 | The Works of Michael Drayton |  |
489
[ODES NOT REPRINTED IN 1619 From Poemes Lyrick and pastorall (1606).]
TO MY WORTHY FREND; MASTER JOHN SAVAGE OF THE INNER TEMPLE. Ode 4
Uppon this sinfull earth
If man can happy be
And higher then his birth
(Frend) take him thus of me:
If man can happy be
And higher then his birth
(Frend) take him thus of me:
Whome promise not deceives
That he the breach should rue,
Nor constant reason leaves
Opinion to pursue.
That he the breach should rue,
Nor constant reason leaves
Opinion to pursue.
To rayse his meane estate
That sooths no wanton's sinne,
Doth that preferment hate
That virtue doth not winne.
That sooths no wanton's sinne,
Doth that preferment hate
That virtue doth not winne.
Nor bravery doth admire
Nor doth more love professe,
To that he doth desire,
Then that he doth possesse:
Nor doth more love professe,
To that he doth desire,
Then that he doth possesse:
Loose humor nor to please
That neither spares nor spends
By by discretion weyes
What is to needfull ends.
That neither spares nor spends
By by discretion weyes
What is to needfull ends.
To him deserving not
Not yeelding, nor doth hould
What is not his, doing what
He ought, not what he could.
Not yeelding, nor doth hould
What is not his, doing what
He ought, not what he could.
490
Whome the base tyrants will
Soe much could never awe
As him for good or ill
From honesty to drawe.
Soe much could never awe
As him for good or ill
From honesty to drawe.
Whose constancy doth rise
Bove undeserved spight
Whose valew'rs to despise
That most doth him delight.
Bove undeserved spight
Whose valew'rs to despise
That most doth him delight.
That earely leave doth take
Of th'world though to his payne
For virtues onely sake,
And not till need constrayne.
Of th'world though to his payne
For virtues onely sake,
And not till need constrayne.
Noe man can be so free
Though in imperiall seate
Nor Eminent as he
That deemeth nothing greate.
Though in imperiall seate
Nor Eminent as he
That deemeth nothing greate.
491
Ode 8.
Singe wee the Rose
Then which no flower there growes
Is sweeter:
And aptly her compare
With what in that is rare
A parallel none meeter.
Then which no flower there growes
Is sweeter:
And aptly her compare
With what in that is rare
A parallel none meeter.
Or made poses,
Of this that incloses
Suche blisses,
That naturally flusheth
As she blusheth
When she is robd of kisses.
Of this that incloses
Suche blisses,
That naturally flusheth
As she blusheth
When she is robd of kisses.
Or if strew'd
When with the morning dew'd
Or stilling,
Or howe to sense expos'd
All which in her inclos'd,
Ech place with sweetnes filling.
When with the morning dew'd
Or stilling,
Or howe to sense expos'd
All which in her inclos'd,
Ech place with sweetnes filling.
That most renown'd
By Nature ritchly crownd
With yellow,
Of that delitious layre
And as pure, her hayre
Unto the same the fellowe.
By Nature ritchly crownd
With yellow,
Of that delitious layre
And as pure, her hayre
Unto the same the fellowe.
Fearing of harme
Nature that flower doth arme
From danger,
The touch gives her offence
But with reverence
Unto her selfe a stranger.
Nature that flower doth arme
From danger,
The touch gives her offence
But with reverence
Unto her selfe a stranger.
492
That redde, or white,
Or mixt, the sence delyte
Behoulding,
In her complexion
All which perfection
Such harmony in fouldinge
Or mixt, the sence delyte
Behoulding,
In her complexion
All which perfection
Such harmony in fouldinge
That devyded
Ere it was descided
Which most pure,
Began the greevous war
Of York & Lancaster,
That did many yeeres indure.
Ere it was descided
Which most pure,
Began the greevous war
Of York & Lancaster,
That did many yeeres indure.
Conflicts as greate
As were in all that heate
I sustaine:
By her, as many harts
As men on either parts
That with her eies hath slaine.
As were in all that heate
I sustaine:
By her, as many harts
As men on either parts
That with her eies hath slaine.
The Primrose flower
The first of Flora's bower
Is placed,
Soe is shee first as best
Though excellent the rest,
All gracing, by none graced.
The first of Flora's bower
Is placed,
Soe is shee first as best
Though excellent the rest,
All gracing, by none graced.
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