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EDMUND SPENSER.

THE HOUSE OF RICHES.

THAT house's form within was rude and

strong,

Like an huge cave hewn out of rocky clift, From whose rough vault the ragged breaches hung

Embossed with massy gold of glorious gift,

And with rich metal loaded every rift, That heavy ruin they did seem to threat; And over them Arachne high did lift Her cunning web, and spread her subtle net,

Enwrapped in foul smoke and clouds more black than jet.

Both roof, and floor, and walls, were all of gold,

But overgrown with dust and old decay,

And hid in darkness, that none could behold

The hue thereof: for view of cheerful day

Did never in that house itself display, But a faint shadow of uncertain light; Such as a lamp whose life does fade away; Or as the Moon, clothed with cloudy night,

Does show to him that walks in fear and sad affright.

In all that room was nothing to be seen But huge great iron chests, and coffers

strong,

All barred with double bends, that none could ween

Them to enforce by violence or wrong; On every side they placed were along. But all the ground with sculls was scatteréd

And dead men's bones, which round about were flung;

Whose lives, it seeméd, whilome there were shed,

And their vile carcasses now left unburiéd.

THE BOWER OF BLISS.

THERE the most dainty paradise on ground
Itself doth offer to his sober eye,
In which all pleasures plenteously
abound,

And none does others' happiness envy ;

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ROBERT SOUTHWELL.

[1560-1595.]

CONTENT AND RICH.

I DWELL in grace's courts,
Enriched with virtue's rights;

Faith guides my wit, love leads my will,
Hope all my mind delights.

In lowly vales I mount

To pleasure's highest pitch,
My simple dress sure honor brings,
My poor estate is rich.

My conscience is my crown,
Contented thoughts my rest;
My heart is happy in itself;
My bliss is in my breast.

Enough, I reckon wealth;
A mean, the surest lot,

That lies too high for base contempt,
Too low for envy's shot.

My wishes are but few,
All easy to fulfil;

I make the limits of my power
The bounds unto my will.

I have no hopes but one,
Which is of heavenly reign :
Effects attained, or not desired,
All lower hopes refrain.

I feel no care of coin,
Well-doing is my wealth:
My mind to me an empire is,
While grace affordeth health.

I clip high-climbing thoughts,
The wings of swelling pride:

Their fate is worst, that from the height
Of greater honor slide.

Silk sails of largest size

The storm doth soonest tear : I bear so low and small a sail As freeth me from fear.

I wrestle not with rage
While fury's flame doth burn;
It is in vain to stop the stream
Until the tide doth turn.

But when the flame is out, And ebbing wrath doth end,

I turn a late-enragéd foe
Into a quiet friend;

And, taught with often proof,
A tempered calm I find
To be most solace to itself,
Best cure for angry mind.

Spare diet is my fare,

My clothes more fit than fine; I know I feed and clothe a foe That, pampered, would repine.

I envy not their hap

Whom favor doth advance:
I take no pleasure in their pain
That have less happy chance.

To rise by others' fall

I deem a losing gain: All states with others' ruins built To ruins run amain.

No change of fortune's calms

Can cast my comforts down:

When fortune smiles, I smile to think How quickly she will frown;

And when, in froward mood,
She proved an angry foe,
Small gain I found to let her come,
Less loss to let her go.

ALEXANDER HUME.

[About 1599.]

A SUMMER'S DAY.

THE time so tranquil is and clear,
That nowhere shall ye find,
Save on a high and barren hill,
An air of passing wind.

All trees and simples, great and small,
That balmy leaf do bear,
Than they were painted on a wall,
No more they move or stir.

The ships becalmed upon the seas,
Hang up their sails to dry;
The herds, beneath the leafy trees,
Among the flowers they lie.

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