The Whole Works of William Browne :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Whole Works of William Browne

of Tavistock ... Now first collected and edited, with a memoir of the poet, and notes, by W. Carew Hazlitt, of the Inner Temple

Browne, William (1590- ca. 1645)

1, 2.

THE FIRST VOLUME, THE SECOND VOLUME.

Britannia's PASTORALS.

The first Booke.

TO THE NO LESSE ENOBLED BY VERTVE, THEN ANCIENT In Nobilitie, the Right Honorable Edvvard Lord Zouch, Saint-Maure, and Cantelupe, and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Privie Covncell.

To the Reader.

[Commendatory Verses.]

THE INNER TEMPLE MASQUE.

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS

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Riot, long doubting stood which way were best
To leade his steps: at last preferring rest

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(As foolishly he thought) before the paine
Was to be past ere he could well attaine
The high-built Palace; gan aduenture on
That path, which led to all confusion,
When sodainly a voice as sweet as cleere,
With words diuine began entice his eare:
Whereat as in a rapture, on the ground
He prostrate lay, and all his senses found
A time of rest; onely that facultie
Which neuer can be seene, nor euer dye,
That in the essence of an endlesse Nature
Doth sympathize with the All-good Creator,
That onely wak'd which cannot be interr'd
And from a heauenly Quire this ditty heard.

Vaine man, doe not mistrust
Of heauen winning;
Nor (though the most vniust)
Despaire for sinning
God will be seene his sentence changing.
If he behold thee wicked wayes estranging.

Climbe vp where pleasures dwell
In flowry Allies:
And taste the liuing Well
That decks the Vallies.
Faire Metanoia is attending
To crowne thee with those ioyes which know no ending.