LOVE IS BLIND, AND A WANTON. LOVE is blind, and a wanton; In the whole world, there is scant one No, not his mother. He hath plucked her doves and sparrows, While sick Venus waileth. But if Cypris once recover Or she will undo him. WAK ADDE MERUM! AKE, our mirth begins to die, Raise your notes; you're out: fy, fy ! We banish him the quire of gods, That droops again : Then all are men, For here's not one but nods. I. THE BANQUET OF SENSE. HEN, in a free and lofty strain THEN Our broken tunes we thus repair ; 2. And we answer them again, Running division on the panting air; Ambo. To celebrate this feast of sense, 1. 2. 2. As free from scandal as offence. Here is beauty for the eye; For the ear sweet melody; I. Ambrosiac odours for the smell; Delicious nectar for the taste; Ambo. For the touch a lady's waist, Which doth all the rest excel. From BEN JONSON'S Volpone, or O FORTUNATI! FOOLS, they are the only nation Worth men's envy or admiration ; Your fool he is your great man's dearling, 1 Tongue and bable 1 are his treasure. Ev'n his face begetteth laughter, And he speaks truth free from slaughter; He's the grace of every feast, And sometimes the chiefest guest; Hath his trencher and his stool, When wit waits upon the fool. O, who would not be He, he, he? 1 Old form of " bawble." F VIVAMUS, MEA LESBIA. COME, my Celia, let us prove, While we can, the sports of love, Time will not be ours for ever, He, at length, our good will sever ; Spend not then his gifts in vain : Suns that set may rise again; But if once we lose this light, 'Tis with us perpetual night. Why should we defer our joys? Fame and rumour are but toys. Cannot we delude the eyes Of a few poor household spies? Or his easier ears beguile, Thus removed by our wile? 'Tis no sin love's fruits to steal, But the sweet thefts to reveal; To be taken, to be seen, These have crimes accounted been. UP From BEN JONSON'S The Description of the Masque, with the Nuptial Songs, celebrating the happy marriage of John, Lord Ramsay, with the Lady Elizabeth Radcliffe, 1608. EPITHALAMION. ! youths and virgins! up, and praise The God whose nights outshine his days! Could never boast of brighter lights; Whose bands pass liberty. Two of your troop, that with the morn were free, And what they are, If you'll perfection see, Yourselves must be. Shine, Hesperus! shine forth, thou wished star! What joy or honours can compare Of years, of states, of hands, of hearts; The spouse and spoused have the foremost voice! Live what they are And long perfection see : And such ours be. Shine, Hesperus ! shine forth, thou wished star! The solemn state of this one night But there are rites behind Have less of state and more of kind : Love's wealthy crop of kisses, And fruitful harvest of his mother's blisses. That what these are, Who will perfection see May haste to be. Shine, Hesperus! shine forth, thou wished star! Love's Commonwealth consists of toys; Games, Laughter, Sports, Delights, For now their reign begins, and lasts till day. Make all, that married be, Shine, Hesperus ! shine forth, thou wished star! Why stays the bridegroom to invade Good-night! whilst yet we may Good-night to you a virgin say. To-morrow rise the same |