Birds that are long in cages aw'd,

If they get out, a while will roam ; But straight want skill to live abroad, Then pine, and hover near their home.

And to the ocean rivers run,

From being pent in banks of flowers; Not knowing that th' exhaling sun

Will send them back in weeping showers.

Soon thus, for pride of liberty,
I low desires of bondage found;
And vanity of being free

Bred the discretion to be bound.

But as dull subjects see too late
Their safety in monarchal reign,
Finding their freedom in a state

Is but proud strutting in a chain;

Then, growing wiser when undone,

In winter's nights sad stories sing In praise of monarchs long since gone, To whom their bells they yearly ring:

So now I mourn'd that she was dead
Whose single power did govern me ;

And quickly was by reason led
To find the harm of liberty.

My soul, in sleep's soft fetters bound,
Did now for vital freedom strive ;
And straight, by horror wak'd, I found
The fair Clorinda still alive.

Yet she's to me but such a light
As are the stars to those who know
We can at most but guess their height,
And hope they mind us here below.

The Mistress.

WHEN Nature heard men thought her old, Her skill in beauteous forms decay'd, Her eyes grown dim, and fingers cold; Then to her poet thus she said:

"Catch, as it falls, the Scythian snow, "Bring blushing roses steep'd in milk, "From early meadows scent and show, And from the Persian worm her silk.

"Fetch from the east the morning's breath,
"And from the Phoenix gums and spice,
"Such as she culls, when at her death
"The world does smell her sacrifice."

Nature of these a mistress made;

But would have form'd a lover too; And such as might this nymph persuade To all that love for love should do.

This second work she well began
With leisure, and by slow degrees;

But found it hard to make a man

That could so choice a beauty please.

She-wrought, and wrought, and then gave o'er;

Then did another model try;

But, less contented than before,
She laid the work for ever by

I ask'd the cause; and straight she said, " "Tis very possible, I find,

"To match the body which I made;

"But I can never fit her mind.

"For that still various seems and strange;

"And since all lovers various be,

"And apt as mistresses to change,

"I cannot make my

work agree.

"Now sexes meet not by design,

"When they the world's chief work advance, "But in the dark they sometimes join,

"As wandering atoms meet by chance."

EDMOND WALLER

Was born in 1605, and died in 1687.

SONG.

CHLORIS, farewell! I now must go :
For, if with thee I longer stay,
Thy eyes prevail upon me so,

I shall prove blind and lose my way.

Fame of thy beauty, and thy youth, Among the rest me hither brought: Finding this fame fall short of truth

Made me stay longer than I thought.

For I'm engag'd by word and oath
A servant to another's will:
Yet for thy love I'd forfeit both,
Could I be sure to keep it still.

But what assurance can I take,
When thou, fore-knowing this abuse,
For some more worthy lover's sake,

May'st leave me with so just excuse?