Prison-Pietie or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London |
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On a Rose-tree. |
 | Prison-Pietie |  |
On a Rose-tree.
'Twas in September I observ'd a TreeThat then bore Roses; stranger 'twas to me.
Others of like kind round about it grew,
Yet all were barren, and those not a few.
The Gardner kindly did the reason give:
In May 'twas closely clipt, that it might thrive,
And bud in Autumn. Lord, had I been kept
Curb'd in my tender years, whenas I slept
Secure from punishment, my life had been
Grey in its Youth, and when grown aged, Green.
He that intends to win the happy Race,
Must learn in tender years to grow in Grace.
| Prison-Pietie | |