PORTRAITS. -PERSONAL.-PICTURES. NEBUCHADNEZZAR. But this thy countenance, still locked in steel, I never saw till now. Let an old man embrace thee: And, worthy warrior, welcome to our tents. Cominius. SHAKSPEARE. CORIOLANUS. I shall lack voice; the deeds of Coriolanus Should not be uttered feebly. It is held, That valor is the chiefest virtue, and Most dignifies the haver: if it be, The man I speak of cannot in the world Be singly counterpoised. At sixteen years, When Tarquin made a head for Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight When with his Amazonian chin he drove The bristled lips before him: he bestrid An o'erpressed Roman, and in the consul's view Slew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met, And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats, When he might act the woman in the scene, He proved best man of the field, and for his meed Was brow-bound with the oak. His pupil age ON LUCY, COUNTESS OF BEDFORD. THIS morning, timely rapt with holy fire, I thought to form unto my zealous Muse What kind of creature I could most desire To honor, serve, and love, as poets use. I meant to make her fair, and free, and wise, Of greatest blood, and yet more good than great; I meant the Day-Star should not brighter rise, Nor lend like influence from his lucent seat. I meant she should be courteous, facile, sweet, Hating that solemn vice of great ness, pride; I meant each softest virtue there should meet Fit in that softer bosom to reside. The rock, the spindle, and the shears control Of Destiny, and spin her own free hours. Such when I meant to feign, and wished to see, My Muse bade Bedford write, and that was she. BEN JONSON. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. A SWEET, attractive kind of grace, Whose thoughts are legible in the eye. Was ever eye did see that face, Was ever ear did hear that tongue, Was ever mind did mind his grace That ever thought the travel long? But eyes and ears, and every thought, Were with his sweet perfections caught. MATTHEW ROYDEN. |