ON THE DEATH OF AN INFANT. Oh no! for something in thy face did shine Above mortality, that show'd thou waft divine. VI. Refolve me then, oh Soul most furely bleft, 73 35 40 Oh fay me true, if thou wert mortal wight, And why from us so quickly thou didft take thy flight. VII. Wert thou fome ftar which from the ruin'd roof Of theeny Heav'n, and thou fome Goddess fled VIII.. 45 Or wert thou that just Maid who once before 50 Or wert thou that sweet smiling Youth? Or that crown'd matron fage white-robed Truth? 55 Let down in cloudy throne to do the world fome good? IX. Or wert thou of the golden-winged hoft, To fcorn the fordid world, and unto Heav'n afpire? X. But oh why didst thou not stay here below To bless us with thy heav'n-lov'd innocence, To flake his wrath whom fin hath made our foe, To ftand 'twixt us and our deferved fmart? 60 65 But thou canst heft perform that office where thou art, XI. Then thou the Mother of fo fweet a Child Her falfe imagin'd lofs cease to lament, 75 That till the world's laft end fhall make thy name to live. II. Anno II. Anno Ætatis 19. At a Vacation Exercise in the college, part Latin, part English. The Latin speeches ended, the English thus began *. H AIL native Language, that by finews weak Didst move my first endevoring tongue to speak, And mad'st imperfect words with childish trips, Half unpronounc'd, flide through my infant-lips, Driving dumb filence from the portal door, Where he had mutely fat two years before : Here I falute thee, and thy pardon afk, That now I use thee in my latter task : Small lofs it is that thence can come unto thee, I know my tongue but little grace can do thee: Thou need'ft not be ambitious to be first, Believe me I have thither packt the worst : And, if it happen as I did forecast, The daintieft dishes fhall be ferv'd up laft. I pray thee then deny me not thy aid For this fame small neglect that I have made: 5 15 20 * These verses were made in 1627, that being the 19th year of the author's age; and they were not in the edition of 1645, but were first added in the edition of 1673. But But cull those richest robes, and gay'st attire 25 30 Such as may make thee fearch thy coffers round, Above the wheeling poles, and at. Heav'n's door 35 How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, Listening to what unshorn Apollo fings To th' touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings Then paffing through the spheres of watchful fire, 40 May tell at length how green-ey'd Neptune raves, 45 50 Are Are held with his melodious harmony In willing chains and sweet captivity. But fie, my wandering Muse, how thou doft stray! Thou know'ft it must be now thy only bent 55 Then Ens is represented as father of the Predicaments his ten fons, whereof the eldest stood for Substance with his canons, which Ens, thus fpeaking, explains. GOOD luck befriend thee, Son; for at thy birth Thy drousy nurse hath sworn she did them spie She heard them give thee this, that thou shouldst still Yet there is something that doth force my fear, 60 70 O'er |