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in his UNDERWOODS。
Original reads FOR。
〃Which ensuing times shall warble; When 'tis lost; that's writ in marble。〃 Wither's FAIR VIRTUE; THE MISTRESS OF PHILARETE; 1622。
Headley (SELECT BEAUTIES; ed。 1810; ii。 p。 42) has remarked the similarity between these lines and some in Collins' DIRGE IN CYMBELINE:
〃Belov'd till life can charm no more; And MOURN'D TILL PITY'S SELF BE DEAD。〃
TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MR。 PETER LILLY: ON THAT EXCELLENT PICTURE OF HIS MAJESTY AND THE DUKE OF YORKE; DRAWNE BY HIM AT HAMPTON…COURT。
See! what a clouded majesty; and eyes Whose glory through their mist doth brighter rise! See! what an humble bravery doth shine; And griefe triumphant breaking through each line; How it commands the face! so sweet a scorne Never did HAPPY MISERY adorne! So sacred a contempt; that others show To this; (oth' height of all the wheele) below; That mightiest monarchs by this shaded booke May coppy out their proudest; richest looke。
Whilst the true eaglet this quick luster spies; And by his SUN'S enlightens his owne eyes; He cures his cares; his burthen feeles; then streight Joyes that so lightly he can beare such weight; Whilst either eithers passion doth borrow; And both doe grieve the same victorious sorrow。
These; my best LILLY; with so bold a spirit And soft a grace; as if thou didst inherit For that time all their greatnesse; and didst draw With those brave eyes your royal sitters saw。
Not as of old; when a rough hand did speake A strong aspect; and a faire face; a weake; When only a black beard cried villaine; and By hieroglyphicks we could understand; When chrystall typified in a white spot; And the bright ruby was but one red blot; Thou dost the things Orientally the same Not only paintst its colour; but its flame: Thou sorrow canst designe without a teare; And with the man his very hope or feare; So that th' amazed world shall henceforth finde None but my LILLY ever drew a MINDE。
Mr。; afterwards Sir Peter; Lely。 He was frequently called Lilly; or Lilley; by his contemporaries; and Lilley is Pepys' spelling。 〃At Lord Northumberland's; at Sion; is a remarkable picture of King Charles I; holding a letter directed 'au roi monseigneur;' and the Duke of York; aet。 14; presenting a penknife to him to cut the strings。 It was drawn at Hampton Court; when the King was last there; by Mr。 Lely; who was earnestly recommended to him。 I should have taken it for the hand of Fuller or Dobson。 It is certainly very unlike Sir Peter's latter manner; and is stronger than his former。 The King has none of the melancholy grace which Vandyck alone; of all his painters; always gave him。 It has a sterner countenance; and expressive of the tempests he had experienced。〃Walpole's ANECDOTES OF PAINTING IN ENGLAND; ed。 1862; p。 443…4。
Original reads CARES。
THE LADY A。 L。 MY ASYLUM IN A GREAT EXTREMITY。
With that delight the Royal captiv's brought Before the throne; to breath his farewell thought; To tel his last tale; and so end with it; Which gladly he esteemes a benefit; When the brave victor; at his great soule dumbe; Findes something there fate cannot overcome; Cals the chain'd prince; and by his glory led; First reaches him his crowne; and then his head; Who ne're 'til now thinks himself slave and poor; For though nought else; he had himselfe before。 He weepes at this faire chance; nor wil allow; But that the diadem doth brand his brow; And under…rates himselfe below mankinde; Who first had lost his body; now his minde;
With such a joy came I to heare my dombe; And haste the preparation of my tombe; When; like good angels who have heav'nly charge To steere and guide mans sudden giddy barge; She snatcht me from the rock I was upon; And landed me at life's pavillion: Where I; thus wound out of th' immense abysse; Was straight set on a pinacle of blisse。
Let me leape in againe! and by that fall Bring me to my first woe; so cancel all: Ah! 's this a quitting of the debt you owe; To crush her and her goodnesse at one blowe? Defend me from so foule impiety; Would make friends grieve; and furies weep to see。
Now; ye sage spirits; which infuse in men That are oblidg'd twice to oblige agen; Informe my tongue in labour what to say; And in what coyne or language to repay。 But you are silent as the ev'nings ayre; When windes unto their hollow grots repaire。 Oh; then accept the all that left me is; Devout oblations of a sacred wish!
When she walks forth; ye perfum'd wings oth' East; Fan her; 'til with the Sun she hastes to th' West; And when her heav'nly course calles up the day; And breakes as bright; descend; some glistering ray; To circle her; and her as glistering haire; That all may say a living saint shines there。 Slow Time; with woollen feet make thy soft pace; And leave no tracks ith' snow of her pure face; But when this vertue must needs fall; to rise The brightest constellation in the skies; When we in characters of fire shall reade; How cleere she was alive; how spotless; dead。 All you that are a kinne to piety: For onely you can her close mourners be; Draw neer; and make of hallowed teares a dearth: Goodnes and justice both are fled the earth。
If this be to be thankful; I'v a heart Broaken with vowes; eaten with grateful smart; And beside this; the vild world nothing hath Worth anything but her provoked wrath; So then; who thinkes to satisfie in time; Must give a satisfaction for that crime: Since she alone knowes the gifts value; she Can onely to her selfe requitall be; And worthyly to th' life paynt her owne story In its true colours and full native glory; Which when perhaps she shal be heard to tell; Buffoones and theeves; ceasing to do ill; Shal blush into a virgin…innocence; And then woo others from the same offence; The robber and the murderer; in 'spite Of his red spots; shal startle into white: All good (rewards layd by) shal stil increase For love of her; and villany decease; Naught be ignote; not so much out of feare Of being punisht; as offending her。
So that; when as my future daring bayes Shall bow it selfe in lawrels to her praise; To crown her conqu'ring goodnes; and proclaime The due renowne and glories of her name: My wit shal be so wretched and so poore That; 'stead of praysing; I shal scandal her; And leave; when with my purest art I'v done; Scarce the designe of what she is begunne: Yet men shal send me home; admir'd; exact; Proud; that I could from her so wel detract。
Where; then; thou bold instinct; shal I begin My endlesse taske? To thanke her were a sin Great as not speake; and not to speake; a blame Beyond what's worst; such as doth want a name; So thou my all; poore gratitude; ev'n thou In this wilt an unthankful office do: Or wilt I fling all at her feet I have: My life; my love; my very soule; a slave? Tye my free spirit onely unto her; And yeeld up my affection prisoner? Fond thought; in this thou teachest me to give What first was hers; since by her breath I live; And hast but show'd me; how I may resigne Possession of those thing are none of mine。
i。e。 A