按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Cromwell。
A FLY CAUGHT IN A COBWEB。
Small type of great ones； that do hum Within this whole world's narrow room； That with a busie hollow noise Catch at the people's vainer voice； And with spread sails play with their breath； Whose very hails new christen death。 Poor Fly； caught in an airy net； Thy wings have fetter'd now thy feet； Where； like a Lyon in a toyl； Howere thou keep'st a noble coyl； And beat'st thy gen'rous breast； that o're The plains thy fatal buzzes rore； Till thy all…bellyd foe （round elf） Hath quarter'd thee within himself。
Was it not better once to play I' th' light of a majestick ray； Where； though too neer and bold； the fire Might sindge thy upper down attire； And thou i' th' storm to loose an eye。 A wing； or a self…trapping thigh： Yet hadst thou fal'n like him； whose coil Made fishes in the sea to broyl； When now th'ast scap'd the noble flame； Trapp'd basely in a slimy frame； And free of air； thou art become Slave to the spawn of mud and lome？
Nor is't enough thy self do's dresse To thy swoln lord a num'rous messe； And by degrees thy thin veins bleed； And piecemeal dost his poyson feed； But now devour'd； art like to be A net spun for thy familie； And； straight expanded in the air； Hang'st for thy issue too a snare。 Strange witty death and cruel ill That； killing thee； thou thine dost kill！ Like pies； in whose entombed ark All fowl crowd downward to a lark； Thou art thine en'mies' sepulcher； And in thee buriest； too； thine heir。
Yet Fates a glory have reserv'd For one so highly hath deserv'd。 As the rhinoceros doth dy Under his castle…enemy； As through the cranes trunk throat doth speed； The aspe doth on his feeder feed； Fall yet triumphant in thy woe； Bound with the entrails of thy foe。
The spider。
A FLY ABOUT A GLASSE OF BURNT CLARET。
I。 Forbear this liquid fire； Fly； It is more fatal then the dry； That singly； but embracing； wounds； And this at once both burns and drowns。
II。 The salamander； that in heat And flames doth cool his monstrous sweat； Whose fan a glowing cake is said； Of this red furnace is afraid。
III。 Viewing the ruby…christal shine； Thou tak'st it for heaven…christalline； Anon thou wilt be taught to groan： 'Tis an ascended Acheron。
IV。 A snow…ball heart in it let fall； And take it out a fire…ball； Ali icy breast in it betray'd Breaks a destructive wild granade。
V。 'Tis this makes Venus altars shine； This kindles frosty Hymen's pine； When the boy grows old in his desires； This flambeau doth new light his fires。
VI。 Though the cold hermit over wail； Whose sighs do freeze； and tears drop hail； Once having pass'd this； will ne'r Another flaming purging fear。
VII。 The vestal drinking this doth burn Now more than in her fun'ral urn； Her fires； that with the sun kept race； Are now extinguish'd by her face。
VIII。 The chymist； that himself doth still； Let him but tast this limbecks bill； And prove this sublimated bowl； He'll swear it will calcine a soul。
IX。 Noble； and brave！ now thou dost know The false prepared decks below； Dost thou the fatal liquor sup； One drop； alas！ thy barque blowes up。
X。 What airy country hast to save； Whose plagues thou'lt bury in thy grave？ For even now thou seem'st to us On this gulphs brink a Curtius。
XI。 And now th' art faln （magnanimous Fly） In； where thine Ocean doth fry； Like the Sun's son； who blush'd the flood To a complexion of blood。
XII。 Yet； see！ my glad auricular Redeems thee （though dissolv'd） a star； Flaggy thy wings； and scorch'd thy thighs； Thou ly'st a double sacrifice。
XIII。 And now my warming； cooling breath Shall a new life afford in death； See！ in the hospital of my hand Already cur'd； thou fierce do'st stand。
XIV。 Burnt insect！ dost thou reaspire The moist…hot…glasse and liquid fire？ I see 'tis such a pleasing pain； Thou would'st be scorch'd and drown'd again。
i。e。 distil。
Lovelace was by no means peculiar in the fondness which he has shown in this poem and elsewhere for figures drawn from the language of alchemy。
〃Retire into thy grove of eglantine； Where I will all those ravished sweets distill Through Love's alembic； and with chemic skill From the mix'd mass one sovereign balm derive。〃 Carew's POEMS （1640）； ed。 1772； p。 77。
〃I will try From the warm limbeck of my eye； In such a method to distil Tears on thy marble nature〃 Shirley's POEMS （Works by Dyce； vi。 407）。
〃Nature's Confectioner； the BEE； Whose suckers are moist ALCHYMIE； The still of his refining Mould； Minting the garden into gold。〃 Cleveland's POEMS； ed。 1669； p。 4。
〃Fisher is here with purple wing； Who brings me to the Spring…head； where Crystall is Lymbeckt all the year。〃 Lord Westmoreland's OTIA SACRA； 1648； p。 137；
WEAK。 The word was once not very uncommon in writings。 Bacon； Spenser； &c。 use it； but it is now； I believe； confined to Somersetshire and the bordering counties。
〃LUKE。 A south wind Shall sooner soften marble； and the rain； That slides down gently from his flaggy wings； O'erflow the Alps。〃 Massinger's CITY MADAM； 1658。
FEMALE GLORY。
Mongst the worlds wonders； there doth yet remain One greater than the rest； that's all those o're again； And her own self beside： A Lady； whose soft breast Is with vast honours soul and virtues life possest。 Fair as original light first from the chaos shot； When day in virgin…beams triumph'd； and night was not； And as that breath infus'd in the new…breather good； When ill unknown was dumb； and bad not understood； Chearful； as that aspect at this world's finishing； When cherubims clapp'd wings； and th' sons of Heaven did sing； Chast as th' Arabian bird； who all the ayr denyes； And ev'n in flames expires； when with her selfe she lyes。 Oh！ she's as kind as drops of new faln April showers； That on each gentle breast spring fresh perfuming flowers； She's constant； gen'rous； fixt； she's calm； she is the all We can of vertue； honour； faith； or glory call； And she is （whom I thus transmit to endless fame） Mistresse oth' world and me； and LAURA is her name。
The Phoenix。
A DIALOGUE。 LUTE AND VOICE。
L。 Sing； Laura； sing； whilst silent are the sphears； And all the eyes of Heaven are turn'd to ears。
V。 Touch thy dead wood； and make each living tree Unchain its feet； take arms； and follow thee。
CHORUS。 L。 Sing。 V。 Touch。 0 Touch。 L。 0 Sing。 BOTH。 It is the souls； souls sole offering。
V。 Touch the divinity of thy chords； and make Each heart string tremble； and each sinew shake。
L。 Whilst with your voyce you rarifie the air； None but an host of angels hover here。
CHORUS。 SING； TOUCH； &c。