Should in a pet of temperance feed on pulse, Drink the clear stream, and nothing wear but frieze, The All-giver would be unthanked, would be unpraised, Not half his riches known, and yet despised; And we should serve him as a grudging master, As a penurious niggard of his wealth, And live like Nature's bastards, not her sons, Who would be quite surcharged with her own weight, [plumes,1 The earth cumbered, and the winged air darked with The herds would over-multitude their lords, The sea o'erfraught would swell, and the unsought diamonds Would so emblaze the forehead of the deep, And so bestud with stars, that they below Would grow 1 The image is taken from what the ancients said of the air of the northern islands, that it was clogged and darkened with feathers. 2 Spenser, F. Q. ii. 12, 75: "Gather therefore the rose, whilst yet is prime, Whilst loving thou mayst loved be with equal crime." 3 So in the Two Gentlemen of Verona: "IIome-keeping youths have ever homely wits." -Newton. There was another meaning in these gifts; Think what, and be advised: you are but young yet. LADY. I had not thought to have unlocked my lips1 And she no whit encumbered with her store; Crams, and blasphemes his Feeder. Shall I go on? Fain would I something say, yet to what end? The sublime notion, and high mystery, That must be uttered to unfold the sage And serious doctrine of virginity; And thou art worthy that thou shouldst not know More happiness than this thy present lot. Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught her dazzling fence, Thou art not fit to hear thyself convinced; 1 The six following lines are spoken aside.-Sympson. 2 Decked, dressed. 3 Sift, or dart, aim. See Newton. |