Ancient Poetical Tracts of the Sixteenth Century: Reprinted from Unique Copies Formerly in the Possession of the Late Thomas Caldecott

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Edward Francis Rimbault
Percy Society, 1842 - English poetry - 82 pages

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Page 49 - Character of a Happy Life HOW happy is he born and taught That serveth not another's will; Whose armour is his honest thought, And simple truth his utmost skill ! Whose passions not his masters are; Whose soul is still prepared for death, Untied unto the world by care Of public fame or private breath; Who envies none that chance doth raise...
Page 51 - Who God doth late and early pray More of his grace than gifts to lend; And entertains the harmless day With a religious book or friend — This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall: Lord of himself, though not of lands, And, having nothing, yet hath all.
Page 57 - This is that sable stone, this is the cave And womb of earth, that doth his corpse embrace; While others sing his praise, let me engrave These bleeding numbers to adorn the place. Here will I paint the characters of woe; Here will I pay my tribute to the dead ; And here my faithful tears in showers shall flow To humanize the flints ou which I tread.
Page 52 - Accept those lines which from Thy goodness flow; And Thou, that wert Thy regal Prophet's muse, Do not Thy praise in weaker strains refuse ! Let these poor notes ascend unto Thy throne, Where majesty doth sit with mercy...
Page 47 - Sweet Benjamin, since thou art young, And hast not yet the use of tongue, Make it thy slave, while thou art free, Imprison it, lest it do thee.
Page 66 - ... thou great Power, in whom I move, For whom I live, to whom I die, Behold me through thy beams of love, Whilst on this couch of tears I lie ; And cleanse my sordid soul within, By thy Christ's blood, the bath of sin. No...
Page 55 - You violets that first appear, By your pure purple mantles known Like the proud virgins of the year, As if the spring were all your own; What are you when the rose is blown?
Page 65 - I wish a cheerful spirit, and a thankful heart to value it, as one of the greatest blessings of our good God, in whose dear love I leave you, remaining, Your poor friend to serve you, H. WOTTON.
Page 43 - O King, quoth she ; With that she made a lowe courtsey ; A trim one as I weene. Thus hand in hand along they walke Unto the king's...
Page 31 - Riots were his best delight, *) With stately feastings day and night ; In court and citty thus he won renowne. Thus wasting land and living By this lawlesse giving, At last he sold the pavements of his yard...

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