m
, , , ,

cud gell e d him till h e ag r eed t o r enou n ce al l cl aims

” 4
up o n the g old en priz e an d he s p en t h is d a s a
, y
b ach elor
S o mebod y —m ayb e h e hi ms el f—h ad d elud ed Suck
.

l in g i n to the i d ea th at he c ould write a pl ay a n d ,

h e mad e four v al ian t an d v i c iou s at temp ts at the

bu s in es s T h ey ar e mis er abl e s tu ff — ev en his
b es t frien d s l au gh ed at th e m —but in the mid st of
.

all th e dr agg in g l in es an d w ater y s en t imen t al ity

occur s o me l y r ic s th at m ake u s th an kful h e l iv ed

an d s an g E n gl i s h l it er atur e w ould n ot w ill in gl y
.

sp ar e s uch s on gs as W hy s o p al e an d w an fo n d
“
,
” ”
l ov er ? an d H as t thou s een the d own in the air ?
Y e t the h ot y oun g kn ight s c o r n ed the titl e o f po et
, .

H e wr ot e pl ay s s impl y b ecau s e i t w a s the s tyl e for

all fas h i o n abl e g en tl emen t o attemp t i t n ot for ,

mo n ey n ot for fame but on l y to s ee i f he could

, , .

L i fe l ife ab ound in g w as far m or e to h im th an lit

, ,

e r atur e.

But n ow d ark turn in g in th at fl o o d of l i fe

the
w as at h an d H is for tu n e w as w ell n igh sp en t ; his
.

“ ”
l in es h ad fall en i n h ard pl aces Sudd en l y h e w as
a ccu s ed — j u s tl y or u n j u s tl y w e kn ow n o t
.

o f at
,

t emp tin g t o r es cu e S taffo rd fr om th e T ow e r He .

fl e d to F r an ce an d th en t o S p ain T he world w il l .

4 G ard ne r s H is tory of E n glan d from the A ccess i on

’
f
o Jam es

I to the Ou tbr ea k of th e C i vi l War V ol I V p 31 1 , .

, . .
1 04 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
n ev er kn o w a ccur at el y wh at h app en ed b eh in d thos e
cl os ed d oors of the Sp an is h I n qu is ition W e kn o w .

onl y th a t p o or John Suc kl in g p o et s old ier an d , ,

r at -h ear ted n tl em an , fell in t o its clu t ch es a nd

g e g e ,

c am e f or th h ag g ard v ac ant eyed an i mb ecil e

,
-
, .

“
R educ ed at l en g th i n fortu n e an d dr ead in g t o
, ,

e ncount e r pov erty w h ich hi s h ab it s an d t emp er w er e

,

li ttl e c alcul at ed to endur e hurl ed from his r an k in ,

s oc iety an al ien an d p erh aps fr i endl es s h is en er g ies

, ,

at l en gth gav e w ay to th e compl i c ate d wr etch ed n es s

o f his s itu at i on an d h e co n t empl ate d an act wh i ch

,
”5
he had h i ms el f con d emn ed i n oth ers Cr eep in g .

back t o P aris he stru gg l e d to r ec all th e thou g h ts

,

t h at h ad o n c e b een his ; but i t w as all a v ai n dr eam

about dr eams an d a ph i al o f p oison g av e him l as t
,

i n g sl eep So p ass ed i n h is th i rty-four th yea r on e

—
.
, ,

wh o w as born to rul e but d d n i ot on e h an d s o me

, ,

b old v ers at il e, gen erous ev er popul ar , kin g of g oo d

, ,

fello ws .

T he bl ith es t thr oat that e v er car oll ed l ov e

I n mus i c made o f mor n i n g s me rr i es t h eart,
’

G l ad Suckl i n g s tumbl ed f r om h i s s eat abov e,

An d r e el e d on s l i pp e ry r oad s o f al i en

S uc kl in g s po etry should not be con s id er ed ap art

’

from his l ife An d w e h av e s een th at h e c ons id er e d

.

the l at te r f ar m or e imp o rt ant th an th e fo rm er So .

l ittl e i n d eed did h e c ar e for his l iter ary product i ons

—
, ,

th at po s s ibly but thr ee of th em S essio ns of the

Al fred Suckl in g, ed S uckhn g s ’

Works
’
5 . .

Swi nbu rn e s J ames S h i r l ey

’
6 .
1 06 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
the pl easur e i s o f an in fer ior ord er can n o m or e at
t ain t the i d ea or m od el of the c omp os iti on th an i t
c an i mp ea ch th e e xc ell en c e o f an ep i g r am th at i t i s
”7
n ot a tr agedy Just so it is w ith Suckl in g
. .

T h er e i s v ery l ittl e o f the dr am atic i n him v ery l it ,

tle of the th inker v e r y l ittl e o f i m agin at ion an d

, ,

e v en l e ss o f h e ar t fel t s en timen t ; but ah th at c ar e , ,

l es s g r ac e of expr es s ion th at g aiety th at n on , ,

ch al an ce ! H e has n o t ime for t ears o f r ep en tanc e ;

th er e ar e too m any l ad ies in the w orld fo r hi m to
“ ”
w ast e his d ay s at th at T he p ath .s ay s Fr ed er ,

i ck Stokes , wh ich Suckl in g s v ers e takes n ev e r ’

s c al e s subl im e h eig hts but ru n s throu g h fi elds w h er e

,

mu s i c an d l au ght er ar e h eard wh er e b eauty i s s een , ,

”8
an d wh er e th er e ar e occ as i on al storm y d ay s He .

c an be as d el ic at e as the sw ee t es t o f the l ad i es ; but ,

m an o f ac tion th at h e i s he pr efer s to be sp eakin g ,

”
o ut l o ud an d ch eer il y to be c arv in g of the b est t o
, ,

”
Rud ely ll l ast cour s e r es t
’
ca for th e for e th e .

I t is th is bru s qu en es s th is cont empt for mourn,

ful s ent im en t al ity th at m akes Sir J ohn Suckli n g s o

,
“
r efr es h in g amon g the l ov e rs of hi s day He .

c o m e s up on a h erd o f s c en t ed fop s w i th c ar el es s n at

ur al g r ac e an d an odor of morn in g fl ow ers upon

,

him . Y ou kn ow not wh ich would h av e b een most

d el ig ht ed w ith his c o mpl imen ts the d airy m ai d or ,
” 9 “
th e du ch e ss H azl itt r emarks th at his l ett ers
.

”
a r e full o f h ab itu al
g ood s ens e, an d s o i s h is p oe tr
y
7 H is tor i ca l E ss ay s , II .

8 E d P oem s o
.
f S uc kl i n g, p 1 3 . .

9 L e i h H un t Wi t an d H u m or p 91 6
g , , . .
 SIR JOH N SU CKL IN G 1 07
—g n e r lly
e a . He sp eaks as a m an of e xp er ien c e ,

n ot as

Some youth th at h as n ot mad e hi s s to ry .

Wh at w om an h e i mpud en tly asks , as he looks

,

str aight into the eyes o f the b epowd er e d court l a

di e s — wh at w om an is worth m o urn i n g ov er ? H is
fellow-s in ge r , L ov el ace, looks upon the s ame br ig ht
fac es , or , mor e c or re ctl y, j ust one of th em, an d be
co mes tr agically cons tant ; but Suckl in g sm il es
kn owin gl y , an d f r ankly avows his incons tanc y :

I ll
’
co urt you all to se rve my tu r n .

'
An d wh at e ff ect had this upon the femi n in e h eart ?
“
L et a mod ern l i t er ary w o man sp eak : S ir J ohn
S uckl in g is n ot to be trust ed for g ood b eh av ior
throu gh m an y st an z as but how en ch an tin gly g ay
,

he is ! T he ut ter f r an kn es s of his h il ari ty d oes

s ometh in g t ow ard aton in g for his c o ar s en ess We .

ar e qu i t e sur e th at h e i s n ev er w ors e th an his w ord s ,

an d ev en susp ec t th at he is not al to g eth e r s o des

” 1°
p er at e a r ake as he somet im es pr eten d s Such .

v iew s as his w er e sur e to wi n the day amon g s ev

en teen th c en tury cour ti er s an d at l en g th w e fi nd
,

S u ckl in g s v er s es s o gr eatl y ch an g in g th e st yl e of
’

”
p oetic al lov e makin g from the lo n g faced
-
d yin g
-
,

s en t imen t al it o f hi s ow n tim es th at amo r o us p o et r y

y
b ecomes in the d ay s of the R es tor ati o n al mos t b es tial
in i ts fr an kn es s .

1 0 H arr i e t P re s ton Th e L ate s t Songs of Chival ry

“ ”
,
Ai .

lan ti c M on th ly V ol X L I II p 90
, . , . .
1 08 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
L ittl e t im e h ad h e for p ol is h in g v ers es W ar.

an d w oman w e r e abr o a d i n the l an d , an d h e w as ex

t r emely bu sy Some of h is p oems ar e s o c a r el es s

.

as to be n ot onl y unp o et i c but al mos t u n in tell ig ibl e .

A n d y et h ow i n g en ious h e c ould be ! N owh er e in

'

E n gl is h p oe try i s th er e a b etter s us tain ed p iece o f

l igh t fo ol ery th an hi s B allad up o n a Weddin g , w ith
i ts en ch an tin g br id e :

H er mouth s o s m all w h en s h e d oe s s p eak,

”
T h ou d s t s w ear h er teeth h e r w or ds di d br e ak
’
.

T h at s ame in g en u ity too i s shown n ot on l y in the

, ,

n e r al ai r o f g ai e t but i n th e d ifficul t r e c ur
g e y ,

r en c e o f rh y m e s an d the n ov el s ch em e of v ers e an d

st an z a fo rms .

But en ou gh of form s and v ers e s ch em es Th e

pl ay s th e th in g —the pl ay of i d e as the pl ay o f
.

’
,
’
s p arkl in g w o r d s th e pl ay of Sir J oh n S u ckl in g s
,

i mpud en t w it . S ee him s trut s mil in gl y c on fi d en tly

, , ,

a mo n g th e un fl atter ed but s e cr etly adm ir in g d am

s els w h il e he hu m s :
,

I am fi rm e d a w oman c an
c on
”
L ov e th i s or th at or an y m an .
110 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
C r ash aw
’
s w as l ife wi th out stor ms s eemin gl y
a ,

w ith ou t sp iri tu al con fl ict A ll his d ay s w er e fil l ed

.

with a ch ildl ike faith in a ben eficen t Cr eat or an d ,

wh il e o th er s s t ruggl e d o n w ard throu gh an gu i sh an d

t ears t o th ei r e tern al cr ow n his s oul s o ar e d w ith ,

n ev e r a doub t n ev er a s el f d epr eci ation n ev er a l ap s e

,
-
,

f rom j oy ous an d ev en r apturous b el ief H e w as .

n ev e r an asc et i c ; he w as s impl y a gl ad h ear te d -

d ev otee H e could n ot u n d er s tan d pur itan i cal aus

.

t er i ty ; for h is w as an un t r ammel ed joy i n e v er y

b eau tiful th in g th at God had cr eated — an ab id in g
f aith th at the s am e H an d th at sh ap ed th es e cr ea
tur es of lov el in ess in t end e d m an t o be j ust as lov el y
an d j ust as h app y T o him w as g r ant ed
.

A h app y s oul th at al l th e w ay
T o h e av en b ath a s umm e r d ay .

B efor e how ev e r w e ent er too in t imately i nto the

, ,

n atu r e of th i s gl ad s in g e r an d his son g s l et u s n o te ,

the few in cid en ts in th e b r i ef y ears of h is l i fe h er e .

H is fath er W ill iam Cr ash aw w as a po et an d a

, ,

c l er
g yman o f Wh itech ap el an d th er e in th at an ,

c i en t s ecti o n of the L on d on l ab yr in th the boy w as

b orn in 1 6 1 3 H e attend e d Ch ar terh ous e School
.
,

an d p as s e d i n 1 6 31 to P e mbr oke Coll eg e C ambr i d g e , ,

w h er e h e e ar l y b eg an to be r eco gn iz e d as a s ch ol ar
am on g s ch ol ars H e t r ansl at e d w ith
. r ead in ess
G r eek H ebr ew L atin Sp an is h an d I t al i an ; h e w as
, , , ,

es p e c i all y v e r s e d in G r e ek an d L at in po e tr ; h w as
y e

s kill ful in mus ic d anc in g p ain t in g an d en gravi n g

, , , .
 RI CHARD C RA SH AW ll l l

I n 1 637 h e was aw ard ed a fellowshi p in P et erhou s e

in r ecogn i t ion of his m er it .

B ut th er e he n ow c am e u n d er a g r eat in fl u enc e
wh ich tr an s form ed his op in ion s of l ife an d c aus ed
al l hi sbr ill ian t ac compl i shm en ts t o s eem v ain , e v en
if h arml es s fri vol iti es
, T h at in fl u enc e w as N ich
.

ol as F err ar the d evout thin ke r w ho s o stron l a t

, gy
tr act e d the un iv ers ity men o f the early s ev ent eenth
c en tury L earn ed man of sc ienc e thou gh he was
.
,

popul arly kn own far an d n ear abl e to s ecur e for ,

h ims el f offi c es of pow er an d au th or ity th is d eep ,

m ed it ator N i chol as F err ar , at l en gth r en ou n c ed

,

all earthl y amb iti ons g ath er e d a li t tl e g roup o f r e

,

l ig ious en thu s i asts an d r et i r in g in to Hu n tin g don

,

sh i r e fou n d ed at L i ttl e G idd in g s a commun ity wh ich

l iv e d not for th is w orld but for the world n ot m ad e
w ith h and s et ern al in the h eav en s T he sp i ri t o f
, .

th i s l ead er p ro foundly aff e c ted R i ch ard Cr ash aw ,

an d w e fi n d th at a fte r 1 638 th e y ou n g p oe t d evo ted

littl e of his t im e an d en erg y t o au gh t el s e s av e r e

ligious m ed it at io n s an d r el igious activi ties T h en .

b eg an th at l i fe s o full of the sp ir it of the early

s ain ts —
a l if e som e h in t o f th e g en tl e s w eet n ess o f

wh ich is g iv en in hi s pr efac e to his S teps to the

“
T emple : Read er w e s tyl e his s acr ed p oem s S teps
,

to the T emp le an d aptly for i n th e templ e of God

, , ,

h e l ed hi s l i fe in S ain t M ary s
’
und e r hi s w in g ,

Chur ch n ea r S ain t P eter s C oll eg e ; th er e be l od ged

,
’

u n d er T er tulli an s ro o f o f an g els ; th er e he m ad e his

’

n est m o r e gl adl y th an D av id s sw allow s n e ar the

’

h ou s e of God wh er e l ike a pr im itiv e s ain t h e o f

, , ,
112 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
fer ed mor e p r ay ers in the n ight th a n o th er s u su all y
o ff e r i n the d ay ; th e r e h e p en n e d th e s e p o ems , s tep s

for h appy s oul s to cl imb to h eav en by .

Now , i n s ev ent ee th c entury d ays th er e w as on e

n -

s ur e h av en o f p ea c e f or such a s oul Cr as h aw .

l ov ed the m or al w i th the fervor of an id eal is t ; h e

lov ed the b eaut iful w ith the ey e of an a r ti s t ; his
s oul l on g e d for a un ion of the two A n d at l en gt h .

he fel t th at he h ad fou n d such a u n ion w ith in the

Cathol i c fold Slowl y in d eed the con vi cti on g r ew
.
, ,

upon him ; but as h e r e ad th e h e ro i c l iv es of th e earl y

s ain ts an d s tudi e d the ord er the c ustoms an d th e

, ,

s ymbol is m of the mig hty R om an Church the v ast ,

n ess an d the m aj es ty of the in s ti tut ion s eiz e d upo n

h i s i mag in ati on an d he at l as t f oun d h ims el f gl adly
wh ol e—
, ,

h eart edly a b el i ev e r i n the p er s ecu ted faith

, .

Nor did h e fai l to su ffer his s h ar e of th at p ers ecu

t ion . W h en in 1 64 3 P a r l i amen t d eman d ed th at
, ,

all mo n um en ts o f supe r s t it ion be r em ov e d fro m th e

chur ch es an d th a t fellows of the u n iv er s it ies be r e

qu i r e d to t ake the O ath of th e Sol emn L eagu e an d
C o v en an t R i ch ard Cr as h aw r efu s ed to sp eak the
,

b in d in g words T h at wh ich he kn ew to be in ev it abl e

—
.

foll ow e d th e los s o f his f ellowsh ip N ev e r onc e

.
,

howev e r did h e los e his ab id in g f aith in th e id eal

, ,

the far s een vi s i o n o f p e rfe ct ion wh i ch h as sust ain e d

-

s o m an l e ad ers wh eth er r el ig i ous o r s ecu l ar H e

y , .

lor i ed a s his own words d ecl ar e, i n

g ,

L i fe th at d ar e s s en d
A ch al l en ge to h i s en d,
An d w h en i t come s , s ays ,
‘
Welc ome ,

8 Wis hes to H is M is tr ess .

114 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
T he po et i c gen ius in Cr a sh aw fl ow er ed e arl y .

W h il e s till a c oll eg e stud en t in 1 634 h e publ is h e d , ,

his v olu me o f L atin p o ems E p ig r amma tum S acr a ,

r um L i ber an d on e fam ou s v er s e in i t
,

The s w ate r s aw i ts G od an d bl us h ed
c on s ci ou

i s wo r th y o f a f ar old er an d m o r e famous s in g er In .

1 64 6 j u s t a s h e w as l eav in g E n g l an d h is S teps to
, ,

the T emple : S acr ed Po ems wi th o ther D elig h ts of ,

the M us es app ear e d

, an d an aud ien ce
, es p e c i all y ,

amon g C ath oli c r ead ers w as assur e d hi m I n , .

f ac t the c oll e c ti on b ec am e s o w ell kn own th at a

,

Fr en ch e d i ti o n en titl e d C ar men D eo No s tr o w ith ,

tw elv e fin e en g r avi n g s d es ig n ed by Cr ash aw him

s el f w as publ is h ed in 1 682 an d w as w id el y s old an d
,

w id el y p r ais ed A n d y et the p o em s h ad b een wri t

.

t en for th e most p ar t b efor e th e l os s of the fel

, ,

l ow ship in 1 6 4 3 an d th ei r au thor w as s o mod e s t i n

,

h is estimati o n of th es e y ou th ful v ers es th a t h e c all e d

th em but th e s t ep s to H erb ert s famous T emple ’
,

wh i ch h ad app ear ed in 1 633 .

T he l ast p ages of the book comp r ismg th e ,

“ ”
oth er d el ig h ts of the M u s es con s is t o f s ecul a r ,

p oe m s d eal in g ev en w ith such earthly subj ec ts as

,

lo v e for woman But i t i s i n the pr ec ed in g p ag es

.
,

the S tep s to the T e mple th at w e s ee the r eal C r a

,

sh aw A s s t at e d b efor e h e had r ead the b eaut iful

.
, ,

“ ”
ev en if f an ciful l iv es o f the early s ain ts an d
, ,

m an y o f the rh ap s od ie s by the d evout church men o f

the w ar m bl ood e d S outh e rn l an d s an d the sp i r i t of
-
,

th es e works h ad b ec ome hi s E sp eci all y had he .

l earn ed to lov e an d t o imitate the ecs tati c co mposi

 RI CH ARD CRASHAW 115

ti on s of . who m by the w ay are wr it

S t T e r es a , to , ,

t en two of his m o st s ti rr i n g h ymn s H ow l iter a r y .

t r ad ition s l in k in t o on e an o th e r ! Says C ol e r id ge
o f th e s e tw o s on s : T h es e v er s e s w er e ev e r p r es en t
g
to my min d wh il s t wr itin g th e s e c on d p a rt of Ch r i s
tabel ; i f in d eed by s o m e s ub tl e pr o c es s of mind
, ,

t h ey did n ot s u g ges t the fi r s t thou ght o f the wh ol e

” 5
p oem . Fro m St T er es a to C ol er id g e ! B ut
.

w ell migh t the p oems of Cr ash aw su gg es t the mys

6
t ical ; f o r s en s uous myst i cis m w as th e v er y s ou l
o f the m an H is w as a fervor a s en t imen t a won
.
, ,

de r akin to th at m o r e m od ern my s ti c Sh ell ey

, , .

Now th is ch ar act er is tic o f Cr as h aw e as ily l ed to

,

s ome obv iou s d efects M as s on h as p o in te d out th at

.

“
th r ou ghou t th is p oe t s wor k th er e i s o ft en
’
a c er

t ai n fl ow in g effemin acy o f e xpr es s ion a c e r tain ,

l an g u id s en s u al is m of fan cy or to be s till m or e p ar, ,

ticul ar an al mos t cloyin g us e o f the w o rd s

, sw eet ’
,

d ear an d th ei r c ogn ates in r efer en ce t o all kin ds

,
’
,
” 7
o f obj ect s T he t en d en cy m ay o f cour s e be ex
.
, ,

c us ed to s o m e ext en t by n o tin g th a t s u c h w as the

p r ev al en t s p irit at the t ime amon g d ev otion al

wr i ter s of F r an c e an d I tal y an d al s o a not un com ,

mon expr es s ion o f affe c tion for th ei r r el igion by de

v on t C athol ic s n ot on l y of Sou th e rn E ur op e but of
E n g l an d i t s el f A n d w e ar e m or e th an l ikel y to for
.

et t hi s p ard on abl e w e akn es s wh en w e r eal i z e th e

g
h eig ht of feel in g the ecs t as y a ttain ed by Cr ash aw
, ,

5 L e tter s an d C on vers at on i .

6 P al gr ave T r eas u r y of S a cr e d S on gs , Note . p . 34 9 .

“
( L i fe of M i l ton , V ol 1 , ch v . . i .
1 16 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
an e cst as y d iffi cult ind eed t o u n d erst an d an d s eem
in gly ex tr av ag an t in th is day w h en an e x tr emel y
,

p er s on al God an d an e xtr emely p er s o n al r el ig ion

app ear to be d ecl in in g . C an w e feel the rush of
e mo ti on wh ic h mu s t h av e co me to hi m in t hi s S on g

to Chr i st from C armen D eo Nos tr o ?

0 L ov e , I am thy s acri fic e,
B e s ti l l t r i umph an t, bl es s e d e y es ;
S ti ll s h i n e on me, fai r s un s , th at I
”
S ti ll may beh ol d th ough s ti ll I di e .

But , desp it e the thr ill in g ferv or of th e man th er e ,

ar e i n his work d is appo int in g qu al i tie s wh i ch fr om ,

an art ist i c poi nt of v i ew c an n ot be ov e rloo ked

, He .

do es n ot s eem to str ain for eff ect an d y et his con

,

ceits ar e o ft en most t as t el es s T he
. s i s ter b aths

an d p ort abl e o ceans o f his M ag dalene h av e lon g

b een con s id er ed u n p ardo n abl e an d oth e r ex ampl es
,

equ all y bad m ig ht eas il y be f ou n d H e s eems to

.

h av e wri tt en w ith a wh irl an d ru s h an d s c arc el y

e v e r to h av e r ev is ed ,an d the w ild stru g gl e o f his

i n t ell ect to conqu e r an d in te rpr et his p as s i on l e av e s

t oo o ften , ind eed onl y suc h con fus ed effe cts a s
,

tho s e in th e al most hop el ess st an z a from his H y mn

of the Na tivi ty

S h e s in gs thy tears as l eep , an d di p s

H er ki s s es i n thy w eep i n g eye ;
Sh e s pr e ads th e r ed l eav es o f thy l i p s ,
T h at i n th ei r buds y et bl us hi n g l i e .

She gai n s t th os e moth e r d i am on d s tri es

’

”
T h e p oi n ts of h er youn g e agl e s eyes
’
.
118 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
G r ant ed th at th es e fanc iful tw is t s of thou ght d o
n o t r epr es en t th e h igh es t po etic ar t i t m u s t be a d ,

mitted n ev e rth el ess th at m an y of th em are exc eed

, ,

i n gly w ell t urn ed .

I wi s h h er s tore
Of w o rth may l e av e h er p oor
Of wi s h es ; an d I wi s h n o m or e .

A n d let thos e w ho th in k th at h e c an n o t d h ims el f

ri
'

of his c on c ei ts an d s ou n d th e i ro n ton e o f M il ton s

’

v e r s e r ea d
, th e s e l in es fro m his d es c r ip ti o n o f h el l
an d i ts kin g ;

B e l ow the bottom o f th e gr eat abys s ,

T h e r e , w h e r e on e c en te r r econ ci l es all thi n gs ,
T h e w or l d s pr ofoun d h eart p an ts ; th er e p l aced i s
’

M i s ch i e f s ol d m as te r ; cl os e about h i m cl in gs
’

A curl d kn ot o f e mbr aci n g s n akes , th at ki s s

’

H i s co rr e s p on d en t ch eeks : th es e l oath s om e s tr i n gs
H ol d th e p erv e r s e pri n ce in ete rn al ti es
F as t bo un d, s in ce fi r s t h e for feited th e s ki es .

H i s e y es , th e s ull en d en s o f D eath an d N igh t,

Sta rt l e th e d ul l a i r w i th a d i s m al r ed
Such h i s fel l gl an c es , as th e fatal li gh t
Of s tar i n g com ets , th at l ook ki n gd om s d ead .

Fr om h i s bl ack n os tr ils an d bl ue l i p s , i n s p i te
Of H ell s ow n s ti n k, a w or s e r s ten ch i s s pr ead
’
.

H i s b r eath H ell s l igh tn i n g i s : an d e acli d ee p

’

gr oan
D i s d ain s to thi nk th at H eav n th un d er s l
’
a on e .

An d yet th is i s the s in ge r of who m P ope o n ce wrot e

 RI CHARD CRASH AW 119

I t ake th is p o et to h ave wr i t like a g en tl eman ,

th at i s at l eis ur e hours an d mor e to keep o ut of i dl e

,

n es s th an t o es tab lish a r epu tation , so th at n oth in g

” 8
r egul ar or j us t can be exp ect ed f rom him .

Pop e has n ot b een the onl y s ev er e cr it ic of th i s

lor s i
-
n in p o t ; th r h a v b e n a nu m b r an d
g y g g e e e e e e ,

s ome h av e b een author it at iv e men of l ett ers H az .

l itt for inst anc e, d ecl ar ed i n 1 82 0 th at Cr ash aw

,

was a h ect i c en thu s i ast in r el igi o n an d in po etry an d ,

” 9
e rro n eous i n bo th But S ar a Col er id g e w r itin g
.
,

tw en ty-s ev en y ears l ater , cons id er ed his p o etry

mor e trul y po et ic al th an an y o th er exc ep t M il ton
” 1°
an d D ant e .H e has n ev er b een a popul ar po et ,

n or is h e l ikel y ev e r t o be H i s r el ig ion w as ag ainst

.

him in the E n g l an d o f his ow n day T h e t en d en c y .

“ ”
o f his ag e t ow ard the cl ass i c al r es tr aint an d
coldn ess o f Pop e w as n ev e r his t en d en cy ; an d r ap
tur ou s m ed itati o n s on d iv in e s ubj ec ts fou n d n o
pl ac e in the m ighty i n du s tr ial er a wh ich the n in e
t een th c en tur y op en ed C on s equ en tly Cr as h aw
.
,

h as b een n egl ect ed A ll th is h ow ev er d oe s no t con

. , ,

demn h im a s a po et of s m all gen iu s ; h e s impl y w as

u n fo rtun ate in his day I t r equ ir ed a br av e s oul to
.

s in g as he did in s uch a p eri od an d as G os s e h as , ,

n o t ed ,his works pr es en t the o n l y i mp or tan t con

tr ibution t o E n gl is h l it er atur e m ad e by a pro
n oun ced Cathol ic embod yin g C ath ol ic d oct r in e dur
, ,
” 11
in g the wh ol e o f th e s ev en t een th cen tur y An d .

8 L e tter to H C romw e l l , D ec 1 7, 1 71 0
. . .

r
9 L e ctu es on th e Li ter a tur e o
f th e A g e f E liz a be th
o .

1 0 M em oi r s a n d L etters
, 39 0 p . .

1 1 S even te en th C en tu
y S tu d r
es , 1 43 i p . .
1 20 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
he s an g w i th a n obl e sw eetn ess th at is worth y of his
br av ery I n j ur e d s omewh at by the f als e t as t es of
.

h is age he n ev e r th el es s by sh eer en thu s i as m by

, , ,

s h eer i mp etuo s i ty of emo t ions g a i n e d a l,ar g en e s s

an d lo ftin es s of imag in atio n ev en a subl imity o f

,

v iew th at c arr ied h im far ab ov e the p etty th emes

,

an d p et ty thou g h t s o f the h our i nto the kin g do m ,

o f sw e etn e s s an d l ight W ell has P al gr ave ex

.

“
pr es s e d th e tru th wh en h e s ay s : Cr ash aw has a
ch arm s o un iqu e an imag in ation s o n imbl e an d
,

sub tl e ph r as es of such sw eet an d p ass i on at e fel ic ity

, ,

th at r ead er s who turn t o h is li ttl e b ook

w ill fin d th em s elv es s urpr is ed an d d el ight ed in p ro ,

por tion t o th ei r s ymp ath eti c s en s e of p oe tr y w h en ,

” 12
touch ed t o its r ar er an d fi n er i s s u es .

Cr as h aw w as s o str an gel y d i ff er en t in h eart an d

s p i ri t f r om most of th e o th e r R o y al is t s in g ers o f

h is times . L ike K eat s an d Sh ell ey h e w as n o t of ,

th i s w orld H is n ot ed c on temp or ary H erb ert w as

.
, ,

u n d oub tedly j ust as r el igi ous ; but H erb er t kn ew the

w orld s o w ell th at he w as s i ck of i t wh il e Cr ash aw ,

kn ew i t n ot at all H erb er t fear ed th e c o n t am in a

.

tion of th in g s e arthl y ; Cr ash aw in h i s inn oc en c e , ,

lov e d to use e a r thl y i mag es in his w o rsh ip of God .

I t w as his d el ight to r ev el in l ight c ol or m ot i on

'

, , ,
” 13
an d sp ac e , an d his v e r y faul t o f env elop in g hi s

subj ect in the cl oud of h in t s an d in fer enc es th at

ru s h e d upo n hi m w as due to th is joy in the crea
t ion s of his M aker H ow ten d e r i s his r egard for
.

the s ymb ols of th in g s sp i r itu al !

1 2 Tr eas u r
y of S acr ed S on gs p 34 9 , . .

1 3 S chel l i n
g S even teen th C en tu ry L yri cs p 39
, , . .
1 22 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
T h er e i s lw ays s om e s urpr is e in s tor e for r ead ers
a

o f th is r ap t s in g e r S o m etime s it i s the n o v el ty o f
.

the po eti c s truc tur e s om etimes the h eigh t of emo ,

t i o n s ometimes as in T he M us ici an and the Nig h t

, ,

in g ale th e m as ter ly pow er ov er word s an d s om e

, ,

time s also i t must he co n fess ed the fool is h fabr i c

, ,

of hi s c on ceits But wh en he feels th e fi re in his

.

s oul how he r i s es ab ov e th i s w eakn es s o f th e age !

,

T h en i t is t h at h e gr a sps th e l yr e w ith a m a s te r s ’

h an d an d glowin g w ith an or ien tal w arm th s in g s

, , ,

l ike the lov er in the S ong of S o lomon

Wh i l s t th rough th e cry stal orb s cl ear e r th an th ey , ,

Sh e cli mbs an d m ake s a far m or e mi l ky w ay

, .

Sh e s call e d agai n ; h ark h ow th e d e ar i mmo r tal d ov e

’

Si gh s to h i s s i l v e r m ate Ris e up my l ov e
‘
, , ,

Ri se up my f ai r my s p otl e s s on e
, , ,

T h e w i n te r s p as t th e r ai n i s gon e ;
’

T h e s pr i n g i s com e the fl ow e r s app e ar , ,

No sw eets, s av e th ou, ar e w an ti n g h er e
’
.

T h is , th en is , the
h al f fo r g ott en b ard R ich ard -
,

Cr ash aw Why he h as b ecome s o n egl ect ed is diffi

.

cult to und er s tand N ot all the w or th y s in g ers h av e

.

r eceiv ed a l aur el T he ag e the in cl in ation s of th e

.
,

m as s es th e acc i d ents of w ar an d dy n asty the

, ,

ch an g es o f in dustry the s oc i al uph eav als o f hum an ,

i ty th e con qu es ts of r el ig ion s th e r is e of a n ew an d
, ,

o v er s h ad o w in g g en iu s al l th es e m ay l e av e a g ifte d

p oet ob s cur e fo rg otten l on el y i n his d ark n o ok

, , .

But he c on tin u es t o be a g i fted po et n otwiths tan d

in g. S uch an un for tun ate i s Cr ash aw H e mus t .
 R I CH ARD CRA SH AW 1 23

w ait Som e day , p erh aps wh en the all-abs orb in g

. ,

e co n om i c ac tiv i ti e s wh i c h b eg an w ith th e n in e teen th

c en tury h av e sp ent th ei r forc e, an d men , tir ed of

an ov er-w is e world , sh all cr eep b ack to th e qu iet
hol in es s of the M ys ter i ous On e on H igh the W eary
,

o n e s may turn onc e mor e to the v is i on-s eein g C r a

sh aw an d lov e w ith him the th in g s n ot m ad e wi th
,

h an ds , et ern al in the h eav ens .

 RI CH ARD L O VE L ACE

( 1 61 8 1 6 5 8)

He d ied in a c ell ar in Gun powd er All ey, n ear Sho e

L an e L ondon
, A n d y et A n thon y a W ood s ays h e
.

w a s as a y oun g court ier

, ac c o unt e d th e mo s t
,

am i abl e an d b eau ti ful p erson th at ev er eye be

” 1
h eld, s o b e au tif ul i n fact th at the a d mir in g
, ,

l ad ies an d en v i ous n obl es of the C arol in e c i rcl e c om

mon ly c all e d him Ad on is Brav e h ear ted L ov el ace !
—
-
.

he w as as tru e an d g entl e as he w as mod est .

H ea r An tho n y 5. W ood sp eak ag ain : A p ers on “

also o f in n at e mod es ty vi rtu e, an d courtl y d eport

,

m ent whi ch m ad e him th en

, wh en he r etir ed
to the g r eat c ity, much adm ir e d an d ador ed by the
femal e s ex a p ers on w ell vers d in the
’

Gr eek an d L at in p oets i n mu s i c w h eth er p r act ic al

, ,

o r th eor et i c al i ns t ru men t al or voc al an d in o th er

, ,
”2
th in g s b efi ttin g a g en tl em an H ow d iff er en t
.

w as his qu iet unch an g in g n atur e fro m th e c ar el es s

, ,

impud ent sh ift in g sp i r it of h is br aggad o ci o fri en d

, ,

S ir Joh n S uckl in g ! W h at S ain ts bur y h as s ai d o f

th ei r l y ri c s m ight w ell be s aid of th ei r l iv es : T he
son g s r emain y et u n s urp as s ed as the mo s t p er fec t
c el ebr atio n s in on e c as e of ch iv alrous d evot i on in
, ,

l A n thon
y a W oo d A th ena e Oxan i ens es V ol II p 298
, , .
, . .

2 W ood A th en ae Oma i en s es V ol
n I I p 998
, , . , . .

1 94
1 26 THE C AV AL IE R PO E T S
p oun ds w as th e b ail r equ i r ed for th at bit of h ero is m .

W e kn ow t oo th at h e fell d esp er atel y w ou n d ed

, , , ,
’
fi gh tin g for th e kin g s c au s e at D un kirk A g ain
th e p r i s on g ates c l an ge d b eh in d h im — th is t ime in
.

1 64 8 for r ais in g a r eg imen t for the Fr en ch kin g .

T h at s p oilt ch ild o f roy al ty had a s p ir i t th at would

n ot d own .

Y ea r s b efo r e in 1 636 h e had had on e str oke of

, ,

g o o d for tu n e L et th a t f e r til e s ourc e o f i n for ma

.

tion A n th on y a W ood ag ain tell th e s tory :

, , W h en
th e Kin g an d Qu een w e r e for s om e d ays en tert ain e d
a t O x on he w as at the r equ es t o f a gr e at L ad y
, ,

b el on g in g to the Qu een m ad e to the A r chb o f , .

C an t th en Ch an cellor of the Un iv er s ity actu all y

.
, ,

c r ea t e d am on g o th e r p e r s ons o f Qu al ity M as ter o f

, ,

A r ts tho but of tw o year s s tan d in g ; a t wh i ch t im e

,
’ ’

his co n v er s at ion b ein g m ad e publ ic an d con se ,

qu en tly his i n g en u it y an d g en e rou s s oul d is c ov er ed h e ,

b ecame as mu ch ad mir ed by th e mal e as b efor e by the

” 5
femal e s ex But all th is h ad h app en ed years be
.

fo r e an d th in g s h ad ch an g e d s adl y s in c e the f orm er

,
'

d ay s All his l i fe h e h ad s erv e d th e r oyal caus e an d

.
,

wh at w as his r ew a rd ? O n l y the m emor y of a s ervi ce

w ell d on e H e had n ow b ec ome v ery p oor in bod y
.

an d pur s e w as th e obj ect o f c h ar it y w en t in r ag g e d

, ,

cloth es an d mos tly lod ged i n obscur e an d d ir ty

,
” 6
pl aces T hu s c ourtie rs o f b on n i e Kin g Ch arl ie s
’
.

r eig n liv ed an d en d ed ; wh en F ortun e s mil ed th ey

dr an k the cup of li fe d eeply an d w h en Fortun e , ,

5 A th en ae Oxon i en s es , V ol , 9 98 . II p . .

6 A n t on a W ood, A th en ae Oxon i ens es, V ol

h y . II p, . 998 .
 R I CH ARD L O VE LA CE 1 27

frown ed , dr ain ed p d e a th the

j ust cu
as d eepl yof .

Now , tr ad ition
tells an o th e r s t o ry o f S ir R ich
“ ”
a rd s wo es T he b elov e d o f h is m an y
’
. L uc asta
a po em kn ow n amon g men a s L u cy Sach ev e r ell w as
, ,

b et r oth e d to him ; but w ar c all ed h im aw ay cru el ,

ru m or r ep or ted him d ead at D u nkirk an d L ucas ta ,

.

h as tily m ar rie d an oth er H e s oon r eturn e d to h is

n ativ e l an d i mpr ecated d iv e rs an ath emas on the s ex
an d d ec l in e d in to a v ag ab on d —d yin g p e rh ap s o f
, ,

a m al ad y common en o u gh in d ark a g e s but n ow

h app ily b an is h ed fr om g en teel s oc iety —a br oken
,

” 7
h eart . Some m icr os c op ic c r i tics o f to d ay d oub t -

w h eth er L ucas ta ev e r ex is ted o u ts id e o f Sir R ich

ard s i mag in at i on ; but t h ey a r e h ear tl es s wr et ch e s
’
,

p ro s ai c en ou g h to fi n d s erm on s in bo oks an d ro cks

”
i n ru n n in g s tr eams B e th at as it m ay the s tor y
.
,

o s th at p o or D i ck L ov el a c e n o l on g e r S ir Ri ch
g e

ar d , i f yo u pl eas e — s p en t h is
g r eas y sh ill in g in

r iotous dr in kin g an d c r ept down d ark cru mbl in g

, ,

st ai r s to s n or e on a pl an k T h en c ame c on s u mpt ion .

,

an d the st o ry i s fi n i s h ed H e w as bur ie d in S t . .

B ri d e s Church F l eet Str eet but th e old bu ild in g

’
, ,

w as d es tr oy e d by the G r eat F i r e of 1 6 66 s o th a t ,

n ot ev en his bo n es ex is t t o day A n d L ucas ta -

.

oh , d oub tl es s s he had fo r g ott en hi m lon g b efo r e !

Y et luckily s o me day
, ,

Abov e th e h i gh e s t s p h e r e w e m eet ,

Un s een , unkn ow n an d gr e et as an ge ls
, gr eet .

7 E dwin Whippl e , A u thors i n th ei r R elati on to L ife p

, . 39 .
1 28 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
E dmu n d G o ss e d ecl ar es th at L ov el ace i s the mos t
o v er es tim ate d of the R oy ali s t l y r is t s
8
wh il e L ow el l ,
“
s ay s it i s w ort h w h il e p erh aps to r eprin t L ov e
, ,

l ace i f only to show wh at dull v e rs es may be w r itten

” 9
by a man who h as m ad e on e lu cky hit D oub t .

l es s th er e is j u s t g rou n d fo r such op in i o n s H is .

d ay s w er e too full of blood-rous in g ev en ts t o all ow

him t ime to p er fe ct his l in es H e wr o t e hurr iedly
.

an d n ev e r all ow ed rh yme an d rh y thm to d el ay h im

by an y of th ei r in s ig n ifi c an t d eman d s B oth w en t .

by the bo ard w h en th ey i n terrupt ed the u n d au n t e d

pro gr ess of hi s m arv elou s co n c eits A n d wh at con .

—
c eits ! E llin da s gl ov e i s a s n owy farm w ith fi ve
’

t en ants all o f wh i c h i s n ot v er fl a t t r i n g t o the

y e

s iz e o f d ain t y E l lin da s h an d H e g o es d aily t o

’
.

th is farm to p ay his r ent fiv e kiss es on e for e ach

, ,

t en ant ( doubtl ess E llin d a h ad lo s t her oth e r h an d

by c ar el es s us e of s om e farm impl em en t ) an d he al ,

w ay s fi nds her out in the m eado w p ickin g hear ts !

W i thout w arn in g the sc en e ch an g es E llin da s .
’

g lov e i s a c ab in et an d she w ill soon co me h om e t o

,

i t as an y oth er in h ab i t ant would fi n d the hous e too

,

sm all S c en e thr ee : E llin da has n ow b ecom e a lute

.

w h ich he c an n ot m as ter but h e may at l ea st dru m

,

upon the c as e ! D oubtl ess a l i ttl e l at er E llin da be

comes a n ebulous an g el or an i nvis ibl e z eph yr ; but ,
furth e r d epon ent s aith not
, .

I f how ev e r all th is pl eas ed E llin da why shoul d

, , ,

w e r ail ? T h es e C av al iers l iv e d for th e d ay an d the

a W ard s i
E n gl s h Poets , V ol
’
. II p 1 81
, . .

9 i
L br ary of Old A u th ors , R ivers i d e ed .
, V ol . I p , . 9 54 .
1 30 T H E CAVAL IE R PO E T S
E n l ar ged wi n d s th at
, c ur l th e fl ood ,
”
K n ow n o s uch l iberty .

T h en , too, thos e sturd y, g en tl e l in es t o L ucasta, as

h e m ar ch ed aw ay to w ar , m ay h av e b een s u n g to an
”
i m ag in ary fai r l ady , but the s ent imen t r em ain s
the cour ag eous expr ess ion of a h igh soul :

I ld n ot l ove thee cl ear

c ou , , so mu cli
”
L ov ed I n ot h on o r more .

W e kn ow th at in his two famous l y r ics [ T o L u

cas ta on G o in g to the War s an d T o A l thea fr o m
,

P ris on ] w e p oss ess the r eal an d p er fect fr u it the ,

old n h arv e st o f th at troubl ed an d m an y s i d e d e x -

g e
” 11
i s ten ce .

L ittl e w e f Sir Ri ch ard s th at w ill survi v e

h av e o
’

the j ealous y of T ime H i s co med y, T he S cholar

.

( 1 634s) , an d his tr ag edy , T he S o ldi er w er e

lo s t almost b efor e he h ims el f w as , an d t o th is day
n o tr ac e o f th em h as b een d is cov er ed H i s L ucas ta : .

E p o des, Odes S on ne ts , , an d S o ng s h e s en t f orth fro m

pr i s on to be publ is h ed in 1 6 4 9 , an d h is bro th er com
p il ed the Po s thume P o ems in 1 65 9 But by onl y a .

d o z en at most of th es e v ers es w ill h is n ame be t e

, ,

m emb er ed A n d y et w h at i s the d iff er en c e ? H ow

.

few h ow v ery few of the world s v ery g r eat est s in g

, ,
’

e r s ar e r em emb er e d b mor ! S i r R i ch ard L ov e

y e

l ac e b egg e d not for a p o et s fame ; h e aske d s imply

’

a l oy al c ourt ie r s rew ard an d f ail in g th is

’
, ,p ass ed ,

on . T ime h as b een u n kin d to him ; but i t m att er s

n ot ,s in c e he sl e eps w ell .

1 1 R epp li er E n lis h L ove-S on s P oin ts o

g , g f Vi ew p 4 1
, , . .
 RI CH ARD L O VE L A C E 1 31

B ut ah ! the s i ckl e ! G ol den ear s ar e c r opp ed ;

C e r es an d B acch us bi d good n i gh t ;
S h arp f r os ty fi n ge r s all y our fl o w e r s h av e topp e d,
”
An d w h at s cyth e s s p ar ed, w i n d s s h av e o fi qu i te
'

.
 AB RAHAM CO WL E Y

( 1 61 8 1 667)

P ope s ay s th at he th is h ighly m or al fellow C o w

l ey —g ot dru n k on e ev en in g an d l ay o ut und e r a
h ed g e-row all n ig ht w i th a b acch an al ian p arson ,

D ean Spr a t an d thus c au ght a fev e r w h ich c arr ied

him off —w e ar e n ot c e r tain wh er e
,

B ut P op e w as
.

a sp i tef ul l ittl e hu n chb ack an d may h av e inv ent e d

t h e tal e D ean Spr at wh o w as s n or in g und e r the

.
,

h ed g e-row th at n igh t an d wh o o f c ours e ou ght t o

, , ,

kn o w s ay s h is fr iend c au gh t the fev e r throu gh st ay

,

i n g i n th e hot h arv es t-fi eld t oo lo n g B e th at as i t

.

may he d ied i n the year 1 6 67 an d s inc e h as be

, ,

c om e al mos t as d ead p o et ic all a s h e i s ph s ic all y

y y .

L on g y ears ag o Pop e a s ked ,

Who n ow r e ads C owl ey ? I f h e p l eas es yet ,

H i s mor al phr as e n ot h is p oi n ted w i t ;

,
”
F orgot h is ep i c n ay P i n dar ic ar t
, ,
1
,

a nd the s am e answ er would h av e to be g iv en i n th es e

l atter d ay s .

I t i s a r ath er poor e n d in g for the m o s t famou s

po e t of th e s ev en teen th c e n tury —the b ard who
w as con s id er ed far g r ea te r th an M il ton o ne equ all e d ,

o n ly by th e g r eates t s i n g ers o f a nc ien t Gr eec e an d

“
R ome on e wh om Con g r ev e dubb ed
, our E n glish

l E pis tle to A ugus tus .

1 34 T HE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
ch ild he h ad f ound i n his m o th er s p arlor a cop y o f ’

Sp en s e r s Faerie Queen an d the p o et s p o et h ad

’ ’
,

a rou s ed in h im n ot o n ly a g enu in e lov e o f li t e r atur e,

but at the s ame t im e a most ard en t d es i r e t o com

p os e v ers es of his own H is t each ers co mpl ain ed
.

t h at the boy could n ev er r ememb er the rul es o f

r a m m ar ( wh at n atur al boy ev e r c ould ?) b u t wh en
g
th e p ed ag o gu e s s aw wh at pr etty p o ems he c ould i n
v ent th ey s ai d i t m att er ed n ot an d w i s el y allow e d
, ,

th e qu es tion o f s yn t ax t o p ass E v en a t th at ag e
.

he w as co n s id e r ed a g en iu s i n the m akin g T r adi .

t i on s ay s th at wh en on e o f the y oun g mast ers p un

i sh ed the you n g s te r for w r itin g h is n am e w i th a
burnt s t i ck upon t h e n ewl
y w h i te-
w a sh ed c eil in
g of

the schoolroom th e h ea d m ast er t hr eaten e d t o d is

,
-

ch ar g e the t each er com man d e d th at the n ame r e

,

m ain an d proph es ied th at li ttl e A br ah am Cowl ey

,

w ould s om e day be a g r eat m an an d a n honor t o

’
th e s ch ool . A n d s o h e w as a s w e sh all s ee
, .

I n his fi fteen th ye ar ( 1 633) the boy brou ght o ut

a volu me o f fi ve p o ems P oe ti cal B los s o ms an d v e ry
—
, ,

g o od blo s s oms t h ey w er e too , f a r b e tt er th an

s om e fru it th at r e sul t ed from th em H ear j us t a.

s t an z a f rom the s econd ed iti on

T h is on ly gr an t m e , th at my me an s m ay li e
T oo l ow f or e n vy , f or c on te mp t too hi gh .

S ome h on or I w oul d h av e
Not f r om gr e at d ee d s , but good al on e
T h un kn own ar e bette r th an th e i l l-kn ow n ;
’

Rum or c an ope th e g r av e .

Acquai n tan ce I w oul d h av e , but w h e n t d ep en ds

’

Not on th e n umbe r , but the ch oi ce of fri en ds .

 AB RAHAM CO WLE Y 1 35

T h is s econd ed ition w ith an add ed portion c all ed ,

Sy lvi a app eare d i n 1 6 36 an d a th ird e d ition in

, ,

1 637 . T hus at eight een h e h ad h ad b ette r for tu n e

,

th an m ost po ets at fi fty S ome o f th es e eff or ts h ad

—
.

b een w ri tten at a surpr is i ngl y earl y age C on

s tan tius an d P hile tus at tw elv e an d P y r amus an d

T h is be at ten A n d y et how r eally ex c ell en t th ey

.

“ ”
ar e ! A fte r mor e th an two hu n dr e d ye ars s ay s ,

E dmu n d G oss e s p e akin g o f P y ramus an d T hi s be

, ,

“ ” 6
i t r emain s s till r e ad abl e T he s tory g o es .

r ight alon g w ith a ch ildl ike s impl ic ity an d o n e c an ,

n o t h elp c on tr astin g w i th it hi s l ater m or e brill ian t

but l abo r i ou sly elo ng ate d co mpos itio n s .

T he ch ild i s fath e r of th e man an d s o w e fi nd i t ,

i n the l i fe of th i s qu iet m ed i tat iv e p o et “

W h en, .

” “
I was a v ery y ou n g boy at school s ays he in , ,

s tead o f run n in g ab ou t on h ol id ay s an d pl ay i n g w i th
my fellows I w as wont to s teal from th em an d w al k
,

in to the fields e ith e r alo n e w i th a book o r w ith s ome

,

o n e comp an i on if I could fi n d an y o f the s am e t em

,
”7
p e .r H i s w a s j ust s uch a n a tur e H e c ar e d li t .

t l e fo r the gl a r e an d tin s el o f th e cour t an d s eemed

n ev er t o d esire to d ispl ay h ims el f W on d er ful t o .

r el ate dur in g his wh ol e l i fe h e n ev e r w ill in gl y r e

,
” 8
c i te d an
y o f h i s wr i t i n gs A l as th at th er e ar e .
,

n o t mor e Cowl e s !
y
B ut qu iet mo d e s t w id el y-r ead stud ent th at h e
, , ,

w as he fail ed i n th e e x amin at i o n for el ec ti on t o

,

C ambr id ge i n 1 636 an d h ad t o w ai t u n t il Jun e ,

y S tudi es p 1 74
O S even teen th C e tur n .
, .

7 C ow l ey s O
f M ys el f
’
.

8 Spr at s I n tr od u cti on C ow le s P oem

’ ’

y , .
1 36 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
1 637, b efor e he could ent er the an c ien t h alls of T r in
i ty. T hos e obstr ep erous rul es i n g r amma r doubt
l ess h ind e r ed h im T h ere at T r in ity how ev er a o
.
, ,

cord in g to his h ed ge-row comp an ion , D r Spr at his .

,
”
w it w as both earl y r ip e an d l as t in g
-
wh il e he con ,

tinually surpr is ed the n ew m ast ers as he had the ,

old at W est minst e r by h is w i d e r ead in g an d ab il i ty

,

in compos i ti on I n 1 638 he brou gh t out his p as

.

t or al dr am a L ove s Ri ddl e w ri tt en , h e d ecl ar es ,

’
, ,

wh en h e w as but s ixt een , an d in F ebru ary 1 638 a , ,

L atin com edy of h is w as pl ayed w i th g r eat é cl a t

by the stud ents of T r in ity A ll th is , be i t r em em
.

b er ed b efor e his tw en t ieth b irthd ay D ur in g t he

, .

n ext yea r he r ec eiv e d h is B A and i n 1 6 4 2 his M A. . . .

I t w as j us t the y ear b efor e the l att er ev ent th at

he s o h app ily attr act ed the not ic e of Pr inc e
Ch arl es by wr it in g extemp or e a com edy T he G uar d ,

i an an d h av in g i t act ed dur in g th e pr inc e s b r ief v i s i t ’

—
,

t o C ambr id g e all w ith in the sp ac e o f forty eig ht -

hours I t w as a pr etty g o od p iec e o f work too

.
'
,

so
g ood i n fa,ct th at i n s
, p i te o f Pur i t an w atch ful
n ess it w as o ft en act ed i n pri v at e an d w as print ed ,

i n 1 65 0 w ithout the co n s ent of Cowl ey who w as th en ,

i n Fr an c e I n 1 6 5 8 he r ewro te i t c all ed i t T he
.
,

C u tter of C oleman S tr ee t h ad i t pl ayed at L incoln s

’
,

I nn F ields in D ec emb e r 1 66 1 an d brou ght down a

, ,

horn et s n est about his ears by i ns er tin g s o me ex

’

pr ess i o n s th at w e r e cons id er e d att acks upon th e

kin g s p arty
’
Cowl ey who w as n ev er a cow ard
.
, ,

wrot e a str aight forw ard d efens e o f h ims el f an d r e

m ind ed the p eopl e o f hi s lon g s ervic e t o the kin g .
1 38 T HE C AV AL I E R PO E T S
Cowl ey undoubt edly h ad the cour age o f his con
viction s an d i t i s ev id en t th at h e exp r es s ed his
,

op in ion s pl ainl y I n 1 64 3 h e w as ej e ct ed fro m

.

C amb rid g e for hold in g roy al ist v iews an d w e n ex t ,

fin d him at S t Joh n s Coll ege Ox ford wh er e C r a

’
.
, ,

sh aw an d many an oth er follow er o f g ay an d d ec eit

ful K in g Ch arl es h ad g ath e r ed H ow the old w all s .

o f Ox fo rd echo e d w it h m erriment an d b r av e o aths !

W h at b oast in g d ecl ar ation s o f l oy al ty an d d ar ing

blo od th i rs tin ess w er e s h out ed ov er the w in e-gl as s es !
Cowl ey i n his en thu s ias m wrot e T he P ur i tan an d
, ,

th e P apis t an d d amn e d th em bo th
, Ju s t h er e w as .

the t id e i n h is aff airs H av in g wr itt en a t ouch in g

.

el eg on t h d ath f a c rt ain M r H a rv e h e
y e e o e y .
,

g ain ed th e z ealous f r ie n d s h i p o f John H ar v ey a ,

bro th er of the eulo giz ed corp s e an d w as thus in ,

t roduced to s u ch l o fty g en tl emen as L ord S t A l .

b an s an d the mighty L ord F al kl and H e en t er ed .

i nto th e s erv ic e of St [Alb ans l iv e d w ith th at n obl e s

’
.
,

famil y to ok p art i n th e c amp aigns abou t Ox ford

, ,

co n t in u ed hi s s tud ies at St Joh n s b etw een fights

.
’
,

an d c app ed th e cl im ax by a t tend in g the qu een i n

h er fl ight t o Fr an c e N ot at all bad for the gr o

.

c e r s s on !
’
'

Wh at ev er adv an c e how ev e r Cowl ey m ad e i n the

, ,

s o ci al sc al e h e p ai d for w ith m an
y a h a rd d ay s
’

work For tw el v e l ab or ious y ears he w as ab s en t

.

f ro m E n gl and m akin g s ecr et an d d an g erous j our

n ey s i n to Scotl and F l an d ers an d H oll an d con
, , ,

s tan tly c iph er in

g an d d ec iph er in g th e h eavy cor
r es po n d en c e b etw een the kin g an d the qu een an d th e
 AB RAH AM CO W LE Y 1 39

lo y al st atesm en of the t ime s workin g o ft en from ,

e arl y m or n in g un t il far i n to the n igh t h av in g l i ttl e ,

time for m ed it at io n an d p oe try A n d yet wh il e an

.
,

o v erworked ex il e he fou n d t ime to publ ish in L on

d on i n 1 6 4 7, T he M is tr es s —an d how lov ers o f
,

thos e old d ays glo at ed ov er it !

I v r yet c ould s e e th at f ace
ne e

Wh ich h ad n o d ar t f or m e ;
F r om fi fteen y ear s to fi fty s s p ace ’

T h e y al l v ictor ious be .

L ov e thou r t a d ev i l i f I may c al l th ee
’

, , on e ;
”
For s u r e i n me thy n ame i s L egi on .

W h en w e cons id er the a c tiv ities of his l ife the man y ,

t r ials an d v i c is s i tud es the co n s tan t rou n d o f u n ro

,

m an t ic bus in es s w e m ay w ell wo n d er n ot th at h e
, ,

i s s om et im es unpo et i c but th at he wrot e p o etr y

,

a t all.

T he t im e ch an g e how ev er w as appro ach in g

of , , .

S ent i n 1 65 6 i n to E n gl an d t o obs erv e co n d ition s

th ere h e sudd enl y fou n d h ims el f a c apt iv e in L on
—
,

d on a c apt iv e amo n g the most m erc il es s Chr is

”
t ian s the w orld has ev er kn own But a goo d .

fr ien d p aid his b ail o f a thou s an d pou n ds an d h e

w ent forth pl ed ge d to s in n o m or e —th at is to
,

h elp n o lon g er his b elov ed kin g an d qu een F ai th .

full y i t s eems he kep t his prom is e ; but th at he w as

, ,

w eary of th is l ife o f an x iety i s ev id en c ed by his

avow ed i nt ent i on th at
yea r o f d ep art in g for A m e r
i ca
, to fo r s ake th is w orld for ev er w ith all the van ,

i t ies an d v ex ati o n s o f it On his fi rst tour o f s e

.

cr et in v est igat io n in E n gl an d he had st ar ted the

1 40 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
rumor th at h e w as t i r ed o f pol i tic al l i fe and w as go
i n g t o d evot e hi s time to the stud y of m ed ic in e .

H e r et ir ed in to K en t an d w en t pokin g ab ou t throu g h
,

”
the woods an d m eadow s g ath e r in g s impl es an d
,

r eally m akin g so me s tud y of th eir cur ativ e prop er

ti es an d thus s o impr es s ed obs e rv er s th at by ord er
,

of the g ov e rnm ent h e w as cr ea ted an M D by Ox . .

f ord in 1 65 7 But t o C owl ey po etry w as far d ear e r

.

th an sci enc e an d the n ex t year w e h ea r him s in g

,

in g in rh ym e an d rh ythm the vir tues of plan ts .

T he son g w as s ix boo ks lon g an d i n L at in a t th at ! ,

T he s ev ent een th c entury w as a v ery p at ient , lon g

s ufl er i n g
'

ag e.

A f t er all ,
thou gh l i fe must h av e b een r ath er
,

dr eary j us t th en for the po et ic doctor H e had n o .

l ady-lov e as did the oth er C av al iers t o consol e him ;

, ,

he h ad l ov ed but o n c e an d th en the gi rl it s eems

, , ,

had m arr ied D ean Sp r at s bro th er H e wrot e lov e

’
.

po ems it i s t ru e ; but h ear hi s own words co n c ern in g

,

the s inc er i ty o f such so n g s : I t is n ot in thi s s en s e

th at po esie is s ai d t o be a kin d of p ain t in g ; it is
not the p i ctur e of the p o et but of th in g s an d p er ,

s ons im ag in ed by him H e may be i n hi s own .

pr act ic e an d d ispos iti on a ph ilosoph e r n ay a Sto ic , , ,

an d y et sp eak so met im es w i th the s o ftn ess o f an

” 1°
amorous S appho H ow h ard -h eart ed old S am
—
.

“
uel Johnson snort ed ov er th i s i d ea th i s dr eam
”
o f a sh adow ! I n his op in i on th e po et w ho throw s
h ims el f in to a r age ov e r an im agin ar y sw eeth eart
“
is a fool . He w ho pr ais es b eauty w hi ch h e n ev er

1° Cowley s ’
Preface Poems
, .
1 42 C AVAL IE R PO E T S
T HE
Savoy —mi s s i n g C o wl ey came i n to the court ,

M aki n g ap ol ogi es f or hi s bad p l ay :

E v ery on e gav e h i m s o good a r e p ort ,

T h at Ap oll o gav e h eed to all h e coul d s ay

Nor woul d h e h av e h ad, ti s th ough t, r ebuk e

’
a ,

Un l e s s h e h ad d on e s om e n otabl e f ol ly ;

Wr i t v e r s es un j us tly i n pr ai s e o f S am T uke
”
Or p r i n ted hi s p i ti ful M el anch ol y .

At l en gth h ow ev er the day of p aym ent c am e

, , .

T hr ou gh the in te rc es s io n of St Al b an s an d th e .

D uke of Buckin g h am he c am e i nto p oss ess io n o f

s om e cou n tr y est at es n ear L ondo n ; an d althou g h
his in co me at n o t im e ex c eed ed thr ee hu n dr ed pou n d s ,

i t w as s u ffi c ien t an d on e m ay b el iev e th at h e gl adl y

,

r etu rn e d to rur al p eac e Spr at h im s el f b el iev ed i t ;

.

but A n tho n y a W o od d ecl ar es th at n ot fi n d in g the ,

p r efer men t con ferr ed upon him wh ich h e exp ect ed ,

wh il e o th ers for th ei r m on ey c arr ied aw ay m os t

”
pl aces he r etir ed d is con ten t ed i nto Surr ey
, An d .
‘

y et Cowl ey h ad cr ied , i n T he Wi s h

D fi eld s ! 0 wood s ! wh en , wh en sh all I be m ad e

”
T he
. h app y ten an t of your s h ad e ?

Will in gl y unwill in gl y h e took fi rs t a hom e at

'

or ,

B arn E l m s an d a fte rw ards i n A pr il 1 665 at

, , , ,

C her ts e a wh e r e s o me fr iends an d b o oks a ch ee r

, ,

f ul h eart an d i n n oc en t c on s c ien c e w er e hi s const an t

” 12
co mp an i on s But l ife in rur al E n gl an d w as
.

n o t qu ite th e pl eas ant dr eam th at h e h ad exp e ct ed .

Dr Spr at s Preface Poems

’
C ow l ey s
’
12 .
, .
 AB RAH AM CO WL E Y
H is h om es w er e n ot h eal th ful ; he w as pl agu e
”
colds an d fev ers ; an d b es id e s he wro te in a let , ,

ter to h is fri en d Spr at I can get no m on ey from,

my t en ants an d h av e my m ead ow s eat en up ev ery

,
”
n ight by c attl e put in by n eighbors D oubtl ess his .

ill h ealth m ight h av e b een tr ac e d to his w in e c ell ar , -

for m en o f thos e d ays w er e d ar in g dr in kers We .

su s p ec t fro m the portr aits o f C owl ey th at his bl ood

”
w as n ot v ery h eal th y by n atur e s ays L eigh Hu n t , ,

an d h e th en comp ar es him to T ho mp s on bo th o f ,
“
th em b ein g fat men n ot h an ds om e v er y am iabl e
, ,

an d so ci abl e ; n o en em ies t o a bo ttl e ; p as

s i on ately f o n d o f ext ern al n atur e of fi elds w oods , , ,

g a rd ens e tc ;,b ach elors. i n lov e an d d i s appo int ed ; ,

” 13
ch ildl ike i n th eir w ay s An d str an ge
—
.
,

t o s ay i n thos e l at er d ays he
, i
a C av al er w ould
l e av e the roo m i f a w o man ent er ed !
‘
I f ho w ev er i n his l ast y ears h e gr ew mor e s ickl y
, ,

an d mor e cold blood ed h e at l east fou n d som eth in

-
, g
o f l iv in g i n t er est i n the v i orous s c ien t ifi c mov e
g
m ents of his day H e w as on e of the fi r s t an d mo s t
.

z ealous m emb ers of th e R o y al S oc ie ty an d in his ,

o n c e w id el y r ead o de to th i s in s titu tion s eiz ed the

opportu n ity to pr ais e the gr eat es t sc ient ist o f the
ag e L ord B acon :

Fr om th es e an d al l l on g e rr or s of the w ay ,

I n w h i c h o ur w an de r i n g pr ede ce s s or s w en t ,

A n d l ike th ol d H ebr ew s m an y y e ars d i d s tr ay

’

I n d es e r ts but o f s m all e x ten t ,

B acon l i ke M os e s l ed us f o r th at l ast
, , .

1 3 M en Women an d B ooks V ol II p 5 0 . .
, , , , .
144 THE C A VAL IE R PO E TS
The barr en w il d e r n es s h e p ast
D i d on th e v e r y bo rd e r s tan d
Of the bl es t p r omi s d l an d
’

An d f r om t he moun tai n s top of hi s exal ted

’
wi t
”
S aw i t hi msel f an d s h ew d us i t
’

, .

He obs erv e d clos ely the ex perim ents of the l earn ed ,

wrot e out a pl an fo r a ph ilo s oph ic al c oll eg e a n d ,

comp os ed a mos t appr ec i at iv e o de t o the d eep

thi nker Hobb es :
,

T h ou gr eat C ol umbus of th e gold e n lan d of ne w

p hi l os ophi es !
T hy tas k w aS h ard er mu ch th an his ,
o

For thy l e ar n d A m er i ca i s
’

Not on ly f oun d out fi r s t by th ee,

An d r ud e ly l e ft to f utur e i n d us try,
B ut thy e l oq uen ce an d thy w i t
”
H as p l an te d, p eop l ed , bui l t, an d c ivili z d i t
’
.

T hus in comp ar at iv e p eac e and res t he p ass ed

his l ast y ears i n the country hom e at Cher ts e a .

I t was a li ttl e hous e w i th ampl e g ard ens an d

,

pl eas ant m eadows att ach ed Not of bri ck, in .

d eed but h al f t imb er , w ith a fin e ol d oak st airc as e

,

an d b alust er s an d on e or tw o w ainscot ed ch amb e r s ,

wh i ch yet r em ain much as w h en C owl ey dw elt th er e ,

a s d o al s o the p o et s s tud y a sm all clos et w i th a

’
,

v iew meadoww ar d to S t Ann e s H ill an d the r oo m

’
.
,
” 14
ov e r lookin g the ro ad i n wh ich he d ied
, T h er e .

h e d ied Jul y 2 8 1 667 an d ev en busy L ondon

, ,

s topp ed an h our to m ourn the lo s s o f a

gr eat man .

H is corp s e s ay s E v el yn
, lay at W alli n g ford Hous e,
,

1 ‘ Thorn e H an d B ook to the E nvi r ons o L ond on

,
-
f .
146 THE C AV AL IE R PO E T S
T he s acr ed tr ee mi d s t the f ai r o r ch ard gr ew ;
T h e ph oen i x tr uth d i d on i t r es t ,

A n d bui l t h i s p e r fum d n es t
’
.

T h at r i gh t P o rph yri an tr ee w h ich d id true l ogi c s h ow ,

E ach l eaf di d l ear n e d n otion s gi v e ,

An d th e app l es w e r e dem on s tr ati on s

So cl e ar th ei r col our an d d i vi n e ,

T h e v ery s h ad e th ey cas t di d oth e r l i gh ts out-shi n e

. .

P erh aps in thi s d ay of n at ion al stru ggl e w i th m o

n op ol es i thi s coupl et in pr ai s e of L ord F al kl and w ill
be of i nt er est :

“
H ow cou ld he t, i f th e State s aw fi t
an s w e r
’

”
T
a o q ues ti on a mon op oly of w it ?

An d h ea r th is comm en t upo n a wh o has b ecom e

man
sol ear n ed th at his h eart is os s ified an d can n o lon ge r
’
und erst an d lov e s w ay s
35
An oth e r f r om my mi s tres s
d oor ’

S aw m e w i th e y es al l w ate r y come ,

Nor coul d th e h i dd en c aus e e xpl o r e ,

B ut th ough t s ome s mok e w as i n th e r oo m :

Sucli i gn or an ce f r om un w oun de d l e ar n in g came ;
”
H e kn ew tear s mad e by s moke but n ot by fl ame ,
.

Such is Cowl ey s i d ea of a lov e l yr i c W ar d de

’
.

cl ar es th at o n c e famous coll ect ion of amorou s

s on s T h M i s tr es s a o m pl t f a ilur Noth ing
e r e —n ei th e r
g , e c , e e e .

of wh at w e r equ ir e o f lo v e po etr i s th
y
g r a c e n o r g low n o r t e n d e rn e s s n o r truth T h e .

” 17
p as s i o n i s n eith er d eepl y fel t n or l ightly utt er ed .

17 E n glis h Poets , V ol . II p
, . 938 .
 A B RAH AM COWLE Y 1 47
18
J ohnson an d A dd is on h av e s o frankl y an d keenl y
l aid b a r e the rh e to r ic al s in s o f C owl ey th at th er e
i s l ittl e t o do s av e r ep ea t s o me of the v e r s es po in ted
“
o ut by th es e tw o c r i ti cs An enor mou s an d dis
.

”
us tin h p erbol e , s a s J ohnson o f thi s
g g y y

B y ev e r y w i n d th at come s thi s w ay,

S e n d m e at l e as t a s i gh or tw o,
Such an d s o man y I ll r ep ay ,
’

A s s h all th ems e l v e s make w i n d s to get to you .

An d w e do not wo n d er th at S amu el ’
s wr ath w as
a rous e d by l in es such as th es e

I n tear s I ll
’
w as te th es e eyes ,

By l ov e s o v ai n ly f ed ;
S o l us t o f ol d th e D elu ge pun i she d .

an d

C ord i als of pity give me n ow ,

For I too w eak f or p ur gin gs gro w

An d, r em emb e r, such words to hi s d aint y sw eeth eart !

H ow he c ould cl in g to a co n c eit , fo n dl e it, p et i t,
an d th o rou hl
g y s p o il i t !
W ell m ay Joh n s o n th ink th at n o man w ho has
ev er r eally l ov e d w ill c o mm en d such po e tr
y W el l .

“
may he d ecl ar e : T he co mpos iti on s ar e such as
m igh t h av e b een wr itten for p en anc e by a h ermit ,
or fo r h ir e by a ph il os oph ic al rh me r who h ad o n l
y y
” 19
h eard o f an o t h e r s ex An d D ryd en i n con s id
.
,

e r in g the str ain e d i n g en u ity o f the man has s a1 d ,

1 8 S pecta tor , 6 9 .

19 i
L ves of the Poets .
1 48 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
°

D on n e p erpl ex es the minds of the fai r s ex w ith n i c e

sp ecul ati o n s o f ph il o sophy wh en he s hould en g age
th ei r h eart s an d en ter tain th em w ith the so ftn ess o f
lov e I n this M r C o wley h as co pied him to a
. .

” 2°
faul t . I n s hort Cowl ey s i s about the frostiest
’
,

lov e po etry i n the E n gl is h l an g u age ; i t g iv es for th

a cold h ard g l i tt er th at could not pos s ibl y a ttr ac t
,

an y but an A rct i c b ell e As A dd ison s ays .

On e gl i tte r in g th ought n o s oon e r s tr ikes our eyes

Wi th s i l en t w on d e r , but n ew w on de r s r is e ;
A s i n th e mi lky-w ay a s h i n i n g w h i te
O er flow s th e h eav en s w ith on e con ti n ued l i gh t,
’

” 21
T h at n ot a s i n gl e s tar can s h ow hi s r ay s .

I f, how ev er , w e w ould s ee re ally st artl in g fi gu r es ,

b old pr anc in g r ou gh s hod met aphors an d s imil es

-
,
-
,

w e must p eep i nt o th at i n v en t i on o f C o wl ey s the

’
,

P ind ari c Ode I n T he M us e for in st an c e N ature

. , ,

i s the p ost il i on A rt the c o ach man an d fi g ur es con

, ,

c eits r aptur es lov e truth an d us e ful li es strut

, , , ,

i n l iv e r y ! An d yet th is i s th e po et who a ccord in g ,

t o D ean Spr at n ev e r ru n s his r ead ers or his ar gu

,

m en t out o f br eath ! I n the D avideis the sl ight es t

s cr iptur al h int
g iv e s hi m a ch anc e f or a scor e o f de

s cr ipt iv e li n es w ith nu merous th eolo gi c al v iew s

, ,

ph ilo s oph ic al s id e-gl an c es an d b io gr aph ic al w inks ;

an d in the m eanwh il e the l e ad in g ch ar ac ter hu mbl y

s its by the ro ad s id e an d p atien tl y w aits his cue .

E p i c h ero es h av e ev e r b een n ot ed for th ei r endur anc e

a n d forb e ar an c e .

2 0 D is cou s e r C on cern in g the Origin an d Progress of S ati r e .

2 1 A dd son’ s i A ccoun t of the G r ea tes t E ngl is h P oets .

150 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
T h es e b its of v er s e app e al to us , th e r efor e, b ec au se
of the d ec id edl y
“
hu man str ain i n th em W h at
”
.

a p ardo n abl e, ev en i f fl ims y , a r g u ment i s th at i n

D r in kin g —
p o em by the w ay th at i s l ikely t o
a , ,

o utl iv e all els e wr i tt en by Cowl ey .

Now too s o me of Cowl ey s od es i n sp it e of W al t

, ,
’
,

W h it man -l ike l in es h av e a s onorous n ess s eldo m

,

fou n d amo n g th es e h igh key ed C av al ie rs R ead

-
.

aloud the o n e t o th e R oy al S oc i ety ; s p eak sol emn l y

the l in es t o his w ell lov ed Cr as h aw ; us e y our b es t

-

b ass on the o de to the ad mi r ed Hobb es an d you w ill ,

be surpr is e d at th ei r d ign i ty an d h ar mo n y Nor .

did h e l ack imag in at io n ; his tortur ed fi gur e s o f

sp eech l ift app eal in g h an ds t o h eav en i n proo f of
it. Obs erv e C ain d estroy his broth er ;

I s awhi m fl i n g th e s ton e , as i f h e mean t

” 25
A t on ce h i s mur d e r an d hi s mon umen t .

As D ryd en has p o int ed th is critic-d amn ed Cow

out,

l ey i n s eekin g his co n c eits

, sw ept l ike a dr ag n et
, ,
-
,

g re at an d s mall ; but did he n ot us e th e c ap tur ed

m in n ows in a d e c id edl y o r ig in al w ay ? H e may
h av e l acked j ud g m en t but he di d his own th inkin g
, .

an d th at i s m or e th an the m aj o ri ty o f the s ev en

t een th c en tury p o et s d id
-
H ow wron g i s the fl ash
.

fi r e Fr en ch man T ain e i n d ecl ar in g th at Cowl ey

p os s es s es all the c ap ac ity to s ay wh at ev er pl eas es
h im — bu t h e h as j u s t n oth in g t o s ay ”
H e h as a
— —
.

r e at d l to p rh p too m uch an d he
g e a s a
y e a s

sp eaks fr equ en tly w ith s inc er ity, a c ert ain hi gh

25 D avid e is , B ook I .
 A B RAH AM CO WL E Y 151

qu al ity o f moral pur ity an d ev en at t im es w ith a

,

pl eas in g p oet ic al c ad en c e .

Sid n ey L an ier o n c e s aid th at the troubl e w ith P oe

w as h e d id n ot kn ow en ou gh P erh aps the s ame
.

cri ti c would h av e s ai d o f C owl ey th at h e kn ew too

”
much T he man w as ov e r bl es s ed w ith
.
- w it.

B oo k-l earn in g an d an e as y p en h av e n ev er mad e a

p o et For a coll ege may tr ai n a m an to s c an Vir
.

g i
, l m ake a sus en s i o n br id e or
p
-
g g,o v e rn a n ati on ;
but i t w ill n ev er cr e ate in him the ab il ity t o wr ite a
soul l ifti n g p o em Ju s t s o w ith C owl ey One
-
. .

m igh t w r ite on th a t gr av e i n W est min st e r A bb ey

H ere li es A br aham C o wley H e w as br oad i n his
.

i n tellec t and s inc e r e in h i s e ffor ts bu t he lacked a

, ,

h ear t : th erefo re men h ave fo rg o tten h im an d hear

n ot h is s on g s .
 G E ORG E W I T HE R

( 1 5 88-
1 667)

SHALL I , WAS T IN G I N D ES P A I R

S h al l I , w as ti n g i n d es p ai r ,
D i e, b ecaus e a w oman s f ai r ?
’

Or m ake p al e my ch eeks w i th car e ,

C aus e an oth e r s r os y ar e ?
’ ’

B e s h e f ai r e r th an the day,
Or th e fl owe r y m ead s i n M ay !
I f s h e be n ot s o to me ,
What car e I how fai r s h e be ?
Sh ould my h eart be gri ev ed o r p i n e d ,

C aus e I s ee a w oman ki n d ?
’

O r a w ell di s p os ed n atur e
-

Join é d w i th a l ov e ly f eatu r e ?

Wrr n s n Never hr
w as t e e a u e p r r
or mo e r h r
on o abl e
S ir
p i t,’ or one whi
ch ke pt cl os e r
to the bes t i t kne
”
w — r
A n o ld ,
.

War d s E n gl s h i P oe ts . V ol I I,
. 89 p r
B o n , B e n tw o t ,
. . rh
x r
H an ts ; ed ucate d, M agd alen C oll e ge. O f o d ; s tud e d at L in.i
i v ry
col n s I n n , 1 61 5 ; c ap ta n o f c a al
’
r
un d e h r
C a le s I, 1 639 ;
j r
ma o in P ri r r y j r r
a l ame n ta y A m , 1 64 9 ; ma o -ge n e al o f fo ces r
rr y i pr r y
i n Su e , 1 64 3 ; m i son ed f equen tl for li be l ; di e d, L on d on
an d bur i ed in S avoy C hur ch
156 THE C A VAL I E R PO E T S
B e s he meeke r kin de r th an ,

T urt l e d ov e or p e l i c an !
If sh e be n ot s o t o m e,
Wh at c ar e I how kin d s he be ?

’
Sh all a w oman s vi rtue s move
M e to p er i s h for h er l ov e ?
Or h er w e ll -d es e rv i n g kn own ,
M ake me qui te fo rget mi n e ow n ?
B e s h e w i th th at goodn es s bl es t
Wh ich m ay gai n h er n ame o f be s t !
I f s he be n ot s uch to m e,
Wh at car e I how good s h e be ?
’
C an s e her fortun e s eems too h igh ,

Sh al l I p l ay th e fool an d d i e ? ,

T h os e th at b ear a n obl e mi n d ,

Wh e re th e y w an t of r ich e s fi n d ,

T hink Wh at w ith th em th ey woul d

, , ,

T h at w ith out th em d are to w oo !

a , ,

A n d u n l e s s th at mi n d I s ee ,

Wh at c ar e I th ou gh gr eat s h e be ?

Great , or good , or kin d , or fai r,

I w i ll ne
’
e r th e m or e d e s p ai r !

If s he l ov e me ( th is bel i ev e ! )
I w il l die , ere she s h all gr i eve !
If she sl ight me , wh en I w oo ,

I can s c or n an d, l et he r go !
For i f sh e be n ot for me ,
Wh at ca e r I for wh om sh e be ?

I . I WA STI N G I N D s sp am
S HAL L . W ould th at w e h ad one .
“

”—
more lyri c li ke the i m mor tal Shal l I W as tin i n D e s ai r ‘ ’
, ,

for m an y p age s o f e cl ogue s an d s ati res Se e lli n g l iza . ,

bctha n L yr i cs p 34 , . .
1 58 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
Wh il s t th us thy l ull aby I s in g ,

Fo r th e e gr e at bl e s s i n gs r ip e ni n g be ;
T h i n e e l d es t br oth e r i s a k i n g ,

An d b ath a ki n gdom bough t f or th ee

S w e et baby th en f or be ar to w e e p
, ,

B e s til l my babe s w eet baby s l ee p

, , , .

S w eet baby, s l ee p an d n oth i n g f ear,

For w h os oev e r th ee o ffe n ds ,
B y thy p r otec tor th r eat n ed ar e,
’

A n d G od an d an ge l s ar e thy f ri en ds
S w e et baby , th e n f orbe a r to w e ep ,
B e s till , my babe, s w eet baby , s l eep .

Wh en G od w i th us dwe ll i n g h er e
w as ,

I n l i ttl e babe s h e to ok d el i gh t ;
S uch i n n ocen ts as th ou my d e ar , ,

A r e ev e r p r ec i ous i n h i s s igh t
S w ee t baby th e n f orbear to w e ep
, ,

B e s ti ll my babe s w eet baby s l e ep

, , ,
.

A l i ttl e i n fan t on ce w as h e,
A n d , s tr e n gt h i n w eakn es s, th en w as l ai d
p
U on h i s v i r gi n -
m o th e r s kn e e ,
’

T h at p ow e r to th ee mi gh t be con v ey ed
S w eet baby , th en f orbear to w eep ,
B e s ti ll, my b ab e sw e et b aby s l eep
, ,
.

I n th i s , thy f r ail ty an d thy n eed ,

H e f r i en d s an d h el p e r s d oth p r ep ar e,
Wh ich th ee s h all ch e r i s h , cl oth e , an d feed ,
For of thy w e al th ey ten d e r ar e :
S w e et baby , th en f orbear to w eep ,
B e s til l , my b abe , sw eet b aby, sl eep .
 G E O RG E W I T H E R 159
T he ki n g of ki n gs wh en h e w as b orn
, ,

H ad n ot s o m uch f or outw ar d e as e ;
B y H i m s uch d r es s i n gs w e r e n ot w orn
Nor s uc h l i ke s w ad dl in g—
,

cl oth es as th e s e

S w eet baby th en f orbear to w ee p

, ,

B e s ti ll my babe s w eet baby s l e ep

, , , .

Within a man ger l od ged thy L or d

Wh er e ox en l ay an d as s es f ed ;
Warm r ooms w e d o to th e e afford ,

An e as y c r adl e or a bed
S w ee t baby th en for be ar to w e ep
, ,

B e s till my b abe s w eet baby s l ee p

, , , .

T he w ants th at he di d th en su s tai n
H ave p ur ch as ed w e al th , my babe, for th ee ;
An d by hi s to r men ts an d h i s p ai n
Thy r e s t an d e as e s e cur ed be :
M y baby , th en f or be ar to w e e p ,
B e s ti ll , my b abe, sw eet baby , s l eep .

T h ou h ast ( yet m or e ) to p er fect thi s

A pr omis e an d an e arn es t got
Of gai n i n g e v e r l as ti n g bl iss ,
T h ough th ou, my babe , p ercei v s t i t n ot
’

S w e et baby , th en f orbear to w eep ,

B e s ti ll , my b abe, sw eet b aby, s l eep .
1 60 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S

OL D AG E

A s th i s my car n al r obe grow s ol d

S oi l d , r en t, an d w or n by l e n gth o f y ear s
’

L et m e on th at by f ai th l ay h ol d
W hi ch m an i n l i fe i mmor tal w ears
S o s an cti fy my d ay s beh i n d ,
S o l et my man n e r s be r e fi n ed ,
T h at w h en my s oul an d fl es h mus t p ar t ,

T h er e l urk n o terro r s i n my h eart .

So h al l my r es t be s afe an d sw eet
s

Wh en I am l od ged i n my grave ;
A n d w h en my s oul an d bo dy m eet ,

A j oy ful m e etin g th ey sh al l h av e ;
T h ei r e s s e n c e th en s h all be d i v in e ,

T h is muddy fl es h s h al l s tar l ike sh i n e ,

An d G od s h all th at f r es h y outh r es to r e
Wh ich w i l l abid e for evermor e .
1 62 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S

II
CO RI NN A S G OIN G A-M AY I N G
’

G et up, ge t up f orbl oomi n g morn

s h ame , th e
Utpon h er w i n gs p r es en ts th e god un s h or n .

S ee h ow A ur o r a thr ow s h e r f ai r
Fr e s h —
qui l ted col or s thr ough t he ai r !
G e t up s w eet s l ug a bed an d s ee
,
- -
,

T he d ew b es p an gl i n g h er b an d tr e e
-
.

E ach fl ow e r h as w ep t an d bow e d tow ard the , e as t,

Abov e an h our s i n ce ; yet you n ot d r es t ,

Nay ! n ot s o much as out o f bed ?

Wh en all th e bi rd s h ave matin s s aid ,

An d s un g th ei r th an kful h ymn s ; ti s s i n
’

,
Nay p r ofan ati on to kee p i n
, ,

Wh en as a th ous an d v i r gi n s on thi s day

Spr i n g s oon er th an the l ark to f etch i n M ay
, , .

Ri s e, an d put on your fol i age, an d be s een

To come f or th , l ike th e s pr i n g—
ti m e , f r es h an d
gr een
A n d s w e et as F l or a T ake n o c ar e .

For j e w e l s f or y our gown o r h ai r ;

F ear n ot, the l eav es w il l s tr e w
G ems i n abun dan ce up on y ou ;
B es id es , the ch i l dh ood of th e d ay h as ke p t,
Agai n s t y ou come , s ome o r i e n t p e arl s un we pt
C ome, an d r ece iv e th em w h il e th e l i gh t
H an gs on th e d ew -l ocks o f the n i ght,
A n d T i tan on th e e as ter n h ill
Reti r e s h i ms e l f, or el s e s tan d s s til l
T i ll you come f o r th Wash , d r es s , be bri ef i n p r ay ing
.

Fe be ad s ar e bes t, w h e o e e g
w n n c w o a -
M ay i n g .

II
“
Conm r ms G om o A -M u m o
’ '
is on e of th e
mos t p er fect s tud i es of i d e al i z ed vi ll age l ife
.

”
the l an guage
—M asterm an Th e A ge of M i lton, p 1 05
in .

. . .

T h e god un s ho n r . A pollo .

i
T tan The s un
. .
 ROB E RT H E RRI CK 1 63
Co me my Corinn a come ; an d comi n g mark
, ,

H ow e ach fi el d tur n s a s tr eet e ach s tree t a p ar k ,

M ad e gr een an d tr i mmed w i th tr e es ; s e e h ow
,

D e v oti on gi v e s e ach h ous e a bo ugh

Or br an ch ; e ach p or ch e ach d oor er e thi s
, ,

A n ark a tabe r n acl e i s

, ,
M ad e up o f w h i te th or n n eatly i n te rw ov e
-
,

A s i f h e r e w e r e th os e cool e r s h ad e s o f l ov e .

C an s uch d el i gh ts be i n th e s tre et
A n d op e n fi el ds an d w e n ot s e e t ?
’

C ome w e ll abr oad an d l e t s obey

’ ’

, ,

T h e procl amati on m ad e for M ay ,

An d s in n o mor e as w e h av e d on e by s tay i n g ;
, ,

B ut my C or i nn a c ome l e t s go a M ay i n g
’
-
, , ,
.

T h er e s n ot a buddi n g boy or gi r l , thi s d ay,

’

B ut i s got up an d gon e to br in g i n M ay .

A d e al o f yo uth , er e thi s , i s come

B c , a d w th w h thor n l ad e n h ome
a k n i i te -
.

S ome h av e d i s p atch ed th e i r cakes an d c r e am,

B e fore th at w e h av e l e ft to d r eam ;
An d s ome h av e w ep t, an d w oo d , an d p l i gh te d tr oth ,
’

An d ch os e th ei r p r i e s t, e r e w e can cas t o ff s l oth .

M an y a gr ee n - gown h as be en gi v en ;
M an y a ki s s , bo th odd an d ev en ;
M an y a gl an ce , too , h as been s en t
Fr om out th e ey e , l ov e s fi r mamen t ’

M an y a j es t tol d o f th e key s betr ay i n g

’

T h i s n i gh t, an d l ocks p icked , y et w ar e n ot a-M ayi n g

’
.

C ome , l et us go , w h il e w e ar e i n o ur pr im e ,
A n d take the h ar ml e s s folly o f th e ti me .

We s h al l grow old s pace an d d ie

B e fo r e w e know our l ibe rty .

E a ch p or ch , each d oo Un t l e r ecen t
. i v ry r years every coun
r v ir
t ry p o ch i n D e ons h e w as d eco ate d w t r i h boughs on M ay ~

d ay.
1 64: THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
Our l i fe i s s h ort an d our d ays ,

A s f ast a w ay as d oes the s un ,

An d as a v ap or or a d r op o f r ai n
, ,

On ce l os t can n e e r be foun d agai n ;

’

S o w h en o r y ou or I a re mad e
A fabl e s on g or fl eetin g s h ad e
, , ,

All l ov e all l iki n g all d el igh t

, , ,

L i es d r own d w i th us i n en dl es s n i gh t
’
.

T hen wh i l e ti m e s e r ves an d w e are but d ecay in g

,

C ome my C or i n n a co me l et s go a-M ay i n g
’

, , , .

T O D I ANE M E

Sw eet, be p roud o f th os e tw o ey es
n ot ,

Wh ich s tar l ike s p arkl e in th e i r s ki es ;

,
-
,

Nor be you pr oud th at you can s ee

All h ear ts y our cap ti v es y our s y et fr ee ; ,

B e you n ot pr oud o f th at r ich h ai r ,

Wh ich w an ton s w ith th e l ov e s ick ai r ; -

Wh en as th at r uby w h i ch you w ear ,

Sun k f r om th e ti p of y our s o ft e ar ,

Wi ll l as t to be a pr eci ous s ton e ,

Wh en al l y our w or ld of b eauty s gon e ’

.

A HY M N T O L O VE

I w ill c on fes s
Wi th ch ee r fuln ess ,

L ov e i s a th i n g s o l ike s me,
T h at l et he r l ay ,

On me al l day,
I ll ki s s th e h an d th at s trikes me
’
.

li kes me . So su i ts me, s o pl ease s me .

1 66 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
T h e r e s th e l an d or ch e rr y-is l e
’

, ,

Wh os e p l an tati on s fully s h ow
All the year w h er e ch erri e s gr ow .

T O E L E C T RA

I d ar e n ot ask a ki ss ,

I d ar e n ot be g a s m il e ,

L es t h avi n g th at or th i s
, ,

I migh t gr ow p r oud the w hi l e .

No , th e utmost s h ar e
n o,

Of my d es i r e s h al l be
O n ly to ki s s th at ai r
T h at l ately ki s sed th ee .

UPON J UL IA S C L O TH I N G
’

Wh en as i n s i lks my Juli a go es ,

T i ll th e n meth i nks h ow s w eetly fl ow s

, ,

T h at l i que facti on of h er cl oth es !

N ext w h e n I cas t mi n e eye s an d s ee
, ,

T h at br av e v i br ati on e ach w ay f r ee ;
O how th at gl i tteri n g taketh me !
 ROB E RT H E RRI CK 1 67

N I GH T PI E C E TO JUL IA

H er y es th e gl ow-w orm l en d th ee
e ,

T he s h ooti n g s tar s atten d th ee ,

A n d th e el v e s al s o ,

Wh os e l i ttl e ey es gl ow
L ike the sp arks of fi r e b e fr i en d th ee
, .

No wi ll -o -th -w i s p mi s l i gh t th ee ;
’ ’

Nor s n ake or s l ow-wor m bi te th ee ;

B ut on , thy w ay,
on

Not maki n g a s tay ,

Si n ce gh os t th er e th ee
’

afl r i gh t
’
s n on e to .

L et n ot th e d ark th ee cumbe r
What th ough the m oon d oes s l umbe r ?
T h e s tar s o f th e n i gh t
Wi l l l en d th ee th ei r l igh t,
L i ke tap er s cl ear wi th out n umbe r .

T h en , Jul i a, l et me w oo th ee,
T h us , th us to come un to m e :
A n d w h en I s h all meet
’
T hy s i l v r y f eet,
M y s oul I ll p our i n to th ee
’
.

V III . S low-w orm . A s pecie s of lizar d, su pp osed to be

po i son ous .
1 68 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S

T O A N T HE A

B i d me to li v e, an d I w il l li ve
T h y pr otes tan t to be ;
Or bi d m e l ov e, an d I w i ll gi ve
A lovi n g h eart to th ee .

A h ear t as s oft a h e art as ki n d

, ,

A h ear t as s oun d an d f r e e ,

A s i n th e w h ol e w o r l d th ou c an s t fi nd,
T h at h eart I ll gi v e to th e e
’
.

B i d th ath e ar t s tay an d i t wi ll s tay ,

T o h on o r thy d ec r e e ;
Or bi d i t l an gui s h q ui te aw ay ,

An d t s h al l d o so f or th ee
’
.

B i d m e to w ee p an d I w ill w eep
, ,

Wh i l e I h av e ey es to s ee ;
An d h av i n g n on e y et I w i l l ke ep
,

A h eart to w eep for th ee .

B i d me d es p ai r , an d I ll d es p ai r ,
’

Un d e r th at cyp r es s -tr e e ;
O r bid me d i e , an d I w il l d ar e
E en d eath , to di e f or th ee
’
.

T h ou art my l i fe , my l ove , my h ear t,

T h e v e ry e y e s o f me ,

An d h as t comm an d o f e v e r y p art
T o l i v e an d di e f or th ee .

Thy p r otes tan t

. On e y protesti n g
al w a s hi s
1 70 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
I s i t for w an t of s l e ep ,

Or ch i l di s h l ull aby ?
Or that ye h av e n ot s een as yet
T h e v i ol et ?
O r br ough t a ki s s
Fr om tha t s w e eth eart to thi s ?
No n o thi s s orr ow s h own
, ,

By your tear s s h ed
Would h ave thi s l ectur e r ead
T h at th i n gs o f gr e ate s t s o o f m ean es t w or th
,

C on cei v ed w i th gr i e f ar e an d w i th tears b r ough t

,
f or th .

T O DA FF O D I L S

F ai r d affod il s , w e w eep to s ee
Y ou h as te aw ay s o s oon ;
As y et th e e a r ly r i s i n
g s un

H as n ot attai n ed hi s n oo n .

Stay , s tay ,
Un ti l th e bas tin g d ay
H as r un
B ut to the ev en -s on g
A n d, h av i n g pr ay e d togeth e r , w e
Wi ll go w i th you al on g .

We h av e s h or t time to s tay as you ,

We h av e as s h or t a s pr i n g ;
A s qui ck a gr owth to m eet d ecay
A s you, or an y th in g .

We d i e ,

As you r h our s d o , an d d ry
Aw ay ,

L ike to th e s umme r s r ai n ;
’

Or as th e p e ar l s o f m or n i n g s d ew,
’

N e e r to be foun d again
’
.
 ROB E RT H E RRI CK 1 71

UPON T H E L O SS OF H I S M I ST RE SSE S

I h av e l os t an d l ately th ese
, ,

M an y d ain ty mi s tr e s s es ;
Stately Jul i a p r i me of al l ;
,

S apph o n ex t a pr i n ci p al ;
,

S mooth A n th e a f or a s ki n ,

Whi te an d h eav en l ike c ry s tal l i n e ;

-

Sw e et E l ectr a an d th e ch oi ce
,

M y rrh a for the l ute an d v oice

, .

N ex t C or i n n a for h er w i t
, , ,

A n d th e gr ace ful us e o f i t ;
Wi th P e r i ll a : all ar e gon e ,

On ly H e rr i ck s l e ft al on e
’

For to n umbe r s orr ow by

T h ei r d ep ar tur e s h en c e an d ,

H IS G RAN G E

T h ough cl ock,
T o te ll h ow n i gh t d r aw s h en ce , I ve
’
n on e ,

A cock
I h ave to s i n g h ow d ay d r aw s on .

I h ave
A mai d my P r ue by
, , g oo d l uck s en t,

T o s av e

X IV . P rue Prud en ce B aldw i n 8 most fai th ful serv

My . .

an t w i th H err i ck m any ye ar s
. Y ou wi ll n ote th at th i s oc
.

curred ih th e seven te e n th cen tury n ot the twen ti eth , .

1 7s THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
T h at li ttl e F ates me gave or l en t .

A h en
I keep , w hi ch , r
c e aki n g d ay by day,
T ell s w h en
Sh e goes h e r l on g w hi te e gg to l ay .

A goos e
I h ave whi ch w ith a j eal ous e ar
, , ,

L ets l oos e
H er ton gue to tell w h at d an ge r s n ear
’
.

A l amb
I keep tame w i th my mor s el s fed
, , ,

Wh os e d am
An orph an l e ft hi m l atel y d ead , .

A cat

Ike ep , th at p l ay s abo ut my h ous e ,

G r own f at
Wi th eatin g man y a mi ch i n g mouse ;
T o th es e
A T r acy I d o ke ep , w h er eby
I p l eas e
T h e mor e my r ur al p r i vacy
Wh ich ar e
B ut toys to giv e my h eart s ome e as e
, .

Wh e r e c ar e
N on e i s s li gh t th i n gs do l i ghtly p l e as e
, .

A T H A N K SG I VI N G T O G OD

L o rd , th ou h ast gi v en me a cell
Wh er ei n to dw ell ,

A l i ttl e h ous e w h os e h umbl e r oo f

,

I s w eath e rpr oof ,

M i chi ng For agi n g

. .

A T racy .H i s S p an i el .
1 74! THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
T is th ou th at cr own s t my gl i tter i n g h ear th
’ ’

With gui l tl es s mi r th ,

A n d gi v s t me w as s ai l bowls to d ri n k
’

Sp i ce d to th e br ink .

L o r d ti s thy p l e n ty-d r opp i n g h an d

’

T h at s oi l s my l an d ,

A n d gi v s t m e for my bus h el s ow n
’

, ,

T wi ce ten for on e ;
T h ou mak s t my teemi n g h en to l ay
’

H er egg each day ;

B e s i d e s my h e al th ful e w es to bear
M e tw i n s e ach y ear ;
T h e whi l e th e con d ui ts o f my ki n e
Run cr eam for w i n e ,
.

All th es e an d b ette r th ou d os t s en d
, ,

M e to th i s en d , ,

T h at I s h oul d r en d e r f or my p ar t , ,

A th an kf ul h e ar t ,

Whi ch fi r ed w i th i n cen s e I r es i gn
, , ,

As w h ol ly th i n e ;
B ut th e accep tan ce th at mus t be ,
— ,

M y C hr i s t by th ee , .

X VI
UP ON A M A I D
H e r e s h e li es i n bed o f s p i ce
, ,

F ai r as E ve i n P ar adi s e ;
For h e r be auty i t w as s uch ,

P oets could n ot pr ai s e too much .

V i r gin s com e an d i n a r in g
, ,

H e r s upr emes t r equi em s i n g

T h en d e p ar t but s ee ye tr ead
,

L i gh tly li ghtly o er th e d ead

’
.
, ,

”
Was s a i l bow ls I t w as f ormerly th e cus tom to t reat
.
“

n e i ghbors wi th Sp i ce d al e on New Ye ar s eve I n p artaki n g

’
. ,

the d r i n k er s we re s upp os ed t o for ge t ol d quarrel s an d d oubt ,

l es s d i d al on g w i th eve rythin g else

, .

S oi ls
. E n r i ches .
 ROB E RT H E RRI CK 1 75

XVII

AN OD E FOR B E N JON SON

Ah, B en !
S ay h ow , or wh en
S h al l w e thy gues ts
M eet at thos e ly r i c feas ts ,
M ad e at th e Sun , .

Th e D og, th e T r ip l e T un ?
Wh e re w e s uc h cl us ter s h ad,
A s m ade us n obly wi ld, n ot mad ;
A n d yet e ach v e r s e o f th i n e
O ut-d i d th e meat, out-di d th e f r oli c wi n e .

M y B en !
Dr c ome agai n :
Or s en d to us
Th y wi t s
’

g r e at ov e r-p l us

B ut te ach us y et
Wi s ely to husban d i t ;
L es t w e th at tal en t s p en d
An d h av i n g on ce br ough t to an e n d
T h at p r eci ous s tock th e s tor e ,

Of s uch a w i t th e w orl d s h oul d h av e n o more .

X VIII
H IS P RAYE R TO BEN JON S O N
Wh en I a vers e s h all make ,

K n ow I h ave pr ay d th ee ’

X VI I . T he S un , the D ay, the T p l e Tun ri F amous L on .

v
d on i nns o f t he s e en te en th cen tu ry
T he Sun w as i n F s h
. i
S t e e t H ll th e D og n e a W te all an d W es tm n s te H all,
r i , r hi h i r
r i
an d the T h e e T un s i n G u l dh al l Y a d r . r
Ge ne al M onk s ta ed y
at the T hr
e e T uns i n 1 660 A ll th e se i n n s
. wr
e e the e en n g v i
i p
meet n g- l aces of the gay wi
ts of the ce ntu ry .
1 76 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
F o r ol d r eli gi on s s ake ’

S ain t B en , to ai d me .

M ake the w ay s mooth for me,

Wh en I thy , H e rri ck ,

H on ourin g th e e on my kn ee
Offe r my lyri c .

C an dl es I l l gi ve to th ee,
’

A n d a n ew al tar ;
A n d t h ou, S ai n t B e n , s h al t be
Writ in my psal ter .

H IS P RA YE R FOR A B S O L UT ION

For th os e my un bap ti z ed r h ymes ,

Wr i t i n my w i ld, un h all ow ed ti me s ,
For e v e r y s e n te n ce , cl aus e , an d w or d ,
T h at s n ot i n l ai d w i th th e e , my L or d ,
’

F or gi v e me, G od, an d bl ot each li n e

Out of my book th at i s n ot th in e .

B ut i f, mon gst al l , th ou fi n d s t h er e
’ ’

Worth y thy ben ed icti on ,

T h at on e of al l th e r es t s h all be
T h e gl ory of my work an d me .

XIX . Prayer for A bsolution Th e joll y car ele ss A n a

.
“
.

cr eon of the church wi th hi s he ad an d heart crowd ed w i th

,

p le as ures threw d ow n at l en gth hi s wi ne -cup tore the r oses

, ,

from h i s he ad an d kn el t i n th e d us t
,
” -
M acd on al d : E ng
.

lan d s A n ti ph on p 1 63
’
. .
,

Wi l d un hal low ed ti mes Of R obe r t B urn s s tatement :

, . .
“
A ’

m may li ve l i ke a fool but h e scarce d ies like one

an ,
”
.
1 78 T HE CA VA L IE R PO E T S

XX II
'

H IS PO E T RY H IS P I LLAR
On l y li ttl e more
a
I h av e to w r ite ,

T h en I ll giv e
’ ’
o er ,

An d bi d th e w or l d good - i
n
g ht .

iTi s but a fly i n g mi n ute

T h at I mus t s tay,
Or li n ge r i n i t ;
'
An d t enh I mus t a w ay .

[ IT i me th at d ow n all
’

, cut s t ,

A n d s car ce l e av s t h e r e
’

M emor i al
Df an y men th at w er e !

H ow man y li e forgot
I n v aul ts be n e ath ,
A n d pi ece meal r ot
Wi th out a fame in d eath !

B eh old th is li vi n g s ton e
I r ear for m e ,

N e e r to be thr own
’

D o wn en vi ous T i me by th ee
, ,
.

Pi ll ar s ome s et up
l et s ,

I f s o th ey p l e as e ,

H e r e i s my h op e ,

An d my pyr ami d e s .
 ROB E RT H E RRI CK 1 79 ,

XX I I I
T Q R OB I N R E D -B RE AS T.
[

L ai d o ut for d ead
l et thy l as t ki n dn es s be
,

Wi th l e av es an d mos s-w ork for to cov e r me ;

A n d w h i l e the w ood-n y mph s my col d corp s e i n te r ,
S i n g th o u my d i rge , s w eet-w ar bl i n g ch ori s ter !
For ep i taph i n fol i age , n e x t w r i te th i s
,

H e r e, h e r e th e tomb of Robin H e r r i ck is !
XX II I . To R obin R ed -B reas t T s . hi p
oem, i n i ts p re son al
n o te, i ts s i i iy
mplc t , i ts gen tlene s s , i ts h v
umble n e s s, i ts l o e o f
i
b r ds an d fl ow re s , h as a p
ath os mos t s in ul a
g i r
n i ts a pp e al
.
 FRA N C I S Q UARL E S

( 9 1 64 4 )
1 5 2-

M Y B E L OVE D I S M I N E

E v n l i ke tw o l ittl e b an k-d i v id i n g b r ooks ,

’

T h at w as h th e p ebbl e s w i th th e i r w an ton s tr eams ,

A n d h av i n g r an ged an d s ear ch e d a th ous an d n ooks ,
M e et both at l en gth i n s i l v e r -br e as ted T h ames ,
Wh er e i n a gr e ate r curr en t th ey con j oin
So I my be s t be l ov ed s am s o h e i s m in e
’

E v n s o w e met, an d , a fte r l on g p ur s ui t,
’

E v n s o w e j oi n ed , w e bo th became en ti r e
’

No n ee d for e i th e r to r e n e w a s uit ,
For I w as fl ax an d h e w as fl am e s o f fi r e
Our fi rm un i ted s oul s d i d m or e th an tw i n e ,

So I my bes t bel ov ed s am , s o h e i s mi n e
’
.

If h os e gl itt r in g mon ar ch s th at comman d

all t
’

Th e s e rv il e q uar te r s o f th i s e ar th ly bal l
Sh oul d ten d er i n e x ch an ge th ei r s h ar e s o f l an d ,

I w oul d n ot ch an ge my f ortun e s for th em al l

T h ei r w eal th i s but a coun te r to m y coi n ,

T he w or l d s but th ei r s ; but my bel ov ed s mi n e

’ ’
.

I The con joi n he i s mi ne C onjoi n and '

. .

were goo rhymes i n the seven teenth century .

1 80
1 82 T HE CA VAL IE R PO E T S

SWE E T PHOSPHO R B RI N G , T H E D AY

L ighte n min e eyes , 0 L ord, l es t I s l ee

p the f
—
s l ee o
”
p
d eath . P s xiii 8
. . .

Wi l l t n e e r be morn in g ? Wi l l th at p romi s d l i gh t
’ ’ ’

N e e r br eak an d cl e ar th e s e cl ouds o f n i gh t ?
’

Sw eet Ph os ph or br i n g th e d ay , ,

Wh os e con qu r in g r ay
’

M ay ch as e th es e fogs ; sw eet Phos phor, b r in g th e

day .

H ow l on g ! h ow l on g s h all th es e b en i ghte d eyes

L an gui s h i n s h ad e s li ke f eebl e fli es ,

E xp ecti n g Spr i n g ! H ow l on g s h al l d arkn es s s oi l

T h e f ac e o f e ar th an d th us be gui l e ,

T h e s oul s o f s pr i gh tful acti on ; w h en w i ll d ay

B e gi n to d aw n w h os e n ew born r ay
,
-

M ay gi l d th e w e ath e r cocks o f our d ev oti on ,

An d gi v e our un s oul d s oul s n ew moti on !

’

S w eet P h os ph or br i n g th e d ay ,

T hy l i gh t w i ll f r ay
T h es e horri d mi s ts ; sw eet Phos ph or b r i n g the ,

L et th os e h av e n ig h t th at si lly l ov e t i mmur e
T h e i r cl oi s te r d c r i mes , an d s i n s ecur e ;
’

L et th os e h av e n i gh t th at bl us h to l et m en kn ow
T h e bas en e s s th e y n e e r bl us h to d o ;
’

L et th os e h av e n i gh t th at l ov e to take a n ap
A n d 1011 i n I gn or an ce s l ap ;
’

L et th os e w h os e ey es , l i k e owl s , abh or th e l i gh t,
L et th os e h av e n i gh t th at l ov e th e n i gh t !
S w eet Ph os ph or , br i n g th e d ay ;
H ow s ad d el ay
Aflli cts d ul l h op es ! s w eet Ph os ph or , b r in g th e day .
 FRA N C E S Q UARL E S 1 83

Al as ! my li gh t i n v ai n e xp ecti n g eyes
- - -

C an fi n d n o obj ects but w h at r i se

Fr om th is p oor mor tal bl az e a dy i n g s p ark ,

Of V ul can s f or ge w h os e fl ame s ar e d ar k
’

A n d d an ger ous a d ull b l ue bu rn i n g li ght

,
-
,
A s mel an ch ol y as th e n i gh t :
H e r e s all th e s un s th at gli sten i n the s ph er e
’

Of e arth : A h me ! w h at comfor t s h e r e ?
’

S w eet P h os ph or br i n g the d ay ; ,

H as te h as te aw ay ,

H eav n s l oi ter i n g l amp ; sw eet P ho sphor

’ ’
,

b ri n g the day .

B el ow I gn or an ce : O th ou wh os e i dl e kn e e
, ,

Rocks ear th i n to a l eth ar gy ,

An d wi th thy s ooty fi n ger s h as t bed i gh t

T h e w orl d s fai r ch e eks bl ow bl ow thy s p ite ;
’

, ,

S i n ce th ou h as t p uffed our gr eater tap e r d o ,

P ufl on an d out th e l es s e r too ;
'

I f e e r th at br e ath ex i l ed fl am e r etu rn
’
-
,

T hou h as t n ot bl ow n as i t w i l l bur n , .

Sw eet P h os ph or b r i n g th e day ; ,

L igh t w i l l r e p ay
T he wr on gs of n i gh t ; sw eet Ph osp h or bri n g ,

d ay .

0 WHI TH E R SH AL I J
I FL Y

O w h ith er s h al l I fly ? Wh at p ath un tr od
Sh al l I s eek out to s cap e the fl ami n g r od
’

Of my ofl en ded , o f my an gry G od ?
'

II I 0 e . n m S HALL Oh. th at thou oul des t I F LY ? “

w
i
h de me in the gr ave that thou w ould est kee p me s ecret . . .

i
un t l thy w r ath be p ast that thou oul d es t appoin t me a se t
, w
i
t me, an d re membe r me
”
Job, x v 1 3 . i . .
1 84 CAVAL IE R PO E T S
T HE
Wh er e s h al l I s oj ourn ? Wh at kin d s ea w i ll hi de
M y h e ad f r om th un d e r ? Wh er e s h all I abid e ,

Un ti l hi s fl ames be qu en ch ed or l aid a s i d e ?

Wh at i f my feet s h oul d take th ei r h asty fl i gh t,

An d s eek pr otecti on i n th e s h ad e s o f n i gh t ?
A l as , n o s h ad e s can bl ind th e G od o f L i ght .

What i f my s oul s h ould take th e Wi n gs of d ay,

A n d fi n d s ome d es e r t ? I f s h e s pr i n g aw ay ,
T h e w i n gs of v en gean ce c li p as fas t as th ey .

Wh at i f s ome s ol i d r ock s h ould en te r tai n

M y f r i gh te d s oul ? C an s ol i d r ocks r e s tr ai n
T h e s troke o f Jus ti ce, an d n ot cl eav e i n tw ai n ?

Nor s ea, n or s h ad e n or s h i eld n or r ock n or cav e

, , , ,

Nor s i l e n t d e s e r ts n o r th e s ull e n
, gr av e ,

Wh e r e fl ame-eyed F u ry mean s to s mi te can s av e , .

T he w i ll p art grav es op en r ocks w i ll s p l it

s e as , , ,

T hes h i el d w i l l cl eav e th e f r i gh te d s h ad ow s fl i t ;
,

Whe r e Jus ti c e ai ms h er fi ery dar ts mus t h it

, .

No, n o, r r w ed V en ge an ce mean s to th un d e r
if s te n -b o ,

T h e r e i s n o p l ace abov e be n e ath n or un d e r, , ,

S o cl os e but w i l l un l ock or r i ve i n s un d er .

T i s v ain to fl ee ; t i s n ei th e r h er e n or th e r e
’ ’

C an s cap e th at h an d un ti l th at h an d f orbe ar
’

Ah me ! w h er e i s h e n ot th at s ev eryw h e r e ?
' ’

’
T is vain to fl ee ; till gen tl e M e r cy s h ow
H er better eye th e f urth e r o ff w e go
, ,

T he s w i n g of Justi ce d e al s th e mi gh ti er bl ow .

C li p . Go s wi ftly .
 G E O RG E H E RB E RT

( 1 5 9 3- 1 6 33 )

L OVE

T h ou art h ard for me i n l ov e ;

too
T h e r e i s n o d eal in g w i th th ee i n th at art ,

T h at i s thy m as te rp i ece I s ee , .

Wh en I con tri v e an d p l ot to pr ove

S ometh i n g th at may be con q ues t on my p ar t ,

T h ou s ti l l 0 L or d outs tri pp es t me
, , .

Someti mes , w h en as I w ash I s ay , ,

An d s hr e w dly as I th i n k L o r d w as h m y s oul , , ,

M or e s p otte d th an my fl e s h c an be !
B ut th en th e r e comes i n to my w ay
T hy an ci en t b ap ti s m w h i c h w h en I w as f oul
, ,

A n d kn e w i t n ot yet cl ean sed me , .

I took a time w h en th ou d i d st s l eep ,

G r eat w av es of tr oubl e combati n g my b r e as t

I th ough t it br av e to p r ai s e th ee th en
Y et th en I f oun d th at th ou d i ds t cr ee p
I n to my h eart w i th joy giv i n g mor e r e s t ,

T h an fl es h di d l en d th ee b ack again .

“
Th e re i s s omet hi n g i l ttl e fever i sh
—
an d
I . L ove . a dis
pr op orti on e d i n h is p
as s on ate -i he ar t se ar chi n gs
S incox, .

Wa r d s ’
i
E n gl s h P
oe ts V ol I I ,
, 1 93 . p
I t i s an n te e s t n g
. . i
r i
ex e r ci s e r
to com p a e H e be t s
’
r r
el g ous att tude tr i i
t at o f i wi h h
C r ashaw an d of V aug an h .
 G E O RG E H E RB E RT 1 87

L et me but o n ce the c on ques t h ave

Up on th e m atter, twill thy con quest p r ov e
’

I f th ou s ubd ue mor tali ty,

T h ou d os t n o mor e th an doth th e gr av e ;
Wh ere as i f I o er come th ee an d thy l ov e ,
’

H el l, D eath, an d D evi l co me s ho r t o f me .

VI RT UE

S w eet d ay, l
c al m so bri gh t
s o c oo , so , ,

T h e br i d al of th e e arth an d s ky ;
T he d ew s h all w ee p th y fal l to n i gh t ; -

For th ou mus t d i e .

S w eet ro s e, wh os e h ue, an gry an d b r av e ,

B i ds th e r as h gaz e r w i p e h i s eye ;
Thy r oot i s e v e r i n i ts gr av e ,

An d th ou mus t d i e .

S w eet s pr i n g, full of sw eet d ay s an d r os es ,

A box w h e r e s w e ets comp acte d l i e ;

M y mus i c s h ow s y e h ave your cl os es,
A n d al l mus t di e .

On ly a s w eet vi rtuous s oul

an d ,

L ike s eas on ed ti mbe r n ev e r gi v es ; ,

B ut th ough th e w h ol e w or l d tur n to coal

, ,

T h en ch i e fly l i v es .

II B r d al
. i ri i
O g n all b d
. y ri
le, m e ani n g th e b d e s fe as t
e-a ri ’
.

r r hi
D oubtl ess H e be t h ad t s me an n g i n m n d i i .

A n gr y and br ave . r
A n ge s ugge ste d by r ed B r ave ob . pr
ably mean s ga udy ,
1 88 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S

F RAI L T Y

L or d, in my l
s i en ce h ow do I des p is e
Wh at upo n tr us t
Is s tyl ed h on or, ri ch es or f ai r eyes
, ,

B ut i s f ai r d us t !
I s urn ame th em gi l d ed cl ay ,

D ear e ar th fi n e gr as s or h ay ;
,

In all I th i n k m y f oot d oth e v e r tr e ad

,

Up on th ei r h ead .

B ut w h en I vi ew rboth r egi men ts

ab oad ,

T h e w or l d s an d th in e
’

T hi n e cl ad w i th s i mp l en e s s an d s ad ev en ts ,

T h e oth e r fi n e ,

F ull of gl ory an d gay w eed s ,

B r av e l an guage br av e r d e ed s
, ,

T hat w hi ch w as d us t b e for e doth qui ckl y r i s e ,

A n d p ri ck mi n e ey e s .

0 b r ook n ot thi s , l es t
i f wh at ev en n ow

M y f oot d i d tr ead
j oy s w h er ew i th th ou di ds t en d ow
A fl r on t th os e
'

A n d l on g s i n ce w e d
M y p oor s oul e v en s i ck o f l ov e
, ,

I t m ay a B abe l pr ov e ,

C ommo di ous to con que r h eav en an d th ee,

1 90 THE C A VAL IE R PO ET S

if H E P UL LE YI

When G od firs t made man

at ,

H av i n g a gl ass o f bl es s i n g s tan di n g by
L e t us ( s ai d h e ) p our o n h i m al l w e c an
L et th e w or ld s r i ch es w hi ch d is p er s ed l i e
’

, ,

C on tr act i n to a s p an .

So r
s t en
gthfi r s t mad e a w ay ;
T h en be auty fl ow d th e n wi s dom h on our l r
’

, , , p eas u e;
Wh en al mos t all w as o ut G od m ad e a s tay
, ,

P er cei v i n g th at al on e o f all hi s tr easur e

, ,

Res t at th e bo ttom l ay .

For i f I s h ould ( s ai d h e)
B es tow th i s j ew el al s o on my cre ature ,

H e w ould ad or e my gi fts i n s tead o f me ,

An d r es t i n N atur e n ot th e G od o f N ature ;
,

So both s h oul d l os er s be .

Y et l et h im kee p th e r es t,
B ut kee p th e m w i th r ep i n i n g r es tl es s n e ss
L et hi m be r i ch an d w ear y , th at, at l eas t,
I f goodn es s l e ad hi m n ot, y et w earin ess
M ay toss hi m to my b r eas t .

T HE Q UI B

T he merry World d id on a d ay
Wi th h i s tr ai n -ban d s an d m ates agr ee
T o m ee t togeth e r w h e r e I l ay,
A n d al l i n s p o rt to j e e r at me .

T ra i n -ban ds . C i tiz e n r
s ol di e s .
 G E O RG E H E RB E RT 1 91

F i rs t B eauty c r ep t i n to a r os e
, ,

Wh i ch w h en I p l uckt n ot S ir s aid sh e ,
”
, ,

T el l me I pr ay w h os e h an d s ar e th ose ?
, ,

B ut th ou s h al t an s w er L or d for me , , .

if hen M on ey c ame an d chi nki n g s till

, ,

Wh at tun e i s th i s p oo r m an ? s aid
,
”
he ;
I hear d i n mus i c you h ad s ki ll
B ut th ou s h al t an s w e r L or d for me
, , .

T hen b r av e G lo r y p uffin g by
c ame ,

I n s i l ks th at w h i s tl ed w h o but be ?,

H e s car ce all ow ed m e h al f an eye :

B ut th ou s h al t ans w er L or d f or me, , .

‘
c ame quick Wit an d C on v e r s ati on
fl hen ,

A n d h e w oul d n e ed s a c om fort be
‘

A n d to be s h or t m ake an or ati on
, ,

B ut th ou s h al t an s w e r L or d f or me , , .

Yet wh en the h our o f thy d es i gn

T o an s w er th es e fi n e th i n gs s h al l come,
S p e ak n ot at l ar ge , s ay, I am thi n e ,
An d th en th ey h av e th ei r an s w e r h ome .

Qui ck wi t. Not humor, but men tal abili ty.

 DR . J O H N W IL SO N

( 1 5 95 -1
673)

L O VE WI T H E Y E S A ND H E ART
Wh en on mi n e
yes her ey e s fi r st s hon e
e .

I all am az ed
, ,

Steadi ly gaz ed ,

And sh e to m ake me mor e amaz ed

, ,

S o c augh t s o w ov e four ey es i n on e
, ,

As w ho h ad wi th adv i s em e n t s ee n us
Would h av e ad mired l ov e s equal for ce b etw een
’

B ut tr eas on i n th os e f r i en d-l ike eyes ,

M y h e art fi rs t ch ar min g
A n d th en d i s a rm i n g,
So mai med i t, e e r i t d r e amed of h ar mi n g,
’

A s at h er m e r cy n ow i t l i e s ,
A n d s h ew s me , to my en dl es s s mart,
She l oved but w i th h e r eyes , I w i th my h eart .

W rt sorr. A n ati ve of Fever sh am Kent ; ch amber-musici an

.

to Charl es I ; D oc tor o f M us i c Ox f or d 1 64 4 ; r e ti re d to a
, .

coun t ry hom e i n Ox ford sh i re on s urre n d e r o f Ox ford 1 64 6 ; ,

Profes s or of M us i c. Oxford, 1 65 6 ; arous e d great in te rest

am on the s tud e n ts b hi s r eci tal s an d l e ctures ; ch ambe r
mus i c an to Charl es I d i ed L ond on , H e w as cons id ered
.

the be st l ute p l ayer of the ce n tu ry .

1 9?
1 9 4k THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
I f th e c en te r o f my br e as t ,

A d omi n i on un p os s es s ed
H e r e to for e ,

M ay thy w an de r i n g th ough ts s uffice ,

S e ek n o mor e ,

An d my h e ar t s h all be thy pr i z e
S o th ou ke e p abov e th e l i n e
,
,

All th e h emis p h er e i s thi n e .

I f th e fl ames of l ove w e r e p ur e,
Whi ch by o ath th ou d i d s t as s ur e
H e r etofor e,
G old th at goe s i n to th e cl e ar
S hi n e s th e mor e
Wh en i t l eav e s again th e fi r e
L e t n ot, th en , th os e l ooks o f th i n e
Bl emi s h w h at th ey s hould r e fi n e .

I h av e i n to th e fi r e
c as t

Al mos t all th ou coul ds t d es i r e

H e r etofor e ;
B ut I s ee th ou ar t to r v
c a e

M or e an d mo r e .

S h ould I cas t i n al l I
h av e,
S o th at I w er e n e e r s o f r ee ,
’

T h ou w oul d st burn , th ough n ot f or

Th e clea r . The
’
refin er s fi re .
 T HO M AS C A RE W

( 1 5 9 8-
1 6 39 )

A SON G

As k m e wh e r e Jov e b estows
no mor e ,

Wh e n Jun e i s p ast th e f ad in g r os e ;
,

For i n y our b e auty s o r i en t d e ep

’

T h es e fl ow er s as i n th ei r caus e s s l e ep
, ,
.

As k me n o mor e whi th e r d o s tray

Th e gol d en atom s o f th e d ay ;
For , i n p ur e l ov e, h e av en d i d pr ep ar e
T h os e p ow der s to en r i ch your h ai r .

A sk me n o m or e wh i th er d oth h as te
T he n i ghti n gal e, w h en M ay i s p as t ;
For i n y our s w e e t di vi di n g thr oat
Sh e wi n te r s , an d ke ep s w ar m h er n ote .

A s k m e n o mor e wh er e th os e s ta r s l i gh t,
T h at dow n w ar d s f al l i n d ead of n i gh t ;
For i n y our e y es th e y s i t, an d th e r e
Fi x ed become, as i n th ei r s ph er e .

I . S N O G .
“
I t i s th e Sp i
e c al gl o ry r
of C a ew t at he f or h
mul ar i z e d the pr
act ce o f i wri i
t n g c ou tl am o ous r y
oe t
”
r p ry .

G os s e, War d s E n glis h P
oe ts , V ol I I, 1 11 p
F or a be aut i
’
. . .

r i i r
f ul app ec at on o f C are w s w o k, s ee th e e ss a by R c a d
’
y ih r
L e G al l ie nn e i n R etr os p ec tive R ev ew s , I I , 80 i .

i i
D v d in g . P y
l a i n g or s n g n g mus c i i t i wi h v r i
a ati ons ( di
vi si on s ) .
1 96 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
A sk me n o mor e i f e as t or w es t ,

Th e ph oen i x bui ld s h e r s p i cy n es t ;
For un to y ou at l as t s h e fl i es ,

An d i n your f r agr an t bos om di e s .

M E D IOC RI T Y RE JE C T E D

G i ve me m o r e l ove, or mor e di s d ain ;

T he to rri d, or th e f r oz e n z on e
B r in g e qual ea s e un to my p ai n ;
T he te m p e r ate afford s me n on e
E i th e r e xt r em e, o f l ov e or h ate,
I s sw e ete r th an a c alm e s tate .

G i v e m e a s to rm ; i f i t be l ov e,
L i ke D an ae i n th at gol den s h ow e r
I s wi m in p l e as ur e ; i f i t prov e
D i s dain , th at torr en t w ill d ev our
M y v ul tur e-h op es ; an d h e s p os s e s s e d
’

Of h e av en th at s but f r om h el l r e l e as ed
’
.

T h en cr ow n my j oys , or cur e my p ai n ;
G i v e me mor e l ov e, or mor e di s dain .

P E RSUAS I ON S T O JOY

I f th e q ui ck s p i r its in your e ye

Now l an gui s h , an d an on m us t di e ;
If v e ry s w eet an d e v er y gr ace
e

M us t fly f r om th at f or s ake n face
T h en C e l i a l et us r eap our j oy s
, ,

E r e time s uch good ly f r ui t d es troy s .

1 98 THE CAVAL IE R PO E T S

C E L IA S I N G IN G

N0 ot he r w ay
B ut thr ough th e e y es , i n to th e h eart
H i s fatal d art,
C l os e up th os e e as e m en ts, an d but h ea r
T hi s s i r en s i n g ;
An d on th e w in g
Of h er s w e et voi ce i t s h al l app ear
T h at l ove can e n te r at th e ear .

T h en un v eil your
y es b e h ol d
e ,

T h e cur i ous moul d

Wh er e th at v oi ce dwell s ; an d as w e kn ow
When the cock s c r ow
We f r eely may
G az e on th e d ay ;
S o m ay y ou, w h en th e mus i c s
’
d on e ,

A w ake, an d s e e th e ri s in g s un .

IN THE P E RSON O F A L AD Y T O H E R
I N C ON ST A N T SE RVAN T

Wh en on th e l tar o f my h an d
a

( B e dew ed w ith man y a ki s s an d tear )

T hy n ow r e v ol ted h e ar t d i d s tan d
A n h umbl e marty r th ou di d s t s w e ar
,

Cam Sm om o . Cf M a
. rvel l s’
The F ai r S inge r .
 CAR E W
T HO M AS 1 99

T hus ( an d the god of l ov e di d h ear )

B y th os e br i ght gl an ces of thi n e e ye ,
”
Un le s s th ou p i ty me I di e , .

Wh en fi r s t th os e p erjured li p s of th in e ,

B epal ed w i th bl as ti n g s i gh s di d s e al ,

T h ei r vi ol ated fai th on min e ,

Fr om th e s oft bos om th at did h eal

T h ee th ou my mel ti n g h eart di ds t s teal ;
,

M y s oul e n fl amed w ith thy f al s e br eath

, ,

P oi s on e d w i th ki s s e s sucked in d eath
, .

Yet I n or h an d n or l ip w i l l move,
Re v en ge or m e r cy to pr ocur e
F r om the ofl en ded god o f l ove ;
'

M y c ur s e i s fatal, an d my p ur e
L ov e s h al l bey on d th y s co r n e n d ur e .

I f I i mp l or e th e god s, th ey l l fi n d
’

T hee too un gr ate f ul , me too ki n d .

I N P RAI SE OF H I S M I ST RE S S

Y ou th at w i l l a w on d er know,
G o w i th me ;
T wo s un s i n a h e av en o f s n ow
B oth bur n i n g be ,
All th ey fi r e th at d o but ey e th em,
Y et the s n ow s u n mel ted by th em
’
.

L eav es of c r i ms on tul ip s met

G ui d e the w ay
Wh er e tw o p early r ow s be s et,

As w h ite as day ;
2 00 THE CAVAL IE R PO E T S
Wh en th e y p art th ems elves as un d er
S h e b r eath es or acl e s of w on de r .

!All thi s but the c asket i s

Wh i c h c on tain s
Such a j e w el as to mi s s
,

B r eed s en dl es s p ain s ,

T h at s h er mi n d an d th ey th at kn ow
’
! ,

M ay ad mi r e but cann ot s h ow i t
, .

WH I T E RO SE S .

Read i n th es e r os es the s ad s tory

Of my h ar d fate an d your ow n gl ory
I n th e w h i te you may d i s cov e r
T he p al en es s of a fai n ti n g l ove r ;
I n th e red , th e fl ames s til l f ee d i n g
On my h ear t w i th fr es h w oun d s bl eed in g .

The whi te wi ll tell you h ow I l an gui sh ,

An d th e re d e xpr es s my an gui sh :
T he w h i te my i n n ocen ce d is p l ayi n g,
T h e r ed my m ar ty r dom betr ay in g .

T h e f rown s th at on y our br ow r e si d ed,

Hav e th o s e r os es th us d iv i ded ;
0 ! l et your s m i l es but cl e ar th e w eath e r ,

A n d th e n th ey both s h al l gr ow togeth er .
 E D M UN D WALLE R

( 1 605 -
1 687)

'

G O, L OVE L Y RO SE

G o, l ov e ly r os e,
T el l h er th at w as tes h er ti me an d me,
T h at n ow sh e kn ow s ,
Wh en I r e s embl e h er to th ee,
H ow sw eet an d fai r s h e s eems to be .

T e ll h er th at s youn g,
’

A n d s h un s to h av e h er gr ac es S p i ed ,
T h at, h ad s t th ou s pr un g
’

I n d e s er ts w h er e n o m en abi d e,
T h ou mus t h ave un comm en ded di ed
'

Smal l i s th e w orth
Of be auty f r om th e l i gh t r eti r e d ;
B i d h er come for th ,
Suffe r h e r s e l f to be d es i r ed ,
A n d n ot bl ush s o to be ad mi r ed .

T h en di e, th at s h e
T he common f ate of al l thi n gs r are
“

M ay r e ad i n th e e
H ow s mal l a p ar t o f ti me th e y s h ar e,
T h at ar e s o w on d r ous s w eet an d f ai r .

I . G o, L OVE LY Ross . Cf . W all er s

The B ad
’
No man .

y
be tte r un d e r s tood th e ar t o f fl atte r an d h ow to adm n s te r i t i i
i
w th gr ace ” . S coon es, F our C en tur i es of E n gl s h L etters , pi .

95 .
 E D M UN D WAL L E R £ 03

SON G

Stay , P h oebus , s tay !

T he w orl d to w hi ch you fly s o fas t,
C on v ey in g d ay
Fr om us to th em, can pay your h as te
With n o s uch obj ect n or s al ute y our r i s e
,

Wi th no such w on der as D e M o rn ay s e y e s ’
.

Wel l d oe s this prove

T he er r or of th os e an ti que books
Whi ch m ad e you mov e
Ab out th e w or l d : h er ch armi n g l ooks
Woul d fi x your be ams an d make i t ev e r day
, ,

D i d n ot th e roll i n g e art h s n atch h er aw ay .

ON T H E FRI E N DSHIP B E T WI XT BAC CHARI S

SA A ND A M ORE B
'

T el l me, l ov ely , l ovi n g p ai r,

Wh y s o ki n d an d s o s ev er e ?
Wh y s o car el es s of our c ar e,
Onl y to y our s el v e s s o d ear ?

11 . D e M orn ay Thought to
. have be en on e of th e atten d
an ts on Q ue en H en r i etta .

Wel l d oes this p r ove A r ather l abor ous con cei t re ferr n g
. i i
i i
to th e an c en t bel e f th at th e s un m oves aroun d th e orld w .

I II S accharis s a
. D orothea S d n e , a d aughte r o f the
. i y
i i
E arl of L e ce ste r an d gr an d n ece of Si r Ph l p S d n e She ii i y .

became L ad Sp en ce r i n 1 639 , an d , of cou r se, W all e r ceas ed

y
i i
to n d te l ove p oe m s to h e r A m or et w as pr ob abl L ady S o
. y
i y
ph a M urr a Sacchari s sa f rom s accharwm, sugar
. .
2 045 T HE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
B y th i s c un ni n g ch an ge of h e ar ts
You th e p ow e r o f L ov e con tr ol ;
Wh i l e the bo y s d el ud ed d arts
’

C an arri ve at n ei th er s oul .

For i n n to e ith er breas t

vai
Sti llb egui led L ove d oes come ,

Wh er e h e fi n ds a f oreign gue s t :
'

N either of your h earts at home .

D ebtors thus w ith l ike d es i gn ,

When th ey n ever mean to p ay ,

T h at th ey may the l aw d ecl i n e

T o som
,

e f r i en d make all aw ay .

Not th e s il ver
d ov e s that fly ,

Yoked to C yth e r e a s car ’

Not th e w in gs th at li ft s o h i gh
An d c on v ey h er s on s o far ,

Ar e s o l ov el y, sw eet, an d fai r,
Or do mor e e n n obl e l ov e,
A re s o ch oi cely m atch e d a p ai r,
Or w ith mor e c on s en t d o mov e .

L ovely, s w eet and fa r i .

“
iv
H e l e s i n h er n ame mo e t an r h
s he d oe s i n hi s p oet ry v h
; h e ga e t at n am e a c a m an d a h r
ri
ce l eb ty whi h
c r iv ir i
h as s u v e d th e ad m at on h i s e se s i h vr
Sp i red , an d whi h
c i
h as ass ste d to pr
ese rv h
e t em an d i ms el f h
r
f om obli on vi ”
. J ame son, The L oves of the oets, V ol P , . II
p . 15 .
2 06 THE C AVAL I E R P OE T S
T i s n ot th e pr etty thi n gs you s ay
’

Nor th os e you w r i te ,

Wh i ch can m ake T hy r s i s h eart your p r ey ;

’

For th at d el i gh t ,

T h e gr aces o f a w e ll taugh t mi n d -
,

In s om e o f our ow n s ex w e fin d .

No, F l avi a, your l ove I f ear ;

’
t is
L ov e s s ur es t d arts
’

T h os e w h i ch s o s el d om fai l hi m are ,

H e aded w i th h e ar ts ;
T h e i r v ery s h adow s make us yi el d ;
D i s s embl e w el l an d w i n th e fi el d
, .

TO PHYL L I S

P hyl l i s wh y s h oul d w e d el ay
, ,

Pl e as ur es s h or te r th an the d ay ?
C oul d w e ( w hi ch w e n ev e r c an )
S tr etch our li v es bey on d th ei r s p an ,

B eauty l ike a s h ad ow fl i es ,

A n d our y outh b e for e us d i es ;

Or w oul d y outh a b e auty s tay
'

, ,

L ov e h ath w i n gs an d wi l l aw ay , .

L ov e h ath s w i fte r w i n gs th an T i me
C h an ge i n l ov e to h e av en d oes cl i m b ;
G od s th at n ev e r ch an ge th ei r s tate
, ,

V ar y oft th ei r l ov e an d h ate .

P h ylli s to th i s truth w e ow e
,

A ll the l ov e b etwi xt us tw o .

V Thyrs is The n ame appl i ed by W all e r to himsel f

. .

i n g hi s s tatel y an d p oe ti cal wooi n g o f S acch ar i s s a .

T o P HYLLI S S et to m u s i c i n P l ay for d s S ele ct A i rs

’
VI . .

a d D i alo u es
n
g 1 65 9, Th e p oem sh ows t h e ten d en cy toward
.

the more re str ai n e d p oe try comi n g af ter the R es tor ati on .

 E D M UN D W AL L E R 2 07

L et n ot ou an d
y I en qui re
Wh at has be en our p ast d es i r e ;
On w h at s h eph e r d s y ou h av e s mi l ed ,

Or w h at n y mph s I h av e b e gui l e d ;
L e av e i t to th e p l an ets too , ,

Wh at w e s h al l h e r eafte r d o
For th e j oys w e n ow may prov e,
iT ake advi ce of p r es en t lo v e .

T H E B UD

L ately on y on d e r s w e ll i n g bus h,
B i g w i th m an y a comin g r os e,
T h i s e ar ly bud be gan to bl us h
A n d d i d but h al f i ts el f d i s cl os e ;
I p l ucked i t, th ough n o better gr own ,
An d no w you s ee h o w ful l ti s bl ow n
’
.

Sti ll as I di d the l e ave s in s p i re,

With such a p urp l e l i ght th ey shon e
A s i f th e y had be en m ad e of fi r e ,

A n d s pr e adi n g s o w oul d fl ame an on

,
.

A l l th at w as mean t by ai r or s un ,

T o the youn g fl ow e r my br eath h as d on e .

If our l oos e br eath so much c an do,

Wh at may th e s ame i n for med of l ov e ,

Of p ur es t l ov e an d m us i c too , ,

Wh en F l av i a i t as p i r e s to move ;
Wh en that whi ch l i f el ess buds p er s uade s
T o w ax mor e so ft h er youth i nvades ?
,
2 08 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S

OF T H E L AS T V E RSE S I N THE B OO K
Wh en w e for age c ould h e r r ead
n e it n or w rite ,

T h e s ubj ect m ade us abl e to i n di te ;

T h e s oul , w i th n obl e r r es ol uti on s d ecke d ,
T he body s toop i n g, d oe s h e r s el f e r e ct .

No mor tal p arts ar e r e qui s i te to r ai s e

H er th at, un bodi ed , can h er M ake r pr ai s e .

T he s eas ar e q ui et wh en th e wi n d s giv e o er ;
’

So, c al m w e w h en p as s i on s ar e n o mor e !
For th en w e kn o w h ow v ai n i t w as to bo ast
O f fl eeti n g th i n gs , s o ce r tai n to be l ost .

C l oud s o f affe cti on f r om our y oun ge r e y e s

C on ceal th at emp ti n es s w h i ch age d es cri es .

Th e s oul s d ark cottage, b atte r e d an d d ecay e d,

’

L ets i n n ew l i gh t thr ough c h i nk s th at ti me h as m ad e ;

S tr on ge r by w eakn e s s , w i s e r men becom e,
A s th e y d r aw n e ar to th ei r ete r n al h ome .

L eav i n g th e ol d, b oth w or l d s at on ce th ey vi e w,
T h at s tan d up on the thr es hold of th e n ew .

VI II . T H E L as r '
Ver se s . W all er s
’
son s poke of t he se lin es
as
“
th e l a s t e v rses my d e ar f ather m ad e H e re .
”
may s ee we
h ow cl os e] the p oe t h as appr oached the coupl et form s oon ,

so s ucces s full y i n th e cl ass i cal pe ri od

“ ”
to be use .
£1 0 CA VAL I ER PO E T S
THE
Wh en I ey e your curl or l ace ,

G en tl e s oul y ou th i n k your face

,

S tr ai ght s ome mur d e r d oth c ommi t ;

An d y our vi rt ue d oth begin
T o gr ow s cr up ul ous o f my s i n ,

When I tal k to show my w it .

T h ere fo r e, m ad am, w ear n o cloud ,

Nor to ch eck my l ov e gr ow p r oud ;
I n s ooth , I much do d oubt
T i s th e p ow e r i n y our h ai r,
’

Not your br e ath , p er fumes the ai r,

An d your cl oth es th at s et you out .

Yet though truth h as th i s con fessed,

A n d I vow I l ov e i n j es t,
When I n e xt be gi n to court,
A n d pr otect an amor ous fl ame,
Y ou wi ll s w ea r I i n ear n es t am .

B edl am ! thi s i s pr etty sport .

II
T O RO SE S

I n th e B os om o f Cas tara
Y e blus hi n g vi r gi n s h app y ar e
I n th e ch as te n un n r y of h er br eas ts ,
’

For h e d pr of an e s o ch as te a fai r
’

Who e er s houl d c all th em C upi d s n ests

’ ’
.

II . CA ST ABA . L ady L ucy H erbert, whom he m arried about

o f th e m os t e l e gan t m on um en ts e ve r r ai s e d by
“
1 631 . On e
i
e n us to con u gal j i
a ff e ct on w as H abi gton s C ae tar a
’ ”

gm
n .

a es on , Th e L oves of th e P oe ts V ol I I p 1 1 0
, . , . .

Cf L ovel ace s T o L ucas ta On G oi n g

’
.
, to
the Wan .
 W I L L I AM H A B I NG T ON 21 l

T r an s p l an ted th us , h ow br i gh t ye gr ow ,
H ow r i c h a p e r fume d o y e yi el d !
I n s om e c l os e gar d en , cows li p s s o
A r e s w e eter th an i th op en fi el d
’ ’
.

I n thos e whi te cloi s ter s li ve s ecure

Fr om the r ud e bl as ts o f w an ton b r eath ,

E ach h our mor e in n ocen t an d p ur e ,

T i ll you s hall wi th er i n to d eath .

T h en th at
. w h ich li vi n g gave you r oom
Y ou r gl ori ous s ep ul chr e s h all be .

T h e r e w an ts n o marbl e f or a tomb ,

Whos e br eas t hath ma r bl e been to me .

A G AI N ST T H E M T HAT L AY UN C H A ST I T Y T O
T H E S E X OF WOM A N

T hey m eet w ith but un w h ol es om e s pr i n gs

A n d s umm er s w h ic h i n fe cti on s ar e,
T h ey h ear but w h en th e mer mai d s i n gs,
An d on ly s ee th e f al li n g star,
Wh o e v e r d ar e
Affirm n o w oman ch as te an d f ai r .

II . C los e gar d en E n cl osed

. .

I II A.
g a ns i
t T m h e .
’
y
A r epl to D onn e s S on g i i
con ta n n g
the w ord s :
“
i
R de ten thous an d d a s and n ghts y i
i i
T ll age s now w h te h a r s on t he e ; i
T hou, w
hen thou r e turn s t w lt tell me
’
i
A l l s tr an w
on d e rs that be fell thee ,
A n s w e ar
No w here
”
L ives a woman true and fai r .
21 2 T HE CAVAL I ER PO E T S
G 0 cur e your f ever s an d you ll s ay
’

, ,

T h e dog d ays s cor ch n ot all the year ;

-

In copp e r mi n es n o l on ge r s tay ,

B ut tr av el to th e w es t an d th er e
T h e ri ght on es s ee ,

And gran t all gol d s n ot al ch emy

’
.

What m ad man c au s e the gl ow-worm s fl ame

,
’ ’

I s c ol d s w ear s th er e s n o w armth i n fi re ?
’

C aus e s ome m ake f or fe it o f th ei r n ame

’

An d sl av e th ems e l v es t o man s d es ir e,
’

S h al l th e s ex f r e e ,

F rom gui lt, d amn ed to bon dage be ?

Nor gri ev e, C ast ara, thou gh tw er e f r ail ,

’

T hy v i rtue th en w oul d bri gh te r s h in e,

When thy e xamp l e s h oul d p r e v ail

An d ev er y w oman s f ai th be thi n e
’

An d w er e th er e n on e,
Ti s maj es ty to rul e al on e
’
.

DE SC RI P T I ON OF C AS TARA

L ike th e vi ol et whi ch al on e
,

P ros p er s in s ome h app y s h ade ,

M y C as tar a li v es un kn own ,

T o n o l oos e r e ye betr ay ed ,

For s h e s to he r s el f un tr ue
’

Wh o d el i gh ts i th p ubli c Vi ew ’ ’
.

IV . D s scnrm ox or CAs m nA
Th e '
oet d ins the c as
.
“
h
iy i r i r
t t o f h is m s t es s n to hi s ead e s h ea 3 un t l the e ad e s ,
’
r i r r
r iv
—
in s e l f-d e fen s e. ar e d e n to s a
‘
Si r, d i d an y one d oubt
i ry
S a n ts bu , H is tory of E iza be thcm Li tera tu e, 382, r p .
2 1 45 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
S he h er thr on e make s r e as on cli mb ,

Wh i l e w i l d p as s i on s cap ti v e li e ;
A n d e ach art i c l e of ti me
H er p ur e th oughts to H e av en fly
A l l h e r v ow s r eli gi ous be ,

An d he r l ov e s h e v ow s to m e .

NOX NOC T I I ND I CA T S C I E NT IA M

When I s urv e y th e br igh t

C el es ti al s ph e r e ,

S o r i ch w i th j e w el s h un g th at n i gh t
D oth li ke an E th i op bri d e app ear
.
,

My s ou l
wi n gs d oth s pr e ad
h er ,

A n d h e av en w ar d fl i e s ,

T h e A l mi gh ty s m ys ter i es to r e ad
’

I n the l arge v ol um e of th e ski es .

F or b ri ght fi rmament
th e
S h oots fo rth n o fl ame
S o s il en t but i s e l oquen t
,

I n s p eaki n g the C r eator s n ame

’
.

No un r egar d ed r sta
C on tr acts i ts li ght
I n to s o s mal l a ch ar acte r ,

Rem ov ed f ar fr om our h uman s ig ht ,

V Nox Nocrr I NDI CA T S CIE NTIAM “

Th e he aven s d e cl are
—
'
. .

th e gl o ry
o f G od , e tc
”
P s al m . x ix .

M y s ou l h er w ngs “
iB ut t e t at . hy h
ai t upon th e L o d w r
h
s all r
e n ew t e h ir r
s t en gt ; t ey s all moun t uph h t hn gs wi h wi
as e agl e s ; t e hy h
s al l ru n an d n ot b e ea ; an d t e s all w ry hy h
w alk, an d n ot fa n t ”
i sa a , A. 31 I i h .

B r igh t firm am en t “
Th e fl rm ament s e et
. H is handi hw h
w r
o k
”
. s al mP 1 xi x . .
 W ILL IA M H AB I NG T ON 2 15 .

B ut, i f w e s t l ook
s tead fa ,
We s h al l d is ce rn
I n it, as i n s o m e h oly book ,

H ow man may h eav enl y kn owl ed ge

I t tell s the con que ror

T h at f ax str e tch ed pow e r,
Wh i ch h i s pr oud l an ge r s tr affic for,
I s but th e tr i um pn o f an h our .

T h at f rom th e f arth es t n or th
Some n ati on may,
Y et u n d i s cov e r e d, i s s ue f orth ,
An d o e r hi s n ew -got con ques t s w ay
’
.

So me n ati on y et shut in
Wi th hi ll s of i ce
M ay be l et out to s cou r ge his s in ,

T i ll th ey sh all equal hi m i n vi ce .

An d th en the y l ikew i s e s h al l
T h ei r r ui n h av e ;
F or as y our s e l ve s y our emp i r e s f all ,
A n d e ve ry ki n gdom h ath a gr ave .

T hus th os e c el es ti al fir es ,
T h ough s e emi n g mute,
T he fall ac y of our de s i r es
An d all th e p r i d e of l i fe c on fute .

r th “
rh h r
Fartheat
rh
no . Out
th e n o t
i h i
an e vi l s all b e ak
f o t upon al l the n ab tants o f th e l an d
of
”
J e em a , 14 .
—r i h i . .

“
i rh h r r
F or the k n g of the n o t s al l etu n , an d s al l s e t fo th h r
i r r h
a m ul t tud e g e ate r r
t an the f o me , an d s h all ce ta n l y come r i
r
af te r i y r wi h
ce t a n ea s t a g e at a m an d r r y
i th much c es
”
w ri h .

i
-D an el
, xi 1 3
. .
21 6 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
For th e y h av e w atch ed s i n ce fi r s t
T h e w or ld h ad bi rth ,

An d f oun d s i n i n i ts el f accur s e d
,

An d n oth in g p erman en t on earth .

21 8 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
T h e me r ch an t bow s un to the s eaman s s tar ,
’

T he p l ou gh man f r om th e s un h i s s eas on take s ;

B ut s ti l l th e l ov e r w on de r s w h at th e y ar e
W ho l ook for d ay be for e h is m i s tr es s w akes .

A w ake, aw ake, br e ak thr ough y our v e i ls o f l awn ,

T h en dr aw your c urtai n s , an d b egin the d aw n .

S ON G

Why do s t th ou s eem to b oas t v ai n gl ori ous s un ?

,

Why s h oul d thy br i gh t com p l ex i on m ake th ee pr oud ?

T h in k but h ow often s i n ce thy r ace be gun
T hou w ert e cli p s ed th en bl us h b ehi n d a cl oud
, .

Or why look you ,

fai r E mpr es s of th e n ight ,

So bi g upon t, w h en y ou at f ull app ear ?

’

Re me mbe r y our s i s but a borr ow ed l i gh t,

T h en s h rink w i th p al enes s i n your gi dd y s ph er e .

If n e ith er s un nor moon can j us ti fy

T h e i r pr i de h ow i ll i t w om en th em b e fi ts
, ,

T h at ar e on e arth but ign e s fa tui

T h at l ead p oo r men to w an de r fr om th ei r w i ts .

bur ied, Westmin ster Abbe y

Ther e i s n ot a more h ope lessl
.
“
y
S i
f ade d l au re l on t he l opes o f th e E n gl sh P ar n as s us th an
that w i i y
h ch on ce fl our she d s o br av’ el aroun d the grotesq ue
head of D aven an t .
”
G os se, Ward s E n gl s h P oets , V ol
i , . II
p 989
. .
 SIR W IL L I AM D AVE N A NT 21 9

P RAI SE A ND P RAYE R
Pr ai s ei s d ev oti on fi t for mi gh ty min ds ,
Th e di fl r i n g w orl d s agr ee i n g s ac r i fi ce ;
’ '

Wh e r e H eav en di v i de d f ai th s un ite d fi n d s
B ut Pr aye r i n v ar i ous di s cord up w ar d fl i es .

For Pr ayer th e oce an wh er e di ve rs ely

is
M en s tee r th e i r cour s e e ach to a s e v r al coas t ;
’

Wh e r e all our i n te r es ts s o d is cor dan t be

T h at h al f beg w i n ds by w hi ch th e r e s t ar e l os t .

By P en iten ce w h en w e our s el ves for s ake ,

T i s but in w i s e d es i gn on p i teous H eav e n ;

’

I n Pr ai s e w e n obly giv e w h at G od m ay t ake ,

A n d ar e w i thout a beggar s b l us h f or gi v en
’
.
, ,
 SIR JOH N S U CKL I NG

( 1 609-1 64 2
)

WH Y SO PAL E
Why p al e an d w an fon d l over ?
so ,

Pr ith ee w h y s o p al e ? ,

Wi ll w h en l ooki n g w el l can t m ove

,
’
h e r,
L ookin g i ll p r e v ai l ?
P ri th ee, why s o p al e ?

Why d ull an d mute youn g s i n n er ?

so ,

Pri th e e w h y s o mute ? ,

Wi ll w h en s p eaki n g w e l l c an t w in h er
,
’

S ayi n g n oth i n g do t ?
’

Pri th ee w hy s o mute ? ,

Q ui t q ui t, f or s h am e ! th i s w ill
, n ot move,
T hi s c an n ot take h er ;
I f o f h e r s e l f s h e w i ll n ot l ov e,
N oth i n g can m ake h er :
T he d evil take h er !

S ucxu rro . For the n ext fi ft

“
yy
e ar s n o on e coul d rite a w
g oo d l ove -son
g wi
thout m ore or l e ss re m n d i n g the re ad e r o f i
i G o s se . War d s E n g l s h Poe ts , V ol I I, p 1 71
i
”
S uckl n g
’
. . . .

I. W’H Y So PALE ? F rom S uckl n g s pl a . A g lau r a pre i ’

y ,

s en te d at B l ack fr ar s i n 1 637 i“
T h s i s the ver pe r fect on i y i
i i i y
o f the b an te r n g s at r cal l r i c i n w h ch the age o f Ch arl es
, . i
excell ed .
”
i
Schell n g. S even te en th C en tu ry L yri cs, p 25 1 . .

29 0
2 22 C A VAL I E R PO E T S
THE
I s en t to kn o w fr om w h en ce an d w h er e
T h e s e h op es an d thi s r e li e f .

A s py i n for m ed H on o r w as th e r e
, ,

An d d i d c omm an d i n chi e f .

M ar ch , mar ch, h I th e w or d
q uot
,
r
s t ai ght gi v e,
L e t s l os e n o ti me but l e av e h er ;
’

T h at gi an t up on ai r w i ll li v e ,

An d h ol d i t out for eve r .

T o s uch a p l ace our camp r emov e

A s w i l l n o s i e ge abi de ;
I h ate a fool th at s tarv e s h er l ov e,
On ly to f eed h er p ri d e .

C ON ST A N C Y
Out u p on i t, I h av e l ov e d
T hr e e w h ol e d ay s toge th e r ;
A n d am l i ke to l ov e thr ee m o r e,
I f i t p r ov e f ai r w e ath e r .

T i me s h all m oul t aw ay h i s w i n gs ,
E r e h e s h al l d i s cov e r
I n th e w h ol e w i de w or l d again
Such a con s tan t l ove r .

B ut th e S p i te on t i s ,
’
no pr ai se
I s due at all to me ;
I II . Out upon it .
“
I ad m i re i n g s gr ace ful audac
Suckl ’

i ty . i r
I t i s l uck e to d o a l ttle i th i g s ur p ass i n gly w ell than
n

r hi
a l a ge t n g i n d i fi e r en tl
'

y so
”
. L ocke r L amp son M y C on
-
,

fid en ces, p
1 81. .
 SIR JOH N SUCK L I NG 2 23

L ov e w i th m e had m ad e n o s tays ,

H ad i t an y b een but s he .

H ad i t been but s h e,
an y
An d th at v e r y f ace,
T h er e h ad be en at l eas t e re thi s
A d oz en d oz en i n h e r pl ace .

S ONN E T

D o s t s ee h ow un r egard e d n ow
T h at p i e ce of beauty p as s es ?
T h e r e w as a ti me w h en I d i d vow
T o th at al on e ;
B ut mark th e f ate of f aces ;
T he r ed an d w h i te w orks n ow n o mor e on m e ,
T h an i f i t coul d n ot c h arm , or I n ot s e e .

An d yet th e fac e c on ti n ue s good,

A n d I h av e s til l d e s i r es ,
An d s ti l l th e s el fs ame fl es h an d bl ood,
A s apt to mel t,
A n d s uff e r from th os e fi r es ;
0 , s ome ki n d p ow e r un r i ddl e w h e r e i t li es
Wh ethe r my h eart be f aulty or h e r e y es ?

S he v e ry day h er m an d oth ki ll
e ,

A n d I as o ften di e ;
N ei th e r h er p ow er th en or my w il l
C an q ue s ti on ed be.

Wh at i s th e my s te r y ?
Sur e be auty s e m p i r e , l ike to gr eate r s tate s ,
’

H av e c e r tai n p e r i ods s e t, an d h i d den f ate s .

22 49 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S

T RUE L OV E

No, n o, f ai r h e r e ti c, i t n eed s mus t be

B ut an i l l l ov e i n me,
A n d w or s e for th ee ;
For w e r e i t i n my p ow e r
T o l ov e th ee n ow th i s h our
M ore th an I d id th e l as t,
T w oul d th en s o f all ,
’

I mi ght n ot l ov e at al l ;
L ov e th at c an fl ow , an d c an ad mi t i n c r e as e,
A d mi ts as w el l an ebb, an d may gr ow l es s .

T ru e l ov e is ll
s ame ; the torri d z on es
s ti th e
A n d th os e m or e f r i gi d on es
I t m us t n ot kn ow :
For l ov e gr own col d or hot
I s l us t or f r i e n ds hi p n ot ,

T h e th i n g w e h av e .

For th at s a fl am e w ould di e
’

H eld d own or up too h i gh :

T h en th i n k I l ov e mor e th an I c an e xpr ess ,

An d w oul d l ov e mor e coul d I but l ov e th ee l es s

,
.

V! T ans L ovs . Pr of . Schell i n g p oi n ts out h h

t at t is p
oem
show s th e d recti i n fluence of D on n e ( S even teen th C en tury
L yr i cs p Cf D onn e s L ove s Gr’
owth.
’
, . .
2 26 THE C AVAL IE R PO E TS

T RUT H IN L OVE

Of th ee, ki n d boy, I ask n o r ed an d w hite ,

T o m ake up my d e l i gh t :
No odd be comi n g gr aces ,
—
Bl ack eyes , or l i ttl e kn ow-n ot w h ats i n faces ;
M ake m e but mad en ough, gi ve me good s tor e
Of l ov e f or h er I court :
_

I ask n o m or e,
Ti s love i n l ove that makes th e sport
’
.

T h er e s no such th in g th at w e b e auty ll
’
as ca ,

I t i s me r e c os e n a
ge all ;
For th ough s om e l on g ago
L ike cer tai n c ol our s min gl e d s o an d s o,
T h at d oth n ot ti e me n ow f r om c h oos i n g n ew ;
I f I a fan cy t ake
T o bl ack an d bl ue,
T h at f an cy do th i t b eauty make .

th e m eat, but ti s th e app etite

’ ’
T is n ot

M ake s e atin g a d el i gh t,
A n d i f I l i k e on e d i s h
M or e th an an oth e r, th at a ph eas an t i s ;
Wh at i n our w atch e s, th at i n us i s foun d,
S o to th e h e i gh t an d n i ck
We up be w oun d ,

No matte r by wh at h an d or tr i ck .
 SIR J OHN S UCK LI NG 2 27

A BAL LAD UPON A WE D D I N G

I tel l th ee D i ck w he re I h ave b een
, , ,

Wh er e I the r ar es t th i n gs h ave s e en ;
0 thin gs w i th out comp ar e !
,

S uch s ights agai n c ann ot be f oun d

I n an y pl ace on E n gl i s h gr oun d ,
B e i t at w ake or f ai r .

At C h ar i n g-C r os s, h ar d by the w ay,

Wh e r e w e ( thou kn ow s t) d o s e ll our ’

T h e r e i s a h ous e w i th s tai r s ;
An d th e r e d i d I s e e com i n g d own
S uch folk as ar e n ot i n our town ,
F orty, at l e as t, i n p air s .

Amon gs t th e r es t, on e p es t l en t fi n e
’

( H i s be ar d n o bi
gge r t h oug h t h a n th i n e
)
Walk ed on be for e th e r e s t :
Our l an dl ord l ook s l i ke n oth i n g to h i m
T h e K i n g ( G o d bl e s s h i m ) tw oul d un d o
’

S h oul d h e go s ti l l s o d r e s t .

At C our s e-a—P ark w i thout all d oubt , ,

He s h oul d h av e fi r s t be en taken out

VIII . A B ALLAD UP ON A W E DDI N G .

“
H is fam ous b all ad
Th e W e dd n g i s the e y e fe ct on
i vr p r i of gaye ty an d ar ch
‘
of
’

vr r i i H is tory of E n gl is h
”
n es s in e se C a k A C ompen d ous
. .

i
L te r a tur e, V ol I I , 28 . p . .

tte n n ot n g bu t A B all ad u on a W e d d n g
wr i hi p i
“
H ad h e ‘ ’
.

an d the son g be g n ni n g
‘
Wh y so p al e an d w an , f on d l o e ?
i ’
vr
he w
oul d a e h v
ea ned hi s mm o tal t r
T e s m l c ty, i r iy . h ir i pi i
r
g ace, an d w i t ar e un m atc e d an d ar e e cul a l
y hi s ow n h p i r .

h ir
T e v r r r
fl a o i s m ost a e ; i t d eli g ts at on ce an d i s ne e h v r
r
f o gotten
”
Stoke s, e d ,
. oems of S uckli n g, p eface . P r .
2 28 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
B y all th e m ai d s i th town
’ ’

T h ough l us ty Roge r th e r e h ad be en,

Or li ttl e G eo r ge up on th e G r een ,
Or Vin cen t of th e C r o wn .

B ut w ot you wh at ? th e y outh w as go in g
T o m ak e an en d o f al l hi s w ooi n g ;
Th e p e r s on f or h i m s tay d :
’

Y et by h i s l e av e ( for all h i s h aste )

H e di d n ot s o much wi s h all p ast
( P e r ch an ce
) , as di d th e m ai d .

T he mai d ( an d th er eby h an gs a tal e) ,

For s uch a m ai d n o Whi ts un -al e
C oul d e v e r yet pr od uce
No gr ap e, th at s ki n dl y r i p e, coul d be
’

S o r oun d, s o p lump , s o s oft as s h e,

Nor h al f s o full of j ui ce .

H erfi n ge r w as ll th e rin g
s o s ma , ,

Woul d n ot s ta y on w h i ch th e y di d b rin g
, ,

I t w as too wi de a p eck :
An d to s ay tr uth ( for out i t mu s t)
I t l ooked l i ke th e gr eat coll ar ( j ust )
About our youn g col t s n e ck
’
.

H er fe et b en eath h er p etti coat ,

L ike li ttl e mi ce, s tol e i n an d out,

A s i f th e y f e ar d th e l i gh t
’

B ut 0 s h e d an ce s s uch a w ay !
No s un up on an E as te r-d ay
I s h al f s o fi n e a s i gh t .

H er h eeks s o r are a wh ite w as on

c ,

No d ai s y m ake s comp ar i s on ,

( Wh o s ees th em i s un d on e ) ,

For s tr eaks o f r ed w e r e mi n gl ed th er e ,

Such as ar e on a C ath e r i n e p ear

Th e s i d e th at s n ext th e sun
’
.
2 30 T HE C A VAL I E R PO E T S
Now h ats fly off an d youth s c ar ous e ;
,

H eal th s fi r s t go r oun d an d th en th e h ous e

, ,

T h e br i d e s c am e thi ck an d th i ck :
’

An d w h en t w as n am d an oth e r s h eal th
’ ’ ’

P erh ap s h e mad e i t h er s by s tealth ;

An d w ho c oul d h elp i t D i ck ? ,

On th e s udde n th e y r is e an d d an ce ;
up
T h en s it agai n an d s i gh , an d gl an ce :
T h en d an ce agai n an d ki s s :
T hu s s ev e r al w ay s t h e ti me di d p as s ,
Whil s t e v r y w om an w i s h e d h er place,
’

An d eve ry man w i s h ed hi s .

T H E L UTE SON G IN T H E SAD ONE

H as t thou s een th e d own i n the ai r ,

Wh en w an ton bl asts have tos s ed i t ?

Or the s h i p on th e s ea ,

Wh en r ude r w i n d s h ave c ros s ed i t ?

H as t th ou marked th e c r ocod il e s w eep i n g ’

Or th e fox s s l e ep i n g ?
’

Or has t v i ew e d th e p e acock i n hi s pri d e ,

Or th e d ov e by h i s br i d e ,

Wh en h e cour ts for h i s l e ch e ry ?
0 s o fi ckl e 0 s o v ai n 0 s o f al s e s o f al s e i s
, , , sh e !

IX T H E SAD ONE Suckli n g s four d eci d edl y p oor

’
. . One of
p1ays .
 WILL IAM CART WRI GH T

( 1 61 1

A VALE D I CT ION .

B i d me not go w h er e n eith e r s un s n or s h ow e r s
D o make or ch eri s h fl o w e r s ;
t e r e d i s con ten te d thi n gs i n s adn es s li e
A n d N atur e gr i ev e s as I ;
Wh en I am p arted f r om th os e ey es ,
Fr om w h i ch my be tte r d ay d oth r i s e,
T h ough s ome pr op i ti ous p ow er
S h oul d p l an t m e i n a bow e r,
Wh ere amon gs t h app y l ov e r s I mi ght s ee
H ow s how e r s an d s un beams br i n g
On e e v e r l as ti n g s pr i n g,
Nor w oul d th os e f al l n or th e s e s hi n e forth to me
N atur e to h i m i s l os t,
Wh o l os eth h er he h on or s mos t .

CAR TWRI G HT C ar tw r i ght wrote all like a m an

“ ”
. My s on .

B e n J on s on , Pr eface, C ar tw r igh t s P oem s B orn , Nor th

’
.

w ay, ne ar T e w ke s b ury ; ed ucate d , Ox for d ; p opul ar p l ay

w r i ter ; a f te r 1 638 a c le r gym an ; an offi ce r i n church o f S al i s
b ury, 1 64 2 ; J un i or Procto r o f Ox for d , 1 64 3 ; at al l ti me s an
ar de n t ad m i re r o f B e n J on s on C ar tw r i ght
“
. i s to
u s ch i e fl y i n te r es ti n g as a type, that o f the typ i cal
e xtr av a an t Ox for d r es i d en t o f h i s p e r i od
g
” -
A W W ar . . . ly
Ward s ’
i
E n gl s hPoets , V ol I I ,
. p . 922 7
.

I . A VA LEDI CTIO N .
“
Few p oems coul d bette r hw
s o the
231
2 32 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
Th en f ai r est to my p artin g vi ew d i s p l ay
Your gr aces all i n on e f ull d ay ,

Whos e bl es sed s h ap es I l l s n atch an d keep

’

I d o r e turn an d vi e w agai n :
S o by thi s art f an cy s h al l f ortun e c r os s ,

A n d l ov ers l i v e by th i nki n g on th ei r l os s .

TO C UP I D
Thou w h o d i d s t n e v e r s e e th e l igh t,
Nor kn ow s t th e p l eas ur e o f th e s igh t,
B ut alw ay s bl i n d ed , c an s t n ot s ay
Now i t i s n i gh t, or n ow ti s d ay, ’

S o c ap ti v ate h e r s en s e, s o bl i n d h e r e y e ,
T h at s ti l l s h e l ov e m e, y et s h e n e e r kn ow w h y
’
.

T h ou w h o d os t w oun d us w i th s uch art ,

We s e e n o bl ood d r op f rom th e h ear t ,

An d s ubtly c ru el l e av s t n o s ign
’

, ,

T o t ell th e bl ow o r h an d w as th i n e ,

O gen tly gen tly w oun d my fai r th at s h e

, ,

M ay th en ce be l i ev e th e w oun d di d com e f r om me .

i n fl uen ce of D onn e
’
s s ubtl e i n tellec tual refi n emen ts than thi s
wi
C art r ght at hi s be s t as he r e s em s t o m e to p e
, , e r

s e rve much of D on n e s s in cer i ty Sche ll ing S even

”
al s o
’
. ,

teen th C en tury L yri cs, p 25 7

. .
2 34: THEC A VAL I E R POE T S
I w i s h h er beauty ,

T h at ow es n ot al l i ts d uty
T o gaudy ti r e or gl i s t ri n g s h oe ti e
’
-
. , .

Someth i n g more th an
‘ '

(I afl eta or ti s s ue can ,
Dr r amp an t feath er, or ri ch f an .

M or e th an th e sp oi l
Of h op or s i l kwo r m s
s ,
’
toi l ,
Or a b ough t bl ush or a , s et s mi l e .

A f ac e th at s b es t
’

By i ts ow n be auty d res t,
An d can alon e c ommen d the r es t .

A face mad e up
O ut o f n o oth e r s h op
iT h an wh at N atur e s wh i te h an d
’
s ets ope .

3
A h e ek w h e r e y outh
c

A n d bl ood w i th p en o f tr uth
, ,

Wr i te w h at th e r ead er s w eetly r u th
’
.

A ch eek w h er e gr ows
M or e th an a mor n i n g r os e
Whi ch to no bo x hi s b ei n g ow es .

L i p s wh e r e al l d ay
A l ov e r s ki s s m ay p l ay,
’

Y et carry n oth i n g th en c e a w ay .

L ooks that oppr es s

T h e i r r i ch es t ti r es , but d r es s
T h em s el v e s i n s i mp l e n ake dn es s .
 RI CHAR D C RA SHAW 2 35
E y es th at d i s p l ace
T h e n e i ghbo r d iamon d , an d out-f ace

T hat s un s hi n e by th ei r ow n s w eet grac e .

T r es s e s th at w e ar
Jew el s, but to d ecl ar e
H ow much th ems elve s mor e p r eci ous are ,

Whos e n ati ve r ay

C an tam e th e w an ton d ay
Of gems , th at i n th ei r br i gh t s h ad e s pl ay .

E ach r uby th er e ,
Or p ear l th at d ar e s app ear ,
B e i ts own blus h , be i ts own te ar .

A w el l-tame d h eart,
For w h os e mor e n obl e s m art
L ov e may be l on g ch oos i n g a d ar t .

E ye s th at b es tow
F ul l qui v e r s on l ov e s bow
’

Yet p ay l es s arr ows th an th ey ow e .

S mi l e s th at can w ar m
T he bl ood , y et teach a ch arm ,

T h at ch as ti ty s h al l take n o h ar m .

Bl us h es th at bin
T h e bur n i s h o f n o s i n ,

Nor fl ame s o f augh t too h ot w i th in .

Joys th at con fes s

V i r tue th ei r mi s tr es s
,

An d h ave n o oth e r h ead to d r es s .

2 36 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
F ear s fon d an d fl i gh t
,

A s th e coy br i d e s w h en n i gh t
’

F i r s t does th e l on gin g l ove r r i ght .

T e ar s , qui ckly fl ed,

An d v ai n as th os e ar e s h ed
For a d yi n g mai d enh ead .

D ays th at n eed b orr ow

No p ar t o f th ei r good mo rr ow
Fr om a for e-spen t n i ght o f s orr ow .

D ays th at, i n s p ite

Of d arkn e s s , by th e l i gh t
Of a c l e ar mi n d ar e d ay all ni
gh t .

N i gh ts w e et as th ey
, s ,

M ad e s h o rt by l ov e r s p l ay
’

Yet lon g by th ab s en ce o f th e day

’
.

L i fe th at d ar es s en d
A c h al l en ge to hi s en d,
An d w h en i t comes , s ay, Wel come , f r i en d .
’

Syd n ei an s h ow er s
O f s w e e t d i s cour s e , w h os e p ow er s
'

C an c r ow n ol d Wi n te r s h ead wi th fl ow er s
’
.

Soft s i l ken h our s ,

Op en s un s , s h ad y bo w e r s ,
’
B ov e al l , n oth i n
g wi th i n th at l ow e r s .

Wh ate e r d el igh t
’

C an m ake D ay s for eh e ad br i gh t
’
,

O r gi v e down to th e wi n gs o f N i gh t .
2 38 THE CA VAL IE R PO E T S

A S ON G

L ord , wh en th e s en s e of thy s w ee t gr ace

S en ds up my s oul to s e ek thy fac e,
T hy bl e s s ed e y e s br eed s uch d es i r e
I d i e i n l ov e s d eli ci ous fi r e
’
.

0 L ov e, I am thy s acr i fi ce,

B e s ti l l tr i um ph an t, bl es s ed ey es ;
S til l s hi n e on m e, f ai r s un s , th at I
S till may be h ol d th ough s ti ll I d i e .

T h ough s ti ll I di e, I li v e again ,
S ti l l l on gin g s o to be s ti ll s l ai n
S o p ai n ful i s s uc h l os s of br eath ,
I di e ev en i n d es i r e o f d e ath .

S ti ll li v e i n m e th i s l ov i n g s tr i fe
Of li vi n g d e ath an d d yin g l i f e
For w h i l e th ou s w eetly s l ay es t me,
D ead to mys el f, I li ve in th ee .

ON T H E AS SUM P T ION OF T H E VI RG I N M ARY

H ark ! s h e i s c all ed , th e p arti n g h ou r i s come ;

T ake th y f ar e w el l , p oo r w or l d. H e av e n m us t go h ome .

A p i e ce o f h e av en ly e ar th ; p u r e r an d br i gh te r
T h an th e ch as te s tar s , w h os e ch oi ce l amp s c ome to li ght
h e r,
Wh i l s t thr ough th e c r y stal orbs , cl e ar er th an th ey,
Sh e cl i mbs , an d makes a far mor e mi l ky w a .
 RI CHARD CRA SH AW 2 39

S h e s c all ed again ; h ark h ow the d ear i mmortal d ove

’

S i ghs to hi s s i l v er mate, Ri s e u p , my l ove,

Ri s e up, my fai r, my s p otl es s on e,
T he w i n te r s p as t, th e r ai n i s gon e ;
’

T he s prin g i s come, the fl ow er s app e ar,

No s w e e ts v th ou, are w an ti n g h e re
, sa e .

C ome aw ay my l ov e, ,

C ome aw ay my d ov e , ,

C as t o fl d el ay ; ‘

Th e court o f h e av en i s come
T o w ait up on th ee h om e ;
C ome aw ay come aw ay ! ,

T he fl ow e r s app e ar ,

O r qui ckly w oul d w e rt th ou on ce h e r e ,

.

T h e s pr i n g i s come or i f i t s tay ,

T i s to keep ti me w i th thy d el ay
’
.

T h e r ain i s gon e e x cep t s o much as w e

,

D etain i n n ee d f ul te ar s to w e e p th e w an t o f th ee .

T he w i n te r s p as t
’

Or i f h e m ake l e s s h as te ,

H i s an s w e r i s Why s h e d oe s s o ; ,
‘

I f s umme r com e n ot h ow can w i n te r go ? ,

C om e aw ay com e aw ay ! ,

T h e s hr i ll wi n ds ch i de th e w ate r s w e e p thy s tay

, ,

T h e f oun tai n s mu r m u r an d e ach l o fti es t tr ee ,

B ow s l ow es t h i s l e afy top to l ook for th e e .

C ome aw ay my l ov e , ,

C ome aw ay my d ov e , ,

C as t o fl d e l ay ;
'

Th ough ye h ave Iai n am on g th e pots

“
I II . S i lver ma te . ,

yet sh al l ye be as the wi n gs of a d ove cove r ed w i th s i lve r

”
.

P s a bm l xviii 1 3 . .

R i s e u p m y fai r
,
“
R i se up my l ove my f ai r on e an d
. , , ,

come aw ay .For 10 the w i n te r i s p as t the r ai n i s over an d

, , ,

gone ; th e fl ow er s app e ar on th e e ar th ; th e ti me o f th e s i n g
i n g of b i r d s i s com e an d th e v oi ce of th e t ur tle i s he ard i n
o ur l an d O my d ove that ar t i n th e cl e f ts of the ,

r ock in the secre t pl ace of the s tai rs l et me s ee th y coun te

, ,

n an ce ; l e t m e he ar thy voi ce ; f or s w ee t i s thy voi ce an d th y ,

coun ten an ce i s comely

”
S on g of S olomon ii 1 0 1 4
.
, .
-
.
24 0 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
T he c ourt o f h e aven i s come
T o w ai t up on th e e h ome ;
”
C ome come aw ay , .

S h e s call e d agai n An d w ill s h e go ?

’
.

Wh en h eav en bi d s come w ho can s ay n o ? ,

H eav en c al l s h er an d s h e mus t aw ay
, ,

H eav en w i l l n ot an d s h e can n ot s tay

, .

G o th en ; go gl or i ous on th e gold en w i n gs
, ,

Of th e br i ght y outh of h e av en th at s in gs ,

Un de r s o s w e et a bur d en Go .
,

S i n ce th y d r e ad s on w i l l h av e i t s o .

A n d w hi l e th ou goes t our s on g an d w e
,

Will as w e m ay r each afte r th ee

, , .

H ai l h ol y queen o f h umbl e h ear ts !

,

We i n thy pr ai s e w i ll h av e our p a rt s .

An d th ough thy d e ar es t l ooks mus t n ow gi v e li gh t

T o n on e but th e bl es t h eav en s wh os e br i ght ,

B eh ol d e r s l os t in s w eet d el ight
, ,

F e ed for e v er th ei r f ai r s i gh t
Wi th th os e di vi n es t e y e s w h ich w e ,

An d our d ark w or l d n o mor e sh all s ee ;

T h ough our p oo r j oy s ar e p arted 80 ,

Ye t s h all our li p s n ev e r l et go
T hy gr aci ous n am e but to th e l as t
,

Our l ov in g s on g s h all hold i t f as t .

T hy pr eci ous n ame s h all be

T h y s e l f t o us an d w e ,

Wi th h oly car e w i ll keep it by us .

We to th e l ast
Wi ll h old i t fast ,

An d n o as s ump ti on s h al l d en y us .

All th e s w eetest s h ow e r s
Of our f ai r es t fl ow e rs
Will w e strow up on it .

Th ough our s w e ets can n ot make

I t sw eeter th ey can take,

Th ems elv es n ew sw eetn es s f rom it .

24 2 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
B y th e f ull kin gd om o f th at fi n al ki s s
T h at s ei z d thy p ar tin g s oul , an d s cal d th ee
’ ’

B y all th e H e av n th ou h as t i n
’

( F ai r s i s te r o f th e s e r aphi m !
)
B y all o f h i m w e h av e i n th ee ;
L eav e n othi n g of my s el f in m e .

L et me s o r e ad thy l i fe , th at I
Un to al l li fe of mi n e may di e .
 R I CH AR D L O V E L A CE

( 1 6 1 8-1
6 5 8)

I
S ON G

T ell m e n ot, s w eet, I am un kin d ,

T h at f r om th e n un n e r y
Of thy ch as te br e as t an d qui et mi n d
T o w ar an d ar ms I fly .

T r ue, a n ew m i s tr es s n ow I ch as e,
Th e fi r s t foe i n the fi el d ;
A n d w i th a s tr on ge r f ai th e mbr ace
A s w or d , a h or s e, a s h i eld .

Y et th is i n con s tan cy i s s u ch
A s y ou too s h all ad or e :
I coul d n ot l ov e th e e , d e ar , so m uch
L ov ed I n ot h on or mor e .

T O AL T H E A F RO M P RI SON
Wh en L ov e w i th un con fi n ed w i n gs ,

H ov e r s w i th i n my gates ,

An d my d i v i n e Al th e a br i n gs
T o w h i s p e r at the gr ates ;
SO N G G oi n g to the W ars h i s be st poem con tai n s
“ ’
. I . , .

n o li e o n p ar t of a l i ne that coul d by any p os s ibi li ty be

r

i mprove d G osse Ward s E glis h P oets V ol I I p 1 89

.
” -
,
’
n , . . . .

II. T o A LTH E A S et to mus i c by D r J ohn W il son in

. .

Ch eer fu l A i rs or B a l lad s T he fi rs t an d fourth

“
1 66 0 , .

s tan as o f thi s exqui s i te lyr i c w oul d d o h on or to the mos t

z

i ll ustri ous n ame G osse Wa d s E ngl is h P oets V ol I I

” ’
.
, r , . ,

1 89
. S ee th e d i s cussi on o f L ovel ace for the caus e o f
i mpri sonment .
24 4 THEC A VA L I E R PO E T S
Wh en I li e tan gl ed in h er h ai r
An d fe tte r e d to h e r ey e ,

T h e god s th at w an ton i n the ai r

Kn ow n o s uch l iber ty .

When fl ow i n g cup s r un s w i ftly r oun d

Wi th n o all ay i n g T h ames ,

Our c ar el e s s h e ad s w i th r os es c r ow n ed ,

Our h ear ts w i th l oy al fl am es ;
Wh en th i r s ty gr i e f i n w i n e w e s tee p ,

Wh en h e al th s an d d r augh ts go f r ee ,

F i s h e s th at ti pp l e i n th e d eep
K n ow n o s uch li ber ty .

Wh en l ike commi tted l in n ets I

,

With s hri ll e r thr oat s h all S i n g

Th e s w e e tn e s s m e r cy m aj es ty
, , ,

An d gl or i e s o f m y ki n g ;
Wh en I s h al l v oi c e al oud h ow good
H e i s h ow gr eat s h oul d be
, ,

E n l ar ged w i n d s th at cur l the fl ood

, ,

Kn ow n o s uch l iber ty .

Ston e w all s do n ot a pri s on make ,

Nor i r on bar s a cage ;
M i n ds i n n ocen t an d i
q et
u take
T h at f or a h e rm i tage
I f I h av e f r ee dom i n my l ove,
A n d i n my s oul am f r e e,
A n gel s al on e , th at s oar ab ov e,
E n j oy s uch l ibe rty .

Wh en , l ike comm i tted

li n n ets , I Ch an ge d by B sh op . i
Per cy to “
W e n l n n e t l ke con fi n e d , I ; but L o el ace s
h -
i ”
i ’
v
s tr ai gh t for r r
w a d ph as e i s m uc bette h r .
24 6 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S

T O L UCAS TA
.

L ucas ta, f row n , an d l et me di e !

B ut s mi l e, an d, s ee, I l i v e !
T h e s ad i n di ffe r e n ce o f y our eye
B oth ki l l s an d d oth r epri ev e ;
You hi de our fate w ith in i ts s c r e en ;
We fe el our j ud gmen t, e e r w e h ear ’

S o i n on e p i ctur e I h av e s een
An an gel her e, the d evil th e r e !

T H E S C RUT INY

Why s h oul ds t th o u s w ear I am f ors wor n ,

S i n ce th i n e I v ow e d to be ?
L ady i t i s al r e ad y m orn
, ,

A n d t w as l ast n i gh t I s w ore to th ee
’

.T hat fon d i mp os s i bi li ty .

Hav e I l ov ed th ee much an d l on g
n ot ,

A ted ious tw e l v e h our s s p ace ?

’

I s h oul d all oth e r b eauti es w r on g ,

A n d r ob th e e o f a n ew e mbr ace ,

S houl d I s til l d ote u p on thy f ace .

Not but all joy i n thy b rown h ai r

By ot h e rs
m ay be f oun d ;
B ut I m us t s ear c h th e bl ack an d fai r,

V .T H E S cau rm r
'
C f C arew
. .
’
s I n the Pers on of a L ady
an d S uckl i n g s C ons tan cy
’
.
 R I CH ARD L O VE L A C E 24 7

L i ke s ki l ful mi n r al i s ts th at s oun d
’

For tr eas ur e i n un -p l ow ed-up gr oun d .

T h en i f, w h en I h av e l ov ed my r oun d,
T hou p r ov s t th e p l eas an t s he,
’

Wi th s p oi l s of mean e r beauti es cr own ed,

I l ad en w i ll r e turn to thee,
E en s ated w i th var i ety
’

SON G

A mar an tha, s w eet an d f ai r,

A h , br ai d n o m or e th at s h i n in g h ai r ;
A s my cur i ous h an d or ey e,
H ov e r in g r oun d th ee, l et i t fly
L et i t fly as un con fi n ed
A s i ts r avi s h e r , the w i n d,
Who h as l eft h i s dar l i n g eas t
T o w an ton o e r th i s s p i cy n e s t
’
.

E very tr es s mus t he c on fes s ed

B ut n e atly tan gl e d at th e bes t,
L i ke a cl e w o f gol den thr e ad,
M os t e x c ell en tly r av ell ed,
D o n ot, th en , w i n d up th at l i ght
I n r i ban d s , an d o e r cl oud th e n i gh t,
’

L ike th e s un i n s e ar ly r ay,
’

B ut s h ake your h ead an d s catte r d ay .

SO N G . I n i ts p actn e ss n e atn es s pretty con cei ts

com , , ,

an d exce ll en t d eve l op men t o f one i d e a an d on e on ly thi s s on g ,

i s a good e x amp l e of the be tte r lyr i cs of the d ay .

 AB RA HAM COWL E Y

( 6 1 667)
1 1 8-

ANAC REONT I Q UE I t
D RI NK I NG

T he th i r s ty e arth s oaks up th e r ain ,

An d d r i nk s , an d gap es f or d ri n k agai n .

T h e p l an ts s uck in th e e ar th , an d ar e
Wi th con s tan t d r i n kin g f r e s h an d fai r .

The s ea i ts e l f, w h i ch on e w oul d th ink

S h ould h av e but l i ttl e n e ed o f d r i nk,
D ri n ks ten th ous an d ri v e r s up,
S o fill e d th at th e y o er fl ow the cup
’
.

T h e bu s y s un an d on e w oul d
gu es s
B y s d r un ken fi e ry f ace n o l e s s
’

D r i n ks u p th e s ea, an d w h en h e h as d on e,
Th e moon an d s tar s d r i n k up th e s un ;
T h e y d r in k an d d an ce by th ei r ow n li gh t,
T h e y d r in k an d r e v e l al l th e n i gh t .

N othi n g i n N atur e s s obe r f oun d ,

’

B ut an ete r n al h eal th goe s r oun d .

F i ll up th e bowl , th en , fill i t h igh ;

F i ll al l th e gl as s es th e r e, f or why
Sh oul d e v e r y c r e atur e d ri n k but I
Why, m en of mor al s , tell m e w h y ?
They A n acre on ti c Od es ] are
“
I . A N A CB E ON T I Q UE .
[the
s m ooth an d e l e an t, an d i n d ee d th e m ost a r e e abl e an d th e
g g
mos t p e r fect i n the i r k i n d of al l M r Cow l ey s p oe m s
.
’
.

B l ai r, L ectu r es on R h etor i c a n d B el l es L e ttr es .

94 8
25 0 THE C A VAL I E R PO E T S
A n oth e r M ar y th en ar os e
A n d d i d r i gor ous l aw s i mp os e .

A m i gh ty ty r an t s h e !
L on g al as s h oul d I h av e be en
, ,

Un d e r th at i r on s cep tr ed queen
-
,

H ad n ot Reb ecc a s et me fr ee .

Wh en fai r Reb ecca s et me f ree ,

T w as th en a gol d en ti m e w i th me ;
’

B ut s oon th os e p l e as ur es fl ed ,

For th e gr aci ous pr i n ces s d i e d

I n h er youth an d b e auty s p r i d e
’

An d Jud i th r ei gned i n her s te ad .

On e mon th , th r ee d ays an d h al f an h our

Judith h el d th e s ov er eign p ow e r ,

Won d r ous beauti ful h er face ;

B ut s o s mal l an d w eak h er w it ,

T h at s h e to gov e r n w as un fi t ,

An d s o Sus an n a took h er pl ac e .

B ut wh en I s ab ell a c ame ,
A r me d w i th a r es is tl es s fl ame
A n d th arti ll e r y o f h e r e ye ,
’

Wh i l s t sh e p r oudly m ar ch ed about
G r eate r c on ques ts to fi n d out,
Sh e beat out Sus an by th e by .

B ut i n h er p l ace I th en obe yed

B l ack- e ye d B e s s , h e r V i c e r oy- m ai d ,
T o w h om e n s ue d a v acan cy .

T h ous an d w or s e p as s i on s th en p os s es s e d
T h e i n te rr e gn um o f my br e as t .

B l e s s m e f r om s uch an an ar ch y !
 A B RA HA M COWLE Y 25 1

G en tl e H en r i etta th en
A n d a thi r d M ar y n e x t b e gan ,
T h en J oan , an d J an e , an d And r i a .

An d th en a pr etty T h om as i n e,
An d th en an oth e r C ath e r i n e,
An d th en a lon g at cwter a .

B ut sh ould I n ow to you r el ate

T he s tr en gth an d r i ch es of th ei r state ,

T h e p owd e r p atch e s an d th e p i n s
, , ,

T h e r i bb an ds j ew e l s an d th e r i n gs
, , ,

T he l ace th e p ai n t an d w ar l ike th i n gs
, ,

T h at make up al l th ei r magaz i n e s ;

I f I s h ould tell the p ol iti c ar ts

T o take an d ke e p m en s h e arts ,
’

T h e l ette r s , embass i e s an d s p i es ,
T he f r ow n s , an d s mi l es , an d fl atter i es ,
T h e q uarr el s , tear s an d p e rj ur i es ,
Numb er l es s , n amel es s mys teri es !

An d al l th e l i ttl e l ime-tw i gs l ai d
B y M atch avil , th e w ai ti n g-mai d ;
I mor e vol umin ous s h oul d gr ow
( Ch i cfly i f I li ke th em s h oul d te l l
All ch an ge o f w e ath e r s th at b efell )
iT h an H oli n s h e d or S tow .

B ut I w i ll b ri e fe r wi th th em be ,
Si n ce few o f th e m w e r e l on g w i th me .

An h i gh e r an d a n obl e r s tr ai n
M y pr es en t E mp e r es s d oes cl ai m,
H e l eon or a , fi r s t 0 th n am e ;
’ ’

Wh om G od gr an t l on g to r ei gn !
M atchavi l , M acchi avelli , l on g l ooked p
u on as pr i n ce of
h r
s c e me s .
H ol ins he d or S tow E n gli sh
. chr oni cle r s from whom d r a
m ati sts, esp eci all y Shake spe are, h ave d r awn much materi al .
25 2 T HE CAVAL I E R PO E T S

THE I N C ON S TA N T

v er y et coul d s ee th at face
I ne

Wh i ch h ad n o d art f or me ;
Fr om fi fte en y ear s to fi fty s s p ace
,
’

T h ey al l v i ctor i ous be .

L ove th ou rt a d ev i l i f I m ay cal l th ee
’

, , on e ;
For s ur e i n m e th y n am e i s L egi on .

C ol or or s h ap e, good l i mbs or face,

G oodn e s s or w i t, i n al l I fi n d ,
I n moti on or i n s p e e ch , a gr ace ;
I f al l f ai l , y et ti s w oman ki n d
’

A n d I m s o w e ak, th e p i s tol n ee d n ot be
’

D oubl e or t r ebl e ch ar ged to mur de r me .

I f tall , the n ame of pr op e r s l ays

‘ ’

I f f ai r , s h e s p l e as an t i n th e l i gh t ;
’

I f l ow , h er pr ettin e s s d oes p l eas e ;

I f bl ack , w h at l ov e r l ov e s n ot n i gh t ?
I f y ell ow -h ai r ed , I l ov e l e s t i t s h ould be
T h e x cus e to oth e r s f or n ot l ovi n g me
’
.

The f at, l ike p l en ty , fill s my h ear t ;

Th e l ean , w i th l ov e m ake s me too s o ;
I f s tr ai gh t, he r body s C up i d s d ar t
’ ’

T o m e ; i f c r ooked , ti s h i s bow
’

Nay , age i ts el f d oes me to r age i n cl in e ,

A n d s tr en gth to w omen gi v es , as w el l as wi n e .

III . Pr op er P rett . y.

I f black . i
Th e ad j e ct ve black w as f requent] use d by
i i
p oets of the d ay to n t mate a susp c on of e i i or immo
r ality.
25 4 TH E CA VAL IE R PO E T S
H ow could i t be s o fai r an d y ou a w ay ?
,

H ow coul d th e t r ee s be beaute ous fl ow e r s s o gay ?

,

C oul d th e y r e m e mbe r but l as t y e ar,

H ow you d i d th em th e y y ou d el igh t
, ,
T h e s pr outi n g l e av e s w hi c h s aw y ou h er e,
A n d cal l d th e i r f el l ows to th e s i gh t
’

Would l ooki n g r oun d f or th e s ame s i ght i n v ain

, ,
C r e ep b ack in to th ei r s i l en t barks agai n .

Wh ere e r you w alke d tr ee s w er e as r ever en d mad e

’

A s w h en o f ol d gods dwe l t i n e v ery s h ade .

I s t p os s i bl e th e y s h oul d n ot kn ow
’

Wh at l os s of h on our th ey s us tain ,

T h at th us th e y s mi l e an d fl our i s h n ow ,
An d s ti ll th ei r f orme r pri d e r etain ?
D ull c r eatur es ! ti s n ot wi th out caus e th at sh e
’

Who fl ed th e god of wi t w as mad e a tr e e

, .

In ti me s s ur e th e y much wi s e r w e r e,
an ci en t

Wh en th ey r ejoi c d th e T hr aci an v er s e to h e ar ;
’

I n v ai n d i d N atur e bi d th em s tay,
Wh en Orph eus h ad h is s on g be gun ;
T h e y cal l d th ei r w on d e r i n g r oots aw ay,
’

A n d bade th e m s i l en t to h im r un .

H ow w oul d th os e l ear n ed t r e es h av e f oll ow e d you ?

You woul d h av e d r aw n th em, an d th ei r p oet, too .

B ut w h o can bl ame th em n ow ? for, s in ce y ou r e gon e,

’

T h ey r e h e r e th e on ly f ai r, an d s h i n e al on e
’
.

Y ou di d th e i r n atur al r i gh ts i n v ade ;
Wh e r e e v e r you di d w al k or s i t, Q

T h e th i cke s t bough s coul d m ake n o sh ad e,

A l th ough th e s un h ad gr an te d i t
T h e f ai r e s t fl ow e r s coul d p l eas e n o m or e, n ear you,
T h an p ai n ted fl ow e r s , s et n ext to th em, could do .
 AB RA H A M
'
CO W L E Y 25 5

Wh en e e r th en you come h i th er th at s h all be

’

T h e ti me w hi ch thi s to oth e r s i s to me
, , .

T h e l i ttl e j oy s w h i c h h e r e ar e n ow ,

T h e n am e of p un i s h men ts d o be ar ,

Wh en by th ei r s ight the y l et us kn ow
H ow w e d ep r i v d o f gr e ate r ar e
’
.

T i s you th e b e s t of s eas on s w i th you bri n g ;

’

T hi s i s for beas ts an d that f or men th e s pri n g

, .

A V O TE

T h i s on l y grant me, th at my mean s may li e

T oo l ow for e n vy, for con te mp t too hi gh .

S ome h on or I w oul d h av e,
Not f r om gr e at d e e ds , but good al on e
T h un kn ow n ar e better th an il l -kn own ;
’

Rumor can ope the gr av e .

A cquain tan ce I w oul d h av e, but w h en t d ep e n d s

’

Not on th e n umber, but th e c h oi ce o f f r i e n d s .

B ooks s h ould n ot bu s in es s en tertain th e l i ght ;

, ,

An d s l eep as un d i s turbe d as d e ath th e n i ght

, , .

M y h ous e a cottage mor e ,

T h an p al ace an d s h oul d fi ttin g be

,

For al l my us e n o l ux ur y , .

M y gar den p ai n ted o e r

’

With N atur e s h an d n ot A rt s ; an d p l e asur es yi e l d

’

,
’

H or ace mi ght e n vy i n hi s S abi n e fi el d .

V A VOTE Th e w ord here means a ke en d e s i re or l on g

. .

i n g The s tan z as given are only th e l as t thr ee

. thos e s e —
l ecte d by C ow l ey f or a vol ume i n 1 6 6 1 A s p oi n te d out by .

t h e au thor hi m s e l f, he w as i n fl uen ced by H or ace i n the wr i t

i n g of thi s p oem .
25 6 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
T hus w oul d I d oubl e my l i fe s f adin g s pace
’
.
,

For h e th at r un s i t w el l twi ce r un s h i s r ace

, .

A n d in th i s t r ue d eli gh t ,

iT h es e un bou h t s p o r ts
g th i s h app y s tal e
, ,
I w oul d n ot f e ar n or w i s h my fate ,

B ut bol d ly s ay e ach n i gh t :
T o m orr ow l e t m y s un h i s beams d i s p l ay
-
,

Or i n cl ouds h i d e th em : I h av e l i v ed to-day .

TH E WI SH
Well th en I n ow do p l ain ly s e e
, ,

T h i s bus y w o r l d an d I s h al l n e e r agr ee ;
’

T h e v e r y h on ey o f all e arth ly joy

D oes o f al l m e ats th e s oon es t cl oy ,

An d th e y m e th i n k s d e s e rv e my p i ty
, ,

Wh o for i t c an en dur e th e s tin gs ,

T h e cr ow d an d b uz z an d mur muri n gs
, ,

Of thi s gr eat h iv e, th e c i ty .

Ah, yet, e r e I d es cen d to th gr av e

’

M ay I a s mal l h ous e an d a l ar ge gar den h av e !

A n d a f e w f r i en ds , an d m an y book s , both t rue,
B oth w i s e, an d both d el i gh tful , too !
A n d s i n ce l ov e n e e r w i ll f r om m e fl ee,
’

A mi s tr es s mod e r ate ly f ai r,
A n d good as guar di an -an gels ar e,
On l y bel ov d, an d l ov i n g me !
’

O foun tain s , wh en i n you s h all I

M y s e l f, e as ed o f un p eace ful th ough ts , e s p y ?
O fi e l d s ! 0 w ood s ! w h en , w h en s h all I be m ad e
T h e h app y ten an t o f y ou r s h ade ?
 SIR E DWARD SH E RB URN E
‘

-1
702 )

WE E PIN G A ND KI SSI NG

A ki s s I begged but s milin g , sh e

D en i ed i t me ;
Wh en s tr ai gh t, h e r ch e eks w i th tear s o er flown
’

N ow ki n de r gr own
Wh at s mi l in g s h e d n ot l et on e h ave
’

Sh e w e e p i n g gav e .

T h en you w h om s cor n ful b e auti e s aw e,

H op e y e t r e l i e f
Fr om L ov e, w h o te ar s f r om s mi l e s c an draw,
Pl eas ur e from gri ef .

SHE RB UR NE B orn St G i les Crippl egate L on don ; cl erk

. , .
’
,

of th e or d i an ce
n 1 64 1 ; e j ecte d by the H ous e o f L ord s for
,

adher i n g to th e k i n g ; j oi n ed Ch arl e s army an d r e ti re d

’

h im to Ox for d w her e he w as m ad e M aste r of A rts ; r e s tore d

,

to cl e rk sh i p at the R es tor ati on ; kn i h te d by C h arl e s I I ;

e j ected from ofii ce on abd i cati on 0 J ame s I I ; s uffere d
much f or th e r oyal caus e an d at one ti me l ost his al l in ,

cl ud i
g a r are l i br ary
n H is ve rses ar e frequently foun d in
.

Wi t s R ecr eations
’
.
S IR E D W ARD S H E R B UR N E 25 9

T H E V OW

By my l i fe I vow
T h at my l i fe ar t th ou ,

B y my h e ar t an d by my ey e s ;
B ut thy fai th de n i es
T o my j us te r oath t in cli n e
’

For thou s ay s t I s w ear by th i n e

’
.

B y thi s s i gh I s w ear,
B y th i s f all i n g tear,
B y th e un de s e rv ed p ai n s
M y gr i ev d s oul s us tai n s
’

N ow th ou m ay s t be l i e v e my mo an ,
’

T h e s e ar e too, too much my ow n .

 AND RE W M AR VE LL

-1
678)

T HE FAI R S IN G E R

T o make a fi n al con ques t o f all me,

L ove d i d comp os e s o s w eet an e n emy,
I n w h om both be auti e s to my d e ath agr ee ,
Join i n g th ems elves in f atal h armon y ;
T h at, whi l e s h e w i th h er ey e s my h e ar t d oe s b i n d ,
S he wi th h er voi ce might c ap ti v ate my mi n d .

I c ould h av e fl ed f rom on e but s i n gl y fai r ;

M y d i s en tan gl ed soul i ts e l f mi gh t s av e ,
B r e aki n g th e cur l ed t r amme l s of h er h ai r ;
B ut h ow s h ould I av oi d to be h er s l av e
Wh os e s ubtl e art i n vi s ibl y can w r eath e
M y fetter s of th e ve ry ai r I b r eath e ?
M ARVE LL .
“
A man endowe d by Natur e, s o improved b
E d uc at i on Study an d T ravel
, , , s o con s umm ate d by E xper
e n ce, th at j oi n i n g the p eculi ar gr aces o f W i t an d L e ar n i n
w i th a s i n gul ar p en etr ati on an d s tren gth of jud en t ; an

ex e rci s i g all the s e i n th e w hol e cour s e of h i s Ii e

n w i th an ,

un al te r abl e s te ad i n e ss i n th e ways of Vi rtue h e became ,

th e or n am e t an d e x ampl e o f hi s age bel ove d by good men

n , ,

fe ar e d by bad adm i re d by all though i m i tated by f ew ; a d

, , n

s carce p ar all ele d by an y -I n s cr i t i on on M ar vel l s M on u

” ’
.
p
m en t, 1 6 88 B orn. W i n s tead i n H ol dernes s Y orks ; e d u
,
- -
, .

cate d , H ul l G r amm ar School an d T r i n i ty C oll ege C am ,

br i d ge ; s ec r etary an d am an uen s i s to M i lton ; recommen de d

by M i l ton as as s i s tan t L ati n s ecre tary 1 65 2 ; afte rw ar d s ,

j oi n t s ecretary wi th M il ton ; membe r o f Parl i amen t 1 6 60 ,

1 6 6 1 ; con sp i cuou s for h i s br ave con de mn ati on of the l oose

l i fe of Charl es I I ; d i ed L on d on , .

2 60
2 62 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
F o r Juli an a comes an d s h e , ,

Wh at I d o to th e gr as s d oes to , my though ts

An d th us , y e m ead ows , wh i c h h av e b e en
C omp an i on s of my th ough ts mor e gr een ,
S h al l n ow th e h e r al d r y become
Wi th w h i ch I s h al l a dorn my tomb ;
For Jul i an a c am e, an d s h e,
What I d o to th e gr as s, d oe s to my though ts me .

T O H I S C OY M I ST RE SS

H ad w e but w orld en ough an d ti me ,

T h i s coy n es s l ady w e r e n o c r i me
, , .

We w oul d s i t d ow n an d th in k w h i ch w ay
T o w al k an d p as s our l on g l ove s day
’
.

T h ou by th e I n d i an G an ges s i d e
’

S h oul ds t r ubi e s fi n d ; I by th e ti d e
Of H umbe r w oul d c omp l ai n I w ould .

L ov e you ten y e ar s b e for e th e F l ood ;

A n d you s h oul d i f y ou p l e as e r efu s e
, ,

T i ll th e con v e r s i on of th e J ew s .

M y v egetabl e l ov e s h oul d gr ow
V as te r th an emp i r e s an d mor e s l ow ;
,

An h un d r ed y e ar s s h ould go to pr ais e
T h i n e e y e s an d on thy for eh ead gaz e ;
T w o hun d r ed to ad or e e ach br east ,

I II T o H rs Cox M rsraxss time d i d M arvell

At
'

no
'
. .

i i i
n to pr act ce th e the or e s here s et f orth
“
I n a Cour t .

hel d n o man to be hone st an d n o oman chaste, w

i i
M arvell , r eve r n g an d r espe ct n g h m sel f w as pr oof aga i , i nst
i ts ha ms
c r i
H Col er d ge, B i ographi a B or ealis, p 5 7.
”
. . .
 A N D R E W M AR VE L L 263
B ut thi rty th ous an d to th e r es t ;
An age at l eas t to e v e r y p art ,
A n d th e l ast age s h oul d s h ow y our h eart .

For, l ady, you d e s e rv e th i s s tate,

Nor w oul d I l ov e at l owe r r ate .

B ut at my b ack I alw ays h ear

T i me s w i n ged c h ari ot h urryin g n e ar ;
’

An d y on d e r all be for e us l i e
D es e rts o f v as t e te r n ity .

T hy beauty s h al l n o mor e be foun d,

Nor, i n thy mar bl e v aul t, s h al l s oun d
M y e ch oi n g s on g ; th en w or ms s h al l try
T h at l on g pr e s e rv e d vi r gi n i ty ;
.

An d y our q uai n t h on o r tu r n to d us t,
A n d i n to a s h es al l my l us t
T h e gr av e s a fi n e an d pr i v ate p l ace ,
’

B ut n on e, I thi nk , do th er e embr ace .

Now, ther efor e, wh il e th e y outh ful h ue

Si ts on thy s ki n l i ke mor n i n g d e w ,
An d w hi l e thy w i ll i n g s oul tr an s p i r es
A t eve r y p or e w i th in s tan t fi r e s ,
N ow l et us s p ort us w h i l e w e may,
An d n ow , l i ke am o r ous bi r ds o f pr ey,
Rath e r at on ce our ti me d ev our
T h an l an gui s h i n h i s s l ow- ch ap t p ow e r .

L et us r ol l all our s tr e n gth , an d all

Our s w e etn es s up i n to on e ball ;
An d tear our p l e as ur e s w i th t ough s tr i fe
T h or ough th e i r on gate s o f l i fe
T hus , th ough w e can n ot m ake our s un
Stan d s ti l l , ye t w e w i l l make h i m r un .

Your qua in t hon or . Quai n t me an s here i

ol d -fash on e d, out
o f-d ate, cur i ous
.
2 64 THE CAVAL IE R PO E T S

T H E G A RD E N

H ow vai n ly men th e m s el v e s amaz e,

T o w i n th e p al m, th e oak, or b ays,
An d th ei r i n ce s s an t l ab or s s ee
C r ow n e d f r om s om e s i n gl e h e rb, or tr e e,
Wh os e s h ort an d n arr ow-ve rged s h ade
D oe s pr ud en tly th e i r toi l s up br aid ,
Whi l e al l th e fl ow e r s an d tr ee s do cl os e
T o w eave th e garl an ds of r ep ose !

Fai r Quiet h ave I foun d th ee h ere

, ,

A n d I n n ocen ce thy s i s te r d e ar ?
,

M i s taken l on g I s ough t you th en ,

I n bus y com p an i es of men .

Your s ac r ed p l an ts i f h e r e b el ow , ,

On ly amon g the pl an ts w i ll grow ;

S oci ety i s all but r ud e
T o thi s d eli c i ous soli tud e
. .

No whi te nor red w as ever s een

S o am or ous as th i s l ov ely gr een .

F on d l ov e r s c r uel as th ei r fl am e
, ,

C ut i n th es e tr ees th ei r mi s tr e s s n ame
’
.

L i ttl e al as ! th e y kn o w or h eed
,

H ow f ar th es e be auti es h e r e x ce ed !
F ai r tr ee s ! w h er e e r your b arks I w oun d
’

No n ame sh all but your own be foun d .

IV . TH E G A RDE N . In it “
he sho s w a d e th o f
p oe ti c f e el i n won d er ful i n a p oli tical gl ad ator i .
”
ol d win

S m i th War
, 8 i
E n gl s h P os ts , V ol I I, p 384 . . .
2 66 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
Such w as th at h app y gar d e n s tate -
,

Whi l e m an th e r e w alk ed w i th out a mate

A fte r a p l ace s o p ur e an d s w e e t ,

Wh at oth e r h el p coul d ye t be m e et !
B ut tw as be y on d a m o rt al s s h ar e
’ ’

T o w an de r s ol itar y th e r e
-

T w o p ar ad i s e s ar e i n on e ,

T o li v e i n p ar adi s e al on e
. .

H ow w e ll th e s ki l ful gar d en e r dr e w
O f fl o w e r s , an d h e rbs , th i s d i al n e w ,
Wh e r e, f r om abov e , th e mi l de r s un
D oes th ough a f r agr an t z od i ac r un ,
An d, as i t w o rks , th e i n d us tri ous be e
C om p utes i ts t ime as w el l as w e !
H ow coul d s uc h s w e et an d w h ol e s ome h our s
B e r eckon ed but w i th h e rb s an d fl ow e r s ?
 H E NRY VA UGH AN

( 1 62 2 -1
6 9 5 )

T O A M O RE T , G ON E F ROM H OM E

F an cy I l ast e v en i n g w alk ed
an d ,

A n d A mor et of th e e w e tal ke d
, ,
.

T h e w e s t j us t th e n h ad s tol n th e s un
’

A n d h i s l as t bl us h e s w e r e be gun .

W e s ate an d m arked h ow e v er yth i n g

,

D id m our n h i s abs e n ce ; h ow th e s pr i n g
T h at s mi l e d an d cur l e d about h i s be am s ,

Whi l st h e w as h e r e n ow ch ecked h er s tr e ams

,

T h e w an ton e d d i e s o f h e r f ace
We r e taugh t l e s s n oi s e an d s mooth e r gr ace ;
An d in a s l ow s ad ch an n el w en t
, ,

Wh i s p r in g th e ban ks th e i r d i s con te n t
’
.

T h e c ar e l e s s ban k s o f fl ow e r s th at s pr e ad
T h ei r p e r fumed bos om s to h i s h e ad ,

A n d w i th an op en f r ee e mbr ace
, , ,

D i d en te rtai n hi s be amy fac e ,

L i ke abs en t f r i en ds p oi n t to th e w es t ,

An d on th at w e ak r e fl e cti on f eas t .

V AUG HA N . K n own i ri
th e S l u st bec au se o f hi s es d en ce
as r i
i n a o t on o f W al e s c all e d S i lu ri a by the R oman n ad e s
p ri i v r .

r
B o n, L l an s ai n tfre ad, B e ckn ocks r e, W al es ; e d ucate d, Ox
hi r
r i i i S
f o d ; s tud e d me d c n e, L o n d on ; pe n t m os t o f hi s l fe thi n i wi
hi s W e l s
h p ri h i
a s ; at all t me s an a d en t R o alis t r y .

267
2 68 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
I f cr eatu r e s, , th en th at h av e n o s en s e
,

B ut th e l oo s e ti e o f i n fl uen ce
T h ough f ate an d ti me e ach d ay r emov e
T h os e th i n gs th at el em e n t th e i r l ove
A t s uch v as t d i s tan ce c an agr e e,
Why, Amor et, w hy s h oul d n ot w e ?

THE WORL D
I s aw E te rn i ty th e
h e r n i gh t ot

L i ke a gr eat r i n g o f p ur e an d e n dl ess
A l l cal m as i t w as br i gh t ; ,

A n d r oun d ben eath i t T i me i n h our s , d ay s year s , , ,

D r i v n by th e s p h e r e s
’

L ik e a v as t s h adow m ov ed i n w h i ch th e w or ld ,

A n d al l h e r t r ai n w er e h ur l e d .

T h e d o ati n g l ov e r i n h i s q uai n tes t str ain

D i d th e r e com p l ai n ;
N ear hi m hi s l ute hi s f an cy an d hi s fli ghts
, , , ,

Wit s f our d e l i gh ts
’

Wi th gl ov es an d kn ots th e s ill y s n ar es of p l easur e ; ,

Yet h i s d e ar tr e as ur e
All sc atte r e d l ay w h i l e be h is eyes d i d p our
,

Up on a fl owe r .

II . TH E WORLD ri gin al thi s poem i s fol l owed

. In the o
by th e w or d s o f I John ii 1 6 1 7: “
F or all that i s i n th e
.
, ,

w orl d the l us t of th e fl e sh an d th e l us t o f th e eye s an d th e

, , ,

pri de of li fe i s n ot of th e F athe r but i s of the worl d an d

, , ,

th e world p as seth aw ay an d the l us t the reo f ; but he th at,

d oe th th e w i ll o f G od ab i d eth for eve r ”

.

E te rn i ty h as be en kn own to sp oil a
“
I s aw E tern i ty .

oe t f or t i me but n ot i n thi s i n s tan ce Q ui ncey A L i ttle

”

gaglis h G allery p 5 9
, . ,

, . .
2 70 THE C AVAL I E R P OE T S
B e for e tr ue l i gh t !
T o li ve in gr ots an d c av e s an d h ate th e d ay
. ,

B ec aus e i t s h ow s th e w ay ,

T h e w ay w hi ch fr om thi s d e ad an d d ark abod e

,

L e ads up to G od ;
A w ay w h e r e y ou m i gh t t r ead th e s un , an d be
A s bri gh t as be !
B ut, as I d i d th e i r m ad n e s s s o d i s cus s ,
On e w h i s p e r ed th us :
T h i s r i n g th e br i d e gr oom d i d f or n on e pr ovi d e
”
B ut f or hi s bri de .

P E AC E

My s ou l , th er e i s a coun t ry
A far bey on d th e s tar s ,
Wh e r e s tan ds a w i n ged s en tr y
All s ki l ful i n th e w ar s ,
T h e r e, abov e n oi s e an d d an ge r,
S w e et P e ace s i ts c r ow n e d w i th s mi l es ,
A n d on e bor n i n a m an ge r
C om m an d s th e be aute ous fil e s .

H e i s thy g r aci ou s f r i en d
An d — O my s oul , aw ake
D i d i n p ur e l ov e d es cen d
T o di e h e r e f or th y s ake .

I f th ou c an s t get but thi th e r ,

T h er e gr ow s th e fl ow e r o f p e ace,
T h e r os e th at c an n ot w i th e r ,
T hy f o rt r e s s an d thy e as e .

L e av e th en thy fool i s h r an ge s ;
For n on e can th e e s ec ur e,
B ut on e , w h o n e v e r ch an ges ,
Thy G od, th y li fe, thy cur e .

Thy foolis h r anges. Aiml es s wan derin gs .

 H E N RY VAUG H AN 2 71

B E YON D THE VE IL

T h e y ar e al l gon e i n to th e w or l d o f l i gh t !
A n d I al on e s i t l i n ge r i n g h e r e ;
T h ei r v e r y me m or y i s f ai r an d br i gh t,
An d my s ad th ough ts d oth cl e ar .

I t gl ow s an d gl i tte r s i n my c l oudy br eas t,

L i ke s tar s up on s om e gl oom y gr o v e ,
Or th os e f ai n t be ams i n w h i ch thi s h i ll i s d r e s t,
A fte r th e s un s r emov e
’
.

I th em w alki n g i n an ai r o f gl o r y,
s ee

Wh os e l i ght d oth tr amp l e on my d ays

M y d ays , w h i ch a r e at be s t but d ul l an d h oar y ,

M e r e gl i mme r i n g an d d ecay s .

O h oly H op e ! an d h i gh H umili ty ,

H i gh as th e h e av e n s abov e !
T h e s e ar e y our w al ks an d you h av e s h ow e d th em
,
me ,
T o kin dl e my cold l ov e .

D e ar, be auteous D e ath ! th e j e w e l of th e j us t ,

S h in i n g n ow h e r e but i n th e d ark,
Wh at m y s te r i es d o l i e be yon d thy dus t,
C oul d man outl ook th at mark !

H e th at h ath f oun d s om e fl ed ge d bi r d s m ay kn ow
’
n es t

A t fi r s t s i gh t i f th e bi rd be fl own ;
B ut w h at f ai r w el l o r gr ov e h e s i n gs i n n ow ,

T h at i s to h i m un kn ow n .

IV . He that h ath foun d A s tanz a

. o t w r hy Of a f ar
greate r p oet . h h
I ts t oug t an d i ts A n gl o- Sa on x d i re ctn es s
combi n e to make i t n e a r p r
e fe ct on . i
a7s THE CAVAL IE R PO E T S
An d y et as an gel s i n s ome b r i gh te r d r e ams
C all to th e s oul w h en m an d oth s l ee p
, ,

S o s ome s tr an ge th ough ts tr an s cen d our w on te d th em e s ,

An d i n to gl ory p e ep .

If r w e re con fin ed i n to a tomb
a s ta ,

T he cap ti v e fl am es m us t n e e d s burn th er e ;
B ut w h e n th e h an d th at l ocke d h er up gi v es r oo m .

She ll s hi n e thr ough al l th e s ph e r e

’
.

0 F ath e r o f e ter n al l i fe an d all ,

C r e ate d gl ori e s un de r th ee ,

Re s um e thy s p i r i t f r om th i s w o rld of thr all

I n to true l iberty .

E i th e r d i s p e r s e th es e mi s ts w hi ch bl ot an d fi ll
,

M y p e r s p e cti v e s ti ll as th e y p as s ,

Or e l s e r emov e m e h e n c e un to th at h il l
Wh e r e I s h al l n ee d n o gl as s .

A n d yet as an ge ls .Thi s s tanz a se em s s om ew h at a f ore

r un e r o f W or d sw or th s I ti matiom of I mm or tali ty
n
’
n .

I f a s tar w er e co fine d n A Spl en d i d thought

. H e r e th e .

s oul i s h am pe re d by th e fl e sh ; but in the her eaf te r i t s hall

s hin e i n all i ts in tr in s i c gl ory .
2 74 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S

C E L IA S IN G IN G

Ros es i n b r e ath in g forth th ei r sc en t,

Or s tar s th e i r bo rr ow ed or n am en t,
Ny mph s i n w ate r y s ph e r e th at mov e,
Or an ge l s i n th ei r o rbs abov e,
T h e w i n ged ch ar i ot of th e l i gh t,
Or th e s l ow, s i l en t w h ee l s o f n i gh t,
T h e s h ad e w h i c h f r om th e s w i fte r s un
D oth i n a ci r cul ar moti on r un ,
Or l
s ou s th at th ei r r
e te n al r es t d o ke ep ,

M ake f ar m or e th an C el i a s br e ath
’
n oi s e in

B ut i f the an gel , w h i ch i n sp i r e s
T h i s s ubtl e fl am e w i th acti v e fi r es ,
S h oul d m oul d h i s b r e ath to w or d s , an d th os e
I n to a h ar mon y d is p os e,
Th e mus i c o f th i s h e av en ly s ph e r e
Woul d s te al e ach s oul out at th e e ar,
A n d i n to p l an ts an d s ton e s i n fus e
A l i f e th at c h er ub i m w oul d ch oos e ,
An d w i th n ew p o w e r s i n v e r t th e l aw s o f fate,
K i ll th os e th at l i ve, an d dead th i n gs an i mate .

TH E T O M B

Wh en cruel fai r on e I am sl ain

, ,

By thy d is dain ,

An d as a tr oph y o f thy s corn

, ,

T o s ome ol d tomb am born e ,

 T HO M A S ST A N L E Y 2 75
T hy f e tt e r s must th ei r p ow er be queath
T o th os e o f D e ath ;
Nor c an thy fl am e i mmor tal bur n ,
L i ke m on ume n tal fi r e s w ith i n an urn ;
T h us , f r e ed f r om thy pr oud emp i re , I s h all pr ov e
T h e r e i s mor e li be rty i n D eath th an L ov e .

And wh en l ov ers come

for s aken
T o s ee my to mb ,

T ake h eed th ou mi x n ot wi th th e crow d

A n d a s a v i cto r pr oud
, ,

T o v i e w the s p oil s thy beauty m ad e

.
,

P r e s s n ear my s h ade ,

L es t th y too c r ue l br e ath or n ame

S h oul d f an my as h e s back i n to a fl ame ,

An d th ou d ev our ed by th i s r e v en ge ful fi r e
, ,

H i s s acri fi ce w h o di ed as th in e e xp i r e
, , .

B ut i f co rt h or marbl e mus t
ld ea

C on ce al my d us t ,

Wh ils t h id i n s ome d ark r uins, I;

D umb an d for gotten l i e ,

T he pr i d e o f al l thy vi ctory
Wi l l s l ee p w ith me ;
And th ey w ho s h ould atte s t thy gl ory ,

Wi l l or f or get or n ot bel i ev e thi s story

, , ,

T h en to i n cr e as e thy t ri umph l et me r es t
, , ,

Si n ce by thi n e ey e s l ain b ur i ed i n thy br eas t

,
.
 C HARL E S CO TT O N

( 1 6 30-1 6 8
7)

I
F ai r I s abel i f aught but th ee
,

I coul d or w oul d or like or l ov e ;

, , ,

I f oth e r beauti e s but approv e

T o s w e ete n my cap ti v i ty
I mi gh t th os e p as s ion s be above ,

T h os e p ow e r ful p as s ion s th at c ombi n e ,

T o mak e an d kee p me on l y th in e .

Or i f f or tem pti n g tr e as u r e, I
O f th e w or l d s god, pr e v ai l i n g gold ,
’

C oul d s e e th y l ov e an d my truth s ol d ,
A gr eate r , n obl e r t r eas ury :
M y fl am e to th ee mi gh t th en gr o w cold ,
An d I , l ike on e w h os e l ov e i s s e ns e,
E x ch an ge th ee for c on v en i en ce .

Cor ron '

.
“
The n obl es t o f our youth
f r en d s an d be s t of i .
”

i i i
Lovel ac e, D ed c a t on , T h e T r um ph of P h i lamor e a nd A m or e t,
1 64 9 B orn , B e re s for d, S tafi or d shi r e ; on ce w ell kn ow n as a
'

i
tr ans l ator o f M on ta gn e s E s s ays ; a cl os e fr en d o f
’
z aak i I
W al ton an d an en th u s ast c an gl er ; w r ote as a secon d p art
i i
to W al ton s C omp l e te A n gl er a t re at s e on fi sh n g i
th th e i wi
’

fl y ; a l ove r of b ooks an d c oun tr l fe ; d ed , W e s tm n s te ry i i i .

I. i
F a r I s abel Probabl . y I
s abe ll a H utchin s on, hom he w
i
marr ed in 1 65 6 .
2 78 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
T h an ks s w eetes t n ow th ou rt p e r f ect grown
’

, , ,

For by th i s l as t ki s s I m un don e ;
’

T h ou br eath es t s i l en t d art s ,

H en ce for th e ach l ittl e touch w i ll p r ove

A d an ge r ous s tr atage m i n l ov e ,

An d th ou wil t b l ow up h earts .

L AURA S L E E PI N G

Wi n d s whi s p e r
, g l y w
en t h i l s t s h e s l eep s ,

An d f an h e r w i th y our cool i n g w i n gs ,

Whi l s t s h e her d r op s of be auty w e ep s

Fr om p ur e an d yet un r iv all ed s pr in gs .

G l id e ov e r b e auty s fi eld, h er face ,

’

T o ki s s h er l i p an d c h e ek be bol d,
B ut w i th a c al m an d s teal i n g p ac e,
N ei th e r too rud e n or yet too co ld .

Pl ay i n h er b e ams an d c ri s p h er h ai r
Wi th s uch a gal e as w i n gs s o ft l ov e ,
’
An d w i th s o s w ee t s o r i ch an ai r
,

A s b r e ath es fr om th e Ar ab i an gr ove .

‘
A br eath as h us h ed as l over s s igh ’

Or th at un f ol ds th e m or n i n g d oo r
Sw e e t as th e w i n d s th at ge n tly fly
T o s w ee p th e s pr i n g s en amel l ed fl oo r
’
.

M u rmur s oft musi c to h er d r eams ,

T h at p ur e an d un p oll uted run ,

L ike to th e n ew bor n c r y s tal s tr e ams

-

Un d e r the b ri ght e n amour ed s un .

 CHAR L E S CO T T ON 279
B ut w h en s h e w aki n g s h al l di s p l ay
H er l ight r eti r e w i thi n y our bar
, .

H e r br e ath i s l i fe h er e ye s ar e d ay
, ,

An d all m anki n d h er c r eatu r es ar e .

RON D E AU

F orbear fai r Ph yll is O forbear

, ,

T h os e d e adly ki l l i n g f r ow n s an d s p ar e ,

A h e a rt s o l ov i n g an d s o tr ue ,

B y n on e to be s ubdue d but you,

Wh o my p oor l i fe s s ol e pr in ce s s ar e
’
.

You on ly c an c r eate my c ar e ;
B ut o fl en d you I al l th i n gs d ar e
'

, .

T h e n l es t your c rue l ty you r ue

, ,

F orbear ;
An d l es t y ou ki ll th at h e ar t be w ar e
'

, ,

T o w h i c h th e r e i s s om e p i ty due ,

I f but be c aus e I h umbly s ue .

Your an ge r th e r e for e s w eete s t fai r

, , ,

T h ough m e r cy i n your s ex i s r ar e ,

F or b e a r .

R O ND E A U . A F ren ch form of ve rs e br ou ght i n to s ome pop

ul ar i ty i n th e d a s o f W att ( 1 5 03
y y b ut us e d by scar cel y
i
an y E n gl sh p oe t, s ave C otton , un til i ts s ud d en p op ul ar t in iy
i
the n n eteen th cen tur y .
 CHARL E S SA CK VIL L E

( 1 6 37 706)
-1

S ON G

Phyll i s for s h ame ! l et us i mp r ove

,

A th ous an d d i ff e r en t w ay s
T h os e f ew s h ort m omen ts s n atch ed by l ove
F rom man y tedi ous d ays .

I f you w an t cour age to d espi s e

T h e c en s ure o f th e gr av e,
T h ough L ov e s a ty r an t i n your s
’
e ye ,

You r h eart i s but a sl av e .

M y l ov e i s f ull o f n obl e pri d e,

Nor c an i t e er s ubmi t
’

T o l et th at f op, D i s c r eti on , ri d e
I n tr i umph ove r i t .

Sa c xm rx E a l o f D o s et
. r r
H e w as th e fin e st gentl e
.
“

v p r
m an o f the ol u tuous C ou t o f Ch a l es I I an d i n the gl oom r y
on e o f K n g W ll am
i ”
i i .
—
W alpol e , N oble A u tho s , I I, 96 r p . .

r i x r
E a l o f M d dl es e , 1 6 75 ; E a l o f D o s e t, 1 677; di s t n gui s e d r i h
h i ms el f i n H ous e of Comm on s ; s e e d i n th e fi s t D utch W ar , rv r
1 66 5 ; o ppose d J am e s I I an d a d ed th e c ause o f W lli am ; n o
i i
i
t or i ous for h i s n de cen t w l d n es s ; d e d , B at i He ote m an i h . wr y
s ati rical p
oems , but i s r
em e mbe e d by h i s s on g,
“
r
T o al l you
i
l ad e s n ow at l an d ”
H e w as a m an w ose e l e an ce an d h
—h
.

r iv r
j ud gmen t w e e u n e s al ly con fe ss ed , an d w ose un ty to h
r
th e l e a n ed an d w tty w as i
gene all kn own ”
Jo n son, r y .

Lives of the E n g l s h P os ts i .
282 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
The M us e s n ow an d N e p tun e too
, , ,

We mus t i mp l or e to w ri te to you
Wi th a f a, l a, l a, l a, l a !

For th ough the M us es

houl d p rove ki n d
s ,

An d fi ll our em p ty br ai n ,

Y et i f r ough N ep tun e r ous e th e wi n d

.

T o w av e th e az ur e m ain ,

Our p ap e r p e n an d i nk an d w e
, , , ,

[Rol l up an d d o wn our s h i p s at s e a
Wi th a fa, l a, l a l a, l a !
.

T h en , i f w e wr i te n ot by e ach p os t,
T h i n k n ot w e ar e un ki n d ;
Nor yet c on cl ude our s h i p s ar e l os t
By D utchmen or by w i n d
Our tear s w e l l s en d a s p e e di er w ay,
’

T he ti d e s h al l b r i n g th em tw i ce a d ay
With a fa, l a, l a, l a, l a !

T he Ki n g wi th won d e r an d s urpri s e
Wi l l s w e ar th e s eas gr ow bol d ,

B e caus e th e tid es w ill h i gh e r r i s e

T h an e e r th ey di d o f ol d ;
’

B ut l et h i m kn ow i t i s our t ear s
B rin g fl oods of gri e f to Wh iteh al l s tai r s
With a fa l a l a, l a l a !
, , ,

Sh ould foggy Opd am c h an ce to kn ow

Our s ad an d di s m al s to ry ,
T h e D utc h w oul d s cor n s o w eak a foe,
An d quit th e i r f ort at G or e e ;
For w h at r e s i s tan c e c an th e y fi n d
Fr om m en w h o v e l e ft th e i r h earts b eh in d
’

With a fa, l a, l a, l a, l a !
 CHARLE S SA CKVIL L E 2 83

L et w in d an d w e ath e r d o i ts w or s t
,

B e you to us but kin d ;

L et D utchm en v ap our, S p an i ar d s c ur s e,
No s o rr ow w e s h all fi n d ;
T is th en , n o matte r h ow thi n gs go,
’

Or w h o s our f r i en d or w h o s our f oe
’ ’

Wi th a fa, l a, l a, l a, l a !
To p as s our tedi ous hour s aw ay
We thr ow a m er r y main ,

Or e l s e at s e r i ous ombr e p l ay ;
B ut w hy s h oul d w e i n v ai n
E ach oth e r s r ui n th us p ur s ue ?
’

We w e r e un don e w h en w e l e ft you
With a fa, l a, l a, l a, l a !

B ut n ow our fe ar s temp e s tuous gr ow

‘

An d c ast our h op e s a w ay,

Whi l s t you, r egardl es s of our w oe,
Si t c ar e l es s at a p l ay,
P erh ap s p e rmit s ome h app i e r m an
T o ki s s you r h an d or fl i rt y ou r f an
With a fa, l a, l a, l a, l a !

Wh en an y mourn ful tun e you h e ar

T h at d i e s i n ev e ry n ote,
A s i f i t s i gh d w i th e ach m an s c ar e
’ ’

For bei n g s o r emote,

T h i nk th en h ow often l ov e w e v e mad e
’

T o you, w h en al l th os e tun e s w e r e pl ay d
’

With a fa, l a, l a, l a, l a !
I n j ustice you can n ot r efus e
T o th i n k o f our d i str es s ,

Wh en w e for h op e s o f h on our l os e
Our c ertai n h appi n es s
284; THE CAVAL IE R PO E T S
All th os e d e s i gns are but to p r ove
O urs e l v e s mor e w orth y o f your l ove
Wi th a fa l a l a l a l a !
, , , ,

’
An d n ow w e v e told you al l our l ov es ,
An d li k e w i s e al l our f e ar s ,
I n h op e s th i s d ecl ar ati on mov e s
S ome p i ty for our te ar s :
L et s h ear o f n o i n con s tan cy
’

We h av e too much o f th at at s ea
With a fa, l a, la, l a, l a !
286 C AVAL IE R P OE T S
THE

Wy
h th en , s h oul d I s e e k fur th e r s to r e
,

An d s till m ak e l ov e an ew ?
Wh en ch an ge i ts el f can gi ve n o mor e ,

Ti s e asy to be true
’
.

SON G

L ov e ll h as s omethi n g Of th e s ea
s ti ,

Fr om w h en ce hi s moth e r r os e ;
No ti m e h i s s l av e s f rom l ov e c an f r ee ,

Nor giv e th ei r th oughts r epos e .

T h e y are be c al m d i n cl ear est d ay s ,

’

A n d i n r ough w e ath e r t OSt ;

T h e y w ith e r un d e r col d d el ays ,
O r ar e i n temp es ts l os t .

On e wh il e th ey s eem to touclh the p ort ,

T h en s tr ai gh t i n to th e main1
Some an gr y w i n d i n c r ue l s port?
T h e i r v e s s e l d ri v e s again .

At fi rs t d i s d ain an d pri d e they tear ,

Whi ch i f th ey ch an ce to s cap e
,
’

, ,

Ri v al s an d fal s eh oo d s oon ap p e ar
I n a mor e dr ead ful s h ap e .

B y such d egr ees to j oy th ey come,

An d ar e s o l on g w ith s tood ,
S o s l owly th e y r e ce iv e th e s um,
I t h ar dl y doe s th em good .

11 . SON G . Ther e w as a p oi son i n hi s l ove p oems ; bi “

.
if
‘m
a poi s on that ench an ted t h e wi ts of the d ay
”
w as T hL P
‘

s on , The L i tera ture of S oci ety, V ol 1 , p 375

. . .
 SIR CHARL E S SE D L E Y 2 87
T i s cruel to pr ol on g a p ain ;
’

A n d to d e f e r a bli s s ,

B el ie v e me gen tl e H ermi on e,
,

N 0 l es s in h uman i s .

An h un d r e d th ous an d o ath s your f e ar s

P e rh ap s w oul d n ot r emov e ,

A n d i f I gaz e d a th ous an d y ear s ,

I c oul d n o d eep e r l ove .

PHYL L I S K NO TT I N G
Hears n ot my P h ylli s how the bi rd s
T h ei r fe ath e r e d mate s s al ute ?
T h e y te l l th ei r p as s i on i n th ei r w or ds
”
M ust I al on e be mute ?
P hyll i s w i th out frown or s mi l e
, ,

S at an d kn otte d al l th e w h i l e .

T he god of l ov e in thy b ri ght e yes

D oe s l ike a ty r an t r ei gn
B ut i n thy h e ar t a ch i l d h e l i e s
With out h is d art or fl ame ”
.

P hyll i s , w i th out f r own or s mi l e ,

S at an d kn otted all th e whi l e .

So man y mon th s i n s i l enc e p ast,

A n d yet i n r agi n g l ov e,
M i gh t w e l l d es e rv e on e w or d at l ast
”
M y p as s i on s h oul d app r ove .

P h yll i s , w ith out f r own or s mil e,

S at an d kn otted al l th e whi l e .

I II K n ottin g
. . A ki n d of f anc y work
-
, some what l i ke
i
m ak n g .
2 88 THE C AVAL I E R PO E T S
M us t th en your fai th ful s w ai n e xp i r e
A n d n ot on e l ook obtai n ,
Whi ch h e to s ooth e h i s fon d d esi r e
M i gh t p l e as i n gly e xp l ai n ?
Phyl l i s , w i th out f r own or s mi l e,
S at an d kn otted all th e whi l e !

PHYL L I S IS MY ON L Y JOY .

Phyll is i s my on ly joy ,

F aith l e s s as th e w i n d s or s e as ,

S ome ti m es com i n g, s ome ti me s coy,

Yet s h e n ev e r f ai l s to pl e as e ;
I f w i th a f r ow n
I am cas t down ,
P h yll i s, s mil in g
An d begui l i n g,
M ake s m e h ap p i er th an b efor e .

T h ough , l! too l ate I fi n d

a as
N oth in g c an h er f an cy fi x,
Y e t th e m om en t s h e i s ki n d
I forgiv e h e r al l h er tr icks ;
Wh i ch th ough I s ee ,

I c an t get f r ee
’
.

S h e d ec ei v i n g ,

I bel i e vi n g ,

Wh at n e e d l ov e r s wi s h for mor e ?

IV P H Y L u s I s M Y ON LY JOY [ H e h as b een ed pr rv
l
. . es e
r ivi i
f om obl on by a l ttl e w an ton e s e a out vr l l s , full o f Phy i
s uc h go od - n atu e dr i
con ten tme n t an d d sbe l e f t at w e g ow i h r
y oun g an d h r
c ee ful i
aga n i n con tem l at n
g it
”
p i
R e li e , . pp r
E n g lwh L ove S on gs ,
a
P i
o n ts of V ew i .
 W OR K S BY T H E . C A VAL I E R PO E T S

T HO M A S C A RE W
C ol l e cted P oe ms, e d H az l i tt, 1 870; E bs w orth , 1 89 3 ;
.

V i n cen t, 1 899
C ael um B r i tan n i cum, 1 6 33
P oe ms 1 64 0 ,

WI LL I A M C A RT W R I G H T
C ome di es T r agi C ome di es
,
-
, an d Othe r P oe ms , 1 64 7,
1 65 1
JOH N C LE V E L A N D
T he K i n g s D isg uis e, 1 64 6
’
.

P oe ms 1 6 5 6,

T he R us ti c R amp an t, 1 6 5 8
P oems , Or ation s , an d E p is tl e s , 1 660
P oe m s , 1 677
C HA RL E S C O TT O N
M an y p oems r e pr i n te d i n C h al me r s E n gl i s h P oe ts
’
,

1 81 0
S car r on i d es , 1 664 , 1 6 70
Tr C orn e i ll e s H or ac e, 1 6 71
’
.

Voyag e to I r e l an d i n B ur l es que, 1 6 70
T r G e r ar d s L ife of th e D uke of E s p e r n on , 1 670
’
.

T r C omme n tari es of D e M on tiac, M ar s hal of

.

F r an ce, 1 674
Secon d p a r t o f Wal ton s C omple te A n gl e r, 1 676
’

T r M on ta i gn e s E s s ays , 1 6 85
’
.

P oe ms on S e ve ral Occas ion s , 1 689

A B R A HA M C OW L E Y
C oll e cte d Works , e d Spr at, 1 668, 1 689, 1 72 1 ; e d
. .

G r os ar t, 1 880
P oe ti cal B los s oms , 1 633
291
2 92 T HE CA VAL I E R PO E T S
S yl va, 1 6 36
L ove s R id d l e, 1 6 38
’

Waufr agium Joculare, 1 638

T he P ur i tan an d th e P ap is t, 1 64 3
A d P op ul um, 1 64 4
T h e M i s tr e s s , 1 64 7
The F our A ge s of E nglan d, 1 64 8
T he G uar d ian, 1 65 0
P oe ms , 1 6 5 6
Ode Upon the B l es s ed Res tor ation , 1 660
C r omw el l th e Wi cke d, 1 66 1
A P r op os al for the A dvan ce men t of E xp er i me n tal
P hi l os ophy, 1 66 1
Se ve r al D is cours es , 1 66 1
A C oul e ii P l an tar um l i bri duo, 1 662
.

Ve r s es Upon S eve ral Oc cas i on s , 1 663

Ve r s es L ate ly Wr i tten , 1 66 3
T he C utte r of C ol e m an S tr e e t, 1 663
A P oe m on the L ate C i vil War , 1 679
T r A na c r e on , 1 6 83
.

L ove s C h r on i cl e
’
1 730
RI C H A RD C R A S HAW
C oll ecte d Works, e d T u r n bul l , 1 85 8 ; G r os art, 1 872 ;
.

T uti n , 1 89 3
E pigr ammatum S acr oi um L iber, 1 6 34 , 1 670
S tep s to the T e mp l e, 1 64 6
C ar m e n D e o N os tr o, 1 6 5 2
WI LL I A M D A V E N A N T
C oll ecte d Works ed h i s w i d ow
, .
, 1 6 73 ; L an g an d

M ai d m en t 1 872 1 874
,
-

T he T rage dy of A l bovi n e 1 630

,

T he C r uel B r othe r 1 6 30,

T h e Jus t I tal i e n , 1 6 30
T he T e mpl e of L ove, 1 6 34
T he T r i ump hs of th e Pr i n c e d A mour, 1 6 35
’

T he P l aton i c L over s , 1 636

T he Wits, 1 636
2 94 T HE CAVAL I E R PO E T S
H e r be r t s R e mai n s , 1 65 2
’

M us ae R es p on s or i ae, 1 662
T r e atis e on T e mp e ran ce, 1 634
’
Tr . C or n ar o s

Tr . de V aldes H un dred an d T e n C on s id e rati on s,

’

1 6 38
RO B ERT HERR I C K
C oll ecte d Works e d L or d D un d r e n n an 1 823 ; H az
, .
,

l i tt 1 869 ; G r os e rt 1 876 ; P al grav e 1 877; P ol

, , ,

l ar d 1 89 1 S ain tsbury 1 89 3 ; H al e Rh ys
, , , ,

Si n ge r etc , .

K i n g Obron s F eas t 1 635

’
,

H is M i s tr is S had e, 1 64 0
H e s p er i d es ( w i th Nobl e Num be r s , 1 64 8
P oems i n L acrymae M us ar um, 1 64 9, an d Wi t s
’

R ecr e ati on s , 1 6 5 0
RI C HA RD L O V E L A C E
C oll ected Works , e d H az l i tt, 1 864 . .

T he S chol ar : A C ome dy 1 634 ,

T he S ol di e r : A T rag edy , 1 64 0
L ucas ta, 1 64 9
P os thume P oems , 1 65 9
A N DRE W M A R V ELL
C oll e cte d Works , ed C ooke , 1 72 6 ; T h om p s on , 1 776 ;
.

G r os art, 1 875 ; Ai tk en , 1 89 2
T he Fi r s t A n n i ve r s ary of the G ove r n m en t, 1 65 5
T he C har ac te r of H oll an d, 1 665
C lar en don s H ous e-Wa r mi n g 1 667
’
,

T he R e hear s al T r an s p os e d, 1 672 , 1 673

A n A pol ogy an d A dvi ce for S ome of the C l e rgy,
1 674
D i al ogue betw ee n T w o H or s e s , 1 675
P lain D eal in g 1 675 ,

M r S mi r ke, 1 676
.

A S e as on a bl e Q ue s ti on , 1 676
T he G r ow th of P op e ry, 1 677
A S eas on abl e A rgume n t, 1 6 78
R e mar ks up on a D i s e n ge n uous D i s cour s e , 1 678
 T HE CA VAL I E R P OE T S 2 95

A Short H i s tori cal E s s ay touchi ng G e n eral Coun

cil s, 1 680
M is cell an eous P oems, 1 681
C ha racte r s of P op e ry 1 6 89
,

P oems on A ffai r s of S tate, 1 6 89

The Royal M an ual, 1 75 1
P oems i n v ari ous p op ul ar col l ecti on s of th e d ay .

F R A NCIS Q UA RLE S
C ol l ecte d Works, e d. G r os e rt, 1 881 ; E m bl e ms , e d.

Argul us an d P ar then i a, 1 62 1
E mbl em s D i vi n e an d M or al, 1 635
E n chi ri dion , 1 64 0
C HA RLE S S EDLE Y
E arl of P e mbr oke s S pe ec h 1 64 8
’
,

L as t Will an d T es tame n t o f th e E ar l of P embr oke

‘

1 65 0
T he M ulbe r ry G ar den , 1 66 8
'
A n tony an d C l eop atra, 1 6 71
B e l lami r a, 1 687
B eauty the C on que ror, 1 702
T he G rumbl e r, 1 702
T he T yran t K i n g of C r ete, 1 702
T he H appy P ai r , 1 702
P l ays , P oems , S on gs , E tc , 1 702 .

Coll e c te d Wor ks , 1 707, 1 778

C HAR LE S S A C K VI LLE
S el ecti on s i n P oems on S e ve ral Occas i on s , 1 701 ,
an d i n Wor ks of C e l e br ate d A uthor s , 1 75 0
E D WA RD S H ER B U R N E
P oem s repri n ted i n Ch al me r s E ngl is h P oets , 1 81 0
’

S al mas is , L yrian , an d S yl via, 1 65 1

T r Sp he r e of M en il i us
.

T r T h eocr i tus S ixte e n th I dyl li um

’
.

T r S en eca s T ragedi e s
’
.

T HO M A S S T A N L E Y
C ol l ected p oems, e d B ryd ges , 1 81 4
.
296 T H E C AVAL IE R PO E T S
P oems an d T ran s lations , 1 64 -7 ,

P oe m s by T S , 1 6 5 1
. .

H is tory of P hi los op hy, 1 6 5 5 -1 662

E d A es ch yl u s , 1 66 3
.

C ommen tar ie s on A e s chyl us

A d ve r s ari a
P r el e cti on s on the C ha rac te r s of T heophras tus
T r A n acr e on
.

SIR J OH N S U C K L I N G
C oll ected Works , e d A S uckli n g, 1 836 ; H az l i tt,
. .

1 874 , 1 89 3 ; S toke s , 1 885

F
A S es s ion o f P oe ts , 1 6 37
'
Agl aur a, 1 6 38
B al l ad on a We ddi ng, 1 64 0
Fragmen ta A urea, 1 64 6
T he G o bl in s , p ubl i s h e d i n F r agmen ta Z ure a, 1 64 6
B r e n n or al t, p ubl i s h ed i n F r agm e n ta A ur ea, 1 64 6
T he S ad On e, 1 6 5 8
L as t R e mai n s , 1 6 5 9
L e tte rs to D ive r s E mi n en t P e r s onage s
A n A cc oun t of R e l igi on by R e as on
HE N R Y VAU G HA N
Coll ecte d Works , ed
. G ros art ; P oems , e d . Ch amb e r s ,
1 89 6
S e cular P oe ms , 1 64 6
T r T e n th S ati r e of J uve n al , 1 64-
. 6
S il ea: S c in till an s , 1 6 5 0, 1 6 5 6
Ol or I s can us , 1 65 1
'

M oun t o f Ol i ves , 1 6 5 2
T hali a R ed i vi vus , 1 6 78
Flores Soli tudin is, 1 6781
E DM U ND WA LLER
C oll ected Works , e d D ru ry , 1 893 . .

Four S p eec h e s i n the H ous e of C ommon s , 1 64 1

S p e e ch 4 July, 1 64 3, 1 64 3
P oe ms , 1 64 5
P an e gyr i c k to M y L ord Protec tor, 1 6 5 5
298 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
Re me mbr an ce r 1 62 8
’
B ri tain s ,

P s al ms of D avid, 1 632
‘

E mbl ems, 1 6 34 -1 635

T r Ne m es i us Natur e of M an, 1 636
’
.

R ead an d Won d er, 1 64 1

H all e l ujah, 1 64 1
C ampo-M us o e, 1 64 3
S e D e fen do, 1 64 3
M e rcur ius R us ticus , 1 64 3
T he S pe ech Wi thout D oor , 1 64 4
T he T w o I n comp ar abl e G e n e r ali s s i mos , 1 64 4
L e tte r s of A dvi c e, 1 64 5
V P acifica, 1 6 4 5
T h e S p ee ch Wi thout D oor D efen ded, 1 64 6
Uus ticiar us Jus tifi catus , 1 64 6
What P eace to the Wicked, 1 64 6
Opobal s amum A n gli can um, 064 6
M ajor Wi the r s D i s cl ai me r, 1 64 7
’

C ar men E r p os tulator ium, 1 64 7

A mygdal e B r i tan n i ca, 1 64 7
P r os op opo eia B r i tan n i ca, 1 64 8
C ar men E uchar i s ti con, 1 64 9
Re s p ubli ca A n gli can a, 1 6 5 0
T h e B r i ti s h A pp e al s , 1 6 5 1
T h ree G r ai n s of S p i r i tual F r an ki n ce n s e, 1 6 5 1
T h e D ar k L an te r n, 1 6 5 3
We s trom R e vive d, 1 65 3
Vati ci n am C as ual s , 1 65 5
Raptur e at the P r ote c tor s Re cove ry, 1 65 5
' ’

T h r e e P ri vate M e di tati on s , 1 6 5 5
T h e P r ote ctor , 1 65 5
B on i Omi n i s Votum, 1 65 6
A S ud dai n F l as h 1 6 5 7
'

S al t up on S al t, 1 6 5 9
A C ordi al C on fe cti on , 1 65 9
’

' m Pr -M e t i m
Ep i s tol i um Va gu -
o s a r cu , 1 6 5 9
W OR K S B Y THE C AVAL I E R P O E T S 29 9
P e ti tion an d Narrative, 1 65 9
F ur or P oe ticus 1 660
,

S p e cul um S pe cul ativum, 1 660

Fi d es A ngl i can a, 1 660
A n I mp r ovemen t of I mp r is on me n t, 1 66 1
A T r ip l e P arad ox, 1 66 1
T he P r is on e r s P l ea, 1 66 1
’

A P r ocl amati on i n the Name of the K i ng of K in g s ,

1 662
T uba P acifica 1 664
,

A M e m or a n d um to L on don , 1 665
M edi tation s upon th e L o r d s Praye r 1 66 5
’
,

E ch oe s from the S ixth T r ump e t, 1 666

S igh s for the P itche r s , 1 666
Vati ci n a P oe ti c a, 1 666
D i vi ne P oems on the T en C omman d men ts , 1 6 88
 B I B L I O G RAPHY
Ai tkin : M emoirs of the C our t of K ing C har l es I
A ddi s on : A n A ccoun t of the G r eates t E ngli s h P oe ts
A l cott : C on cord D ays
A l d r i ch : P oe ms of R obert H e r ri ck
Al li bon e : D icti on ary of E ngl is h L i te ratur e
A me r ican Jour n al of P h ilol ogy
An d e r s on : B ri tis h P oe ts
An gu s : H an dbook of E ngl is h L i ter atur e
A r ber : E ngl is h G ar n er
A r n ol d : C hauce r to Wor ds w or th
”
A s he : Robe r t H e rr i ck, T e mpl e B a r, V ol L X V III
.

A s h ton : S oc ia l L ife i n th e Re ign of Q ue e n A n n e

A ubr e y : B ri ef L i ves
B age h ot : L i te r ar y S tudie s
B ake r : C h r on icl e of the K in gs of E ngl an d
B axt e r : P oe ti cal F ragm e n ts
B eatti e : E s s ay on P oe tr y a n d M us i c
B eh n : On the D eath of Wal l e r
B e ll : S on g s fr om the D ramati s ts
B en s on : E s s ays
B i ogr ap hi ca B r i tann i ca
B l ai r : L e ctur e s on R he tor ic a n d B e ll es L e ttr e s
B r an d : P op ul ar A n ti qui tie s
B r ook : E n gl is h L i te r atur e
B r ow n : T h e P ar s on o f B e me rton , G ood Wor ds , Vol .

XXXI
Nor tli B r iti s h Review
“
B r ow n : V au gh an s P oems
’

, ,

V ol I I
.

B ro wn i n g ( E l i z ) : T h e B ook of the P oe ts
B r ow n i n g : L e tte rs of Robert B r ow n i n g a n d E l i z abeth
B arr e tt
 T HE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
’

304

B r ow n i n g : L e tte r s
B ry dge s : C e n s ura L i te rari a
B ul l en : M o re L y r ics fr om E liz abe than Song B ooks
B ull en : M us a P r ote rva
B ur d : C ommon pl ac e B ook
B ur n et : H is tory of M y Ow n T imes
B urr ough s : On th e Readi n g o f B ooks , T h e C e n tury,
V ol L X
.

B uxton : M ar ve ll, G e n tl e man M agaz i ne

’
s , V ol .

C C XXXI
C ambr i dge H i s tory of E ngl is h L i te r atur e
C am p be l l : S pe c i m e n s of th e B r i ti s h P oe ts
C arp en te r : E ngl is h L y ri c P oe try
C ar tw r i gh t : S ac har is s a
C as s erly : A C av al i e r P oet o f th e Se v e n te en th C en
tur y , A me r ican C athol i c M on thly R e vie rv, V ol I I , .

p 61 4
. .

C e n tury C y cl ope dia of Names

C h amb e r s : B iog r ap hi c al D ic ti on ary
C h ambe r s : C ycl opaed ia of E n gl i s h L i te r a tur e
C h al m e r s : E ng li s h P oe ts
C h ur ch i l l : T he A uthor
C h ur ch i l l : T he A pol ogy
C i bbe r : L i ves of th e P oe ts
C l ar en d on ( L or d ) : L i fe
C l e v el an d : A C ompe n d ium o f E n g lis h L i te r a tur e
C ol e ri d ge ( H ) : B i ogr ap h ia B or e al is
C ol er i d ge : B i og r ap hia L i te r a r ia
C ol e ri d ge : L e c tur e s a n d No te s o n S hakes p ea re
C ol e r i d ge : L e tte rs a n d C on ve rs ati on
C ol e r i dge : S ty l e M i s ce l lan ie s , E tc
, .

C ol er i dge ( S ar a) : M e moi rs a n d L e tte r s

C ollin s : E s s ays an d S tud ies
C oll i n s : Vol tai r e i n E n gl an d
C on gr e v e : T he Old B ach elor
C ourth op e : H is tory of E nglis h P oetry
306 THE CAVAL I E R P OE T S
F i eld : S el ect P oem s fr om H e rr i ck, C ar e w, e tc .

Q uar te r ly R e vi e w, V ol I V
.

G eorge Wi th e r,
“ ”
M acmill an s M agaz i n e, V ol
’
Fi vi e : .

L XI I
F l eay : B i ographical Chr oni cl e of the E n gl i s h D r ama
F l eckn oe : S hor t D i s cours e on the E n gl i s h S tage
Fr es w el l : E s s ays on E ng li s h Wr i te rs
Fr e y : S obr i que ts an d Ni ckn ames
F ull er : T h e Wor thi es of E ngl an d
G ay : On a M is ce llany of P oems
G ar dn er : H i s tory of E n gl an d fr om the Acces s i on of
Jame s I to the Outbr eak of th e C i vil War
G i ffo r d : T h e Wor ks of B e n Jon s on
G il fi l l an : Sp e ci me n s of the L es s -kn ow n B r i tis h P oe ts
G ol d s mi th : T h e B ee, V ol V I I I
.

G ol ds mi th : T he B eauti es of E ng lan d
G os s e : F r om S hake s pe a r e to P op e
G os s e : H i s tory of E igh te en th C e n tury L i ter a tur e
G os s e : Jacobean P oets
G os s e : S eve n te e n th C e n tur y S tudies
G os s e : S h ort H i s tory of M oder n E n gl i s h L i te r a tur e
G r an ger : B i ogr ap hi cal H is tory of E n gl an d
G r een : S h or t H i s tory of E ngl i s h P e op l e
G r os art : F ul l e r War thies M i s ce ll an i e s
’

G r os ar t : G eor ge H e rb e rt, L ei s ur e H our s , V ol XX II

.

G ui n e y : A L i ttl e E ngli s h G all ery

G ui n ey : A R oads ide H arp
H al e : D i e C h r on ologis ch e A n or d n un g d e r D i chtung en
R ober t H e r ri cks ( D i s s e rtati on , H all e, 1 89 2 )
H all : B ook of G ems
H all : P ilgri mages to E ngli s h S h r in e s
H all am : I n tr od uc ti on to the L i te r atur e of E urop e
H an n ah : C our tly P oe ts
H an n ay : E s s ays for the Q uar terly Revi ew
H ar t : A M an ual of E ngl is h L i te r ature
H awki n s : H is tory of M usi c
H az l i tt : L ec tur es on the E nglis h C omi c Wri ter s
 B I B L I OGRAPHY 307
H az l i tt : L e c tur es on the L i te ra tur e o
f the Age o f
E l iz abe th
He adl ey : S e l ec t B eauties of A n ci e nt E nglis h P oe try
H e ar n e : R e l i q uiae H ear n ia n ae, e d B l i s s
.

H e n l e y : Vi e w s an d R e vi e w s
H o r n e r : M e moi rs an d C o r r e s p on de n ce
H ume : H is tory of E n gl an d
H un t : M en, Wome n , an d B ooks
H un t : T h e T ow n
H un t : T abl e-T alk
H un t : Wi t an d H umor
4

H utton : L i te r ar y L an d marks o f L on don

H utton : S oc ial E n gl an d
I mp e r ial D ic tion ary of Un i ve r s al B i ogr ap hy
I n te r n ati on al E n cycl op aedia
Jam e s on : T he L ove s of th e P oe ts
Jes s e : M e moi r s of the C our t of E n glan d d urin g the
Reign of th e S tuar ts
Joh n s on : L ive s of the E n gli s h P oe ts
Joh n s on : Outlin e H i s tory of E ngli s h an d A me r ican
L i te r ature
K in gs l ey : P l ays an d P uri tan s , M is cellan ie s
L amb : G eor ge Wi th e r s P oe ti cal Wor ks
’

L amb : L ette r s
L an g : L e tte r s on L i te r atur e
L an gbain e : T h e E n gl i s h D ra ma ti c P oe ts
L an gf or d : P r i s on B ooks an d th e i r A uth or s
L aw r en ce : E n gli s h L i teratur e P e r iods , C l as s i cal P e ri od
L eis ur e H our s
L i n ton : Rar e P oems of the S ixte e n th an d S e ve n te en th
C e n tur i e s
L l oyd : M e moi rs of E r cel l e n t P e r s on ag es
L ocke r-L am p s on : M y C on fid e n ces
L ow ell : A m on g M y B ooks
L ow ell : L i brar y of Ol d A uthor s , P r os e Works , V ol I I .

L ow ell : On a C ertain C on de s c en s i on i n For eign e rs

308 THE C AVAL IE R PO E T S
L ytton : S t S tephe n s
’
.

M acaul ay : C ath er in e Se dl ey, H is tori cal and C ri tical

E s s ays
M acaul ay : M il ton
M acD on al d : E ng land s A n tip hon
’

M an ch es te r : C our t a n d S oci e ty from E liz a beth to An n e

M as s on : L ife of J ohn M i l ton
M asterm an : Age of M il ton
M i l ton : L e tte r s
M i n to : M an ual of E ngl is h P ros e L i te r atur e
M i tch el l : E n gli s h L an d s , L e tte r s, an d K i ngs
M i tfor d : R ecoll e ction s of a L i te ra ry L ife
M or l ey : F i r s t B ook of M ad r igals
M or l ey : T h e K i n g an d the C ommon s
M or l e y : Un i ve r s al L i br ary
M orr ill : S elf-C ons cious n e s s of No ted P e r s ons
“
M or ri s ( Si r L e wi s ) : T o An Unkn own P oet, Songs
”

of T wo Wor l d s , S e c on d S e r ies
N ee l e : L e c tur es on E ngl is h Poetry
Notes an d Q ueri es
P ain te r : H i s tory of E nglis h L i te r atur e
P al gr ave : G old en T r eas ury
P al gr ave : L an ds cap e i n P oe try
”
P al gr ave : Robe rt H erri ck, M ac m ill an s M agaz i n e;
’

V ol XXX V
.

P al grav e : T r eas ury of S ac r ed S on gs

P an coas t : S tan dar d E ngl is h P oe ms
P ark : Wi t s Re c r eation s
’

P atti son : L i fe of M i l ton

P ear s on : B r om e s P l ays
’

P ep ys : D i ary
’

P er cy : R eli ques of A n ci e n t E ngl is h P oe try

P e rr y : H i s tory of th e C hur c h of E n gl an d
Phi l l i p s : T he atr um P oe tar um A n g li can or um
”
P oll ar d : H e rri ck an d H i s Fr i en ds , M ac milla n s
’

M agaz i n e, V ol L XIX
.
31 0 THE C A VAL IE R PO E T S
”
G en tl e man s M agaz ine,
’
S m i th : Si r John Suckl in g,
V ol C C X L II I
.

S oam e : T h e A r t of P oetry
S oth e rn : V augh an s Ol or I s can us R e tr os pec tive R e
’
,

vi ew , V ol II I
.

South e y : L i ves of Un e ducate d P oe ts

S p e n c e s A n ecdo te s , ed Si n ge r
’
.

S tockd al e : L i fe of Wal l er
S uckl i n g ( S i r J oh n ) : S e s s i ons of the P oe ts
S wi n bur n e : S tudi es i n P r os e an d P oe try
T abl e y : P oe ms , D r amati c an d L y ri c
T ain e : H is tory o f E n gli s h L i te ratur e
T h omp s on : T h e L i te r a tur e of S ocie ty
T h om p s on : T he Wi ts a n d B e aux of S oci e ty
T h or e au : F ami li ar L e tte r s e d S an bom
, .

T h or n e : H an d-B ook o f the E n vi r o n s of L on d on

T ov ey : R e vi e w s an d E s s ays i n E ngli s h L i te ratur e
T r ai l l : S oci al E n gl an d
T r en ch : H ous e hold B ook of E nglis h P oetry
T ull ock : R ation al T h e ol ogy an d C hri s ti an P hi los op hy i n
E n gl an d i n th e S e ve n te e n th C en tury
V augh an : Pr e face, S i l e x S c i en til l an s
Waite : Ri ch ar d L ov el ace,
”
G e n tle ma n s M agaz i n e,
’

V ol C C L V I I
.

Wal p ol e : C atal ogue of the Royal a n d Nobl e A uthors

of E n g lan d, S c otl an d, an d I r el an d
W al p ol e : L e tte r s, e d C un ni n gh am
.

Walton : L i ve s
War d : E n gl is h P oets
War d : H i s tory of E nglis h D rama tic L i te r ature
-

Warn e r : L i br ary of th e Worl d s B es t L i te ratur e

’

Wel ch : I n an An ci en t C op y o f H erri ck s H es p e r ides

’

C e n tury M agaz i n e , V ol L I .

We s t : T he L aure ate s of E n gl an d
Wh i pp l e : A uthor s i n T h e i r R el ati on to L ife
Whi pp l e : E s s ays an d R e vie w s
Whi pp l e : L i te r atur e an d L ife
 B I BL I OGRAPHY 11

Whi pp l e : L i teratur e of the Age of E liz a beth

Wh i tti er : Old P or trai ts an d M ode r n S ke tc he s
Wi l l mott : T he Wor ks of G e orge H e r ber t
Win s tan l ey : L ive s of the M os t F amous E ngli s h P oets
Wood : A th en ae a n ie n s e s
Word s w orth : P r eface L yr ical B allads
,
31 4 T HE CA VAL IE R PO E T S

D A vE N A NT , SIR WI LL I A M .

S on g
S on g
P r ai s e an d Pr ay er 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

H A B I N G T ON, WI LL I A M .

H i s M i str es s F l oute d
T o Ros es
.

A gai n s t T h em
D es cr i p ti on o f C as tar a
Nox Noc ti
HER B ERT , G E O R GE .

Fr ai l ty
E mp l oymen t
T h e P ull e y
T h e Q ui p
HERR I C K RO B E RT
, .

T O th e V i r gi n s
.

C or i n n a s G oin g M ayi n g
’
a-
T o D i am en e
A Hymn t o L ov e
"

C h e rr y Ri p e
T o E l e ctr a
Up on Jul i a s C l oth in g
’

N i gh t P i ece to Juli a
T o An th e a
T h e Rock of Rubi es
T o Pr i m r os e s
T o D aff odils
Up on th e L os s o f H i s M i s tr es s e s
H i s G r an ge
A T h anks gi vi n g to G od
Up on a M ai d
A n Ode f or B en J on s on
H i s Pr ay e r to B en J on s
H i s Pr ay e r f or Abs ol uti on
 A UT HO R S A ND SE L E C T I ON S 31 5
HE RR I C K , RO B E R P —
C on ti n ue d .
T o L aur el s
T o D e ath
H is P oetr y H i s P i ll ar
T o Robi n Re d-B r eas t
L O V EL A C E, RI C HARD .

T o Al th e a
T o L ucas ta
T o L ucas ta
T he Scr uti n y
S on g
M A R V E LL, A N DRE W
'

T he F ai r Si n ge r z

T h e M ow er s S on g
’

T o H i s C oy M i s tr e s s
Th e G ar den
Q UA RLE S F R A N CIS
, .

M y B e l ov e d I s M i n e
S w eet P h os ph or
O Whith er S h al l I F ly
SA C K VI LLE C HA RLES
, .

S on g
On a L ady
Son g
SEDLE Y, SI R C HA R L ES .

T o C el i a
Son g
Ph yl li s Kn otti n g
P h ylli s I s M y On ly Joy
S H ER B U R N E , SI R E D W A RD .

We ep i n g an d K i s s i n g
T h e V OW
S T A N LE Y, T HO M A S .

T h e Rel ap s e
C el i a S i n gi n g
T h e T omb
 31 6 T HE CA VAL I E R PO E T S
P A GE
S U C K L IN G, SI R JOH N .

W hy So P al e
T h e S i e ge
C on s tan cy
S on n e t

S on g
T r uth i n L ov e
A B all ad Up on a We ddi n g
T he L ute S on g
VAU G HA N HE N R Y , .

T o A m or et

P eace
B ey on d th e V ei l
WA LLER E DM U N D
, .

G o L ove l y Ros e
,

Son g

On a G i r dl e

T o P h yllis
T he B ud
On th e L as t V e r s e s
WI L S O N, D R JOH N . .

L ov e wi th E y es an d H e art
L ov e s Id ol atr y
’

T h e E xp ostul ati on
WI T H ER , G E O R G E .

Sh all I Was ti n g i n D es p ai r
A Rocki n g Hymn
31 8 THE CA VAL IE R PO E T S

H ow v ain ly men th e ms e l v e s amaz e

I d ar e n ot as k a ki s s
I f as a fl ow e r d oth s pr e ad an d d i e
I f th e qui ck s p i r i ts i n y ou r ey e
I f to be abs en t w e r e to be .

I h av e l os t an d l ate ly th es e
, ,

I ll gaz e n o mor e on th at be w i tch e d f ace

’ ‘

I n e v e r y e t coul d s ee th at face
I pr i th e e s e n d m e back my h e ar t .

I tel l th e e D i ck Wh e r e I h av e been
, ,

I s aw E te r n i ty th e oth er n i gh t
I wi l l con f e s s
'

Joi n on ce agai n my C el i a j oin , ,

L aid out f or d e ad l et th y l as t ki n dn es s be
,

L ate ly on y on de r s w el l i n g bus h
L i ke th e v i ol e t w h i ch al on e
L o r d i n my s i l en ce h ow d o I d es p i s e
,

L or d th ou h as t gi v en m e a c e ll
,

L or d w h en th e s e n s e of th y s w e et gr ace
,

L ov e s ti l l h as s om eth i n g of th e s e a
L ucas ta f r own an d l et me di e
, ,

M ar gar i ta fi r s t p os s e s s e d
M y mi n d w as on ce th e tr ue s urv ey
M y s oul th e r e i s a c oun try
,

No n o fai r h e r e ti c i t n e ed s mus t be
, , ,

Not C e l i a th at I j us te r am
, ,

O f th ee ki n d boy I ask n o r e d an d w h i te
, ,

On ly a l i ttl e m or e
0 th ou un d aun te d d augh te r of d es i r es
0 tur n away th os e c r ue l e y es .

Out up on i t I h av e l ov e d ,

O W h i th e r s h all I fly ? Wh at p ath un tr od
P hyll i s f or s h ame ! l e t us i mpr ov e
,

Phyl l i s i s my on ly joy
Phyl l i s w h y s h oul d w e del ay
,

Pr ai s e i s d ev oti on fi t for mi gh ty mi n ds
 IN D E X OF F I RST L I NE S 31 9

Re ad i n th es e r os es th e s ad s tor y
Ros es i n br eath in g f or th t h ei r s cen t
S h al l I w as ti n g i n d e s p ai r
S ome ask d me w h e r e th e r ubi e s gr e w
’

S tay, Ph oebus , stay

S w e et baby, s l e e p ! w h at ai l s my d e ar
S w eet be n ot pr oud of th os e tw o ey e s
S w eet day, s o cool , s o cal m, s o b r i gh t
T e l l me, l ov ely, l ov i n g p ai r
T el l m e n ot, s we et, I am unki n d
T h at w h i ch h er s l en de r W ai s t con fi n ed
T h e l ar k n ow l e av e s h i s w at r y n es t
’

T h e me rr y w or l d di d on a day
T h e th i r s ty ear th s oaks up th e r ai n
T h ey are al l gon e i n to th e w or l d o f l i gh t
T h ey meet W i th but un w hol es ome s pr i n gs
T hi s on ly g r an t m e, th at my m e an s m ay l i e
T h ou ar t too h ar d f or me i n l ov e
T hou bi dd s t me c ome aw ay
’

T h ough cl ock
T h ough y ou be abs en t h e r e, I n e eds mus t s ay .

T h ou w h o d i ds t n ev er s ee th e l i ght
T i s n ot y ou r be auty can en gage
’

T i s n ow s i n ce I s e t down be for e
’
.

T o al l you l adi es n ow at l an d
T o m ake a fi n al c on que s t of al l me
We l l th en ; I n ow do p l ai n ly s e
Wh en as i n s i l ks my Jul i a goe
Wh en , cr uel fai r on e, I am s l ai
Wh en G od at fi r s t made m an
Wh en I a v e r s e s h all make
Wh en I beh ol d my mi s tr e s s f ace
’

Wh en I s urv ey th e b r i ght
Wh en L ov e wi th un con fi n ed w i n gs
Wh en on mi n e e ye s h er ey es fi r s t s h on e
Wh en on the al tar of my h an d
320 T HE CAVAL IE R PO E T S
P AG E
Wh en th ou p oor e xc ommun i c ate
, 1 97
Wh en w e for age c oul d n ei th e r r ead n or w r i te 2 08
Wh oe er s h e be
’
2 33
Why dos t th ou s eem to boast v ai n gl or ious on e
, . 21 8
Wh y do y e w ee p s w e et babe s ? C an te ar s
, 1 69
Why s h oul dn t th ou s w e ar I am for s w or n
’
24 6
Wh y s o p al e an d w an fon d l ov e r
, 2 20
Wi ll t n e e r be mor n in g ? Wi l l th at p r omi s d l i ght
’ ’ ’
. 1 82
Wi n ds w hi s p er gen tly wh il s t s h e s l e ep s
, 2 78
Woul d you kn ow W h at s s oft ? I d ar e
’
2 01
Ye bl us h in g v i r gin s h app y are 21 0
Y ou th at th i n k l ov e can con v e y 1 98
You th at w i ll a wo n d e r kn ow .