Such as neither of themselves can sing,
Nor yet are sung of others for reward,
Die in obscure oblivion, as the thing
Which never was; ne ever with regard
Their names shall of the later age be heard,
But shall in rustic darknes ever lie,
Unless they mentioned be with infamie.

What booteth it to have been rich alive?
What to be great? What to be gracious?
When after death no token doth survive
Of former being in this mortall hous,
But sleepes in dust, dead and inglorious,
Like beast, whose breath but in his nostrels is,
And hath no hope of happinesse or blis.

How many great ones may remembred be,
Which in their daies most famouslie did florish;
Of whome no word we heare, nor signe now see,
But as things wipt out with a sponge do perishe,
Because they living cared not to cherishe,
No gentle wits, through pride or covetize,
Which might their names for ever memorize!

Provide therefore (ye Princes) whilst ye live,
That of the Muses ye may friended bee,
Which unto men eternitie do give ;

For they be daughters of Dame Memorie,
And Jove, the father of Eternitie,

And do those men in golden thrones repose,
Whose merits they to glorifie do chose.

The seven fold yron gates of grislie Hell,
And horrid house of sad Proserpina,

They able are with power of mightie spell

To breake, and thence the soules to bring awaie
Out of dread darkenesse to eternall day,

And them immortall make which els would die
In foule forgetfulnesse, and nameles lie.

*

For deedes doe die, how ever noblie donne,
And thoughts of men do as themselves decay:
But wise wordes taught in numbers for to runne,
Recorded by the Muses, live for ay;

Ne may with storming showers be washt away,
Ne bitter-breathing windes with harmfull blast,
Nor age, nor envie, shall them ever wast.

In vaine do earthly Princes then, in vaine,
Seeke with Pyramides, to heaven aspired;
Or huge Colosses, built with costlie paine;
Or brazen Pillours, never to be fired;

Or Shrines, made of the mettall most desired;
To make their memories for ever live:

For how can mortall immortalitie give?

Such one Mausolus made, the worlds great wonder,
But now no remnant doth thereof remaine :
Such one Marcellus, but was torne with thunder:
Such one Lisippus, but is worne with raine :
Such one King Edmond, but was rent for gaine :
All such vain moniments of earthlie masse
Devour'd of Time, in time to nought doo passe.

But Fame with golden wings aloft doth flie,
Above the reach of ruinous decay,

And with brave plumes doth beate the azure skie,
Admir'd of base-borne men from farre away :
Then who so will with vertuous deeds assay
To mount to Heaven, on Pegasus must ride,
And with sweete Poets verse be glorifide.

SPENSER.

POVERTY in wedlock is a great decayer of love and contentation; and riches can find many ways to divert an inconvenience; but the mind of man is all. Some can be servile, and fall to those labours which another cannot stoop to. Above all, let the generous mind beware of marrying poor; for though he cares the least for wealth, yet he will be most galled with the want of it.

FELTHAM.

THERE the humble virtues love to rest Secure, and shelter'd in the peasant's nest; Like the sweet tenants of the hive, they dwell, Gentle companions of the poor man's cell. Bless'd memory tells, how warm his bosom glow'd For ills prevented, or for good bestow'd, While the small mite, in love, in pity given, Touch'd by his hand, became a gem in Heaven.

REV. JOHN MITFORD.

Ar twenty years of age the will reigns, at thirty the wit, and at forty the judgment.

FROM the body of one guilty deed,

A thousand ghostly fears, and haunting thoughts, proceed!

WORDSWORTH.

WE talk of a credulous vulgar, without always recollecting that there is a vulgar incredulity, which, in historical matters, as well as in those of religion, finds it easier to doubt than to examine, and endeavours to assume the credit of an esprit fort, by denying whatever happens to be a little beyond the very limited comprehension of the sceptic.

WALTER SCOTT.

HARSH Poverty,

That moth, which frets the sacred robe of wit,
Thousands of noble spirits blunts, that else
Had spun rich threads of fancy from their brain :
But they are souls too much sublim'd to live.

BARCKLEY.

VIRTUE, like a fragrant flower, imparts her charms to all who approach her.

THE silver shower, whose reckless burthen weighs Too heavily upon the lily's head,

Oft leaves a saving moisture at its root.

WORDSWORTH.

'Tis much safer to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him. Victory deprives him of his Power, but reconciliation of his Will: and there is less danger in a Will which will not hurt, than in a Power which cannot. The power is not so apt to tempt the Will, as the Will is studious to find out means.

FELTHAM.

THAT Friendship, which from wither'd Love does

shoot,

Like the faint herbage on a rock, wants root;

Love is a tender amity, refin'd:

Grafted on friendship, it exalts the kind.

But when the graft no longer does remain,
The dull stock lives, but never bears again.

DRYDEN.

THERE are three modes of bearing the ills of life; by Indifference, which is the most common; by Philosophy, which is the most ostentatious; and by Religion, which is the most effectual.

COLTON.