lucasta-第21章
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VIII。 Dropping December shall come weeping in； Bewayle th' usurping of his raigne； But when in show'rs of old Greeke we beginne； Shall crie； he hath his crowne againe！
IX。 Night as cleare Hesper shall our tapers whip From the light casements； where we play； And the darke hagge from her black mantle strip； And sticke there everlasting day。
X。 Thus richer then untempted kings are we； That asking nothing； nothing need： Though lord of all what seas imbrace； yet he That wants himselfe； is poore indeed。
Charles Cotton the elder； father of the poet。 He died in 1658。 This poem is extracted in CENSURA LITERARIA； ix。 352； as a favourable specimen of Lovelace's poetical genius。 The text is manifestly corrupt； but I have endeavoured to amend it。 In Elton's SPECIMENS OF CLASSIC POETS； 1814； i。 148； is a translation of Anacreon's Address to the Cicada； or Tree…Locust （Lovelace's grasshopper？）； which is superior to the modern poem； being less prolix； and more natural in its manner。 In all Lovelace's longer pieces there are too many obscure and feeble conceits； and too many evidences of a leaning to the metaphysical and antithetical school of poetry。
Original has HAIRE。
i。e。 a beard of oats。
Meleager's invocation to the tree…locust commences thus in Elton's translation：
〃Oh shrill…voiced insect！ that with dew…drops sweet Inebriate〃
See also Cowley's ANACREONTIQUES； No。 X。 THE GRASSHOPPER。
i。e。 horizontal lines tinged with gold。 See Halliwell's GLOSSARY OF ARCHAIC WORDS； 1860； art。 PLAT （seventh and eighth meaning）。 The late editors of Nares cite this passage from LUCASTA as an illustration of GUILT…PLATS； which they define to be 〃plots of gold。〃 This definition； unsupported by any other evidence； is not very satisfactory； and certainly it has no obvious application here。
Randolph says：
〃toiling ants perchance delight to hear The summer musique of the gras…hopper。〃 POEMS； 1640； p。 90。
It is it question； perhaps； whether Lovelace intended by the GRASSHOPPER the CICADA or the LOCUSTA。 See Sir Thomas Browne's INQUIRIES INTO VULGAR ERRORS （Works； by Wilkins； 1836； iii。 93）。
Perch。
i。e。 old Greek wine。
AN ELEGIE。 ON THE DEATH OF MRS。 CASSANDRA COTTON； ONLY SISTER TO MR。 C。 COTTON。
Hither with hallowed steps as is the ground； That must enshrine this saint with lookes profound； And sad aspects as the dark vails you weare； Virgins opprest； draw gently； gently neare； Enter the dismall chancell of this rooome； Where each pale guest stands fixt a living tombe； With trembling hands helpe to remove this earth To its last death and first victorious birth： Let gums and incense fume； who are at strife To enter th' hearse and breath in it new life； Mingle your steppes with flowers as you goe； Which； as they haste to fade； will speake your woe。
And when y' have plac't your tapers on her urn； How poor a tribute 'tis to weep and mourn！ That flood the channell of your eye…lids fils； When you lose trifles； or what's lesse； your wills。 If you'l be worthy of these obsequies； Be blind unto the world； and drop your eyes； Waste and consume； burn downward as this fire That's fed no more： so willingly expire； Passe through the cold and obscure narrow way； Then light your torches at the spring of day； There with her triumph in your victory。 Such joy alone and such solemnity Becomes this funerall of virginity。
Or； if you faint to be so blest； oh heare！ If not to dye； dare but to live like her： Dare to live virgins； till the honour'd age Of thrice fifteen cals matrons on the stage； Whilst not a blemish or least staine is scene On your white roabe 'twixt fifty and fifteene； But as it in your swathing…bands was given； Bring't in your winding sheet unsoyl'd to Heav'n。 Daere to do purely； without compact good； Or herald； by no one understood But him； who now in thanks bows either knee For th' early benefit and secresie。
Dare to affect a serious holy sorrow； To which delights of pallaces are narrow； And； lasting as their smiles； dig you a roome； Where practise the probation of your tombe With ever…bended knees and piercing pray'r； Smooth the rough passe through craggy earth to ay'r； Flame there as lights that shipwrackt mariners May put in safely； and secure their feares； Who； adding to your joyes； now owe you theirs。
Virgins； if thus you dare but courage take To follow her in life； else through this lake Of Nature wade； and breake her earthly bars； Y' are fixt with her upon a throne of stars； Arched with a pure Heav'n chrystaline； Where round you love and joy for ever shine。
But you are dumbe； as what you do lament More senseles then her very monument； Which at your weaknes weeps。 Spare that vaine teare； Enough to burst the rev'rend sepulcher。 Rise and walk home； there groaning prostrate fall； And celebrate your owne sad funerall： For howsoe're you move； may heare； or see； YOU ARE MORE DEAD AND BURIED THEN SHEE。
Cassandra Cotton； only daughter of Sir George Cotton； of Warblenton； Co。 Sussex； and of Bedhampton； co。 Hants； died some time before 1649； unmarried。 She was the sister of Charles Cotton the elder； and aunt to the poet。 See WALTON'S ANGLER； ed。 Nicolas； Introduction； clxvi。
THE VINTAGE TO THE DUNGEON。 A SONG。 SET BY MR。 WILLIAM LAWES。
I。 Sing out； pent soules； sing cheerefully！ Care shackles you in liberty： Mirth frees you in captivity。 Would you double fetters adde？ Else why so sadde？
Chorus。 Besides your pinion'd armes youl finde Griefe too can manakell the minde。
II。 Live then； pris'ners； uncontrol'd； Drink oth' strong； the rich； the old； Till wine too hath your wits in hold； Then if still your jollitie And throats are free
Chorus。 Tryumph in your bonds and paines； And daunce to the music of your chaines。
Probably composed during the poet's confinement in Peterhouse。
ON THE DEATH OF MRS。 ELIZABETH FILMER。 AN ELEGIACALL EPITAPH。
You that shall live awhile； before Old time tyrs； and is no more： When that this ambitious stone Stoopes low as what it tramples on： Know that in that age； when sinne Gave the world law； and governd Queene； A virgin liv'd； that still put on White thoughts； though out of fashion： That trac't the stars； 'spite of report； And durst be good； though chidden for't： Of such a soule that infant Heav'n Repented what it thus had giv'n： For finding equall happy man； Th' impatient pow'rs snatch it agen。 Thus； chaste as th' ayre whither shee's fled； She； making her celestiall bed In her warme alablaster； lay As cold is in this house of clay： Nor were the rooms unfit to feast Or circumscribe this angel…guest； The radiant gemme was brightly set In as divine a carkanet； Of which the clearer was not knowne； Her minde or her complexion。 Such an everlasting grace； Such a beatifick face； Incloysters here this narrow floore； That possest all hearts before。
Blest and bewayl'd in death and birth！ The smiles and teares of heav'n and earth！ Virgins at each step are afeard； Filmer is shot by which they steer'd； Their star extinct； their beauty dead； That the yong world to honour led； But see！ the rapid spheres stand still； And tune themselves unto her will。
Thus； although this marble must； As all things； crumble into dust； And though you finde this faire…built tombe Ashes； as what lyes in its wombe： Yet her saint…like name shall shine A living glory to this shrine； And her eternall fame be read； When all but VERY VERTUE'S DEAD。
This lady was perhaps the daughter of Edward Filmer； Esq。； of East Sutton； co。 Kent； by his wife Eliza； daughter of Richard Argall； Esq。； of the same place （See Harl。 MS。 1432； p。 300）。 Possibly； the Edward Filmer mentioned here was the same as the author of 〃Frenche Court Ayres； with their Ditties englished；〃 1629； in praise of which Jonson has some lines in his UNDERWOODS。
Original reads FOR。
〃Which ensuing times shall warble；
