Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

POEMS.

THE GOOD WINE.

Oh! thou only God of wine,
Comfort this poor heart of mine,
With that nectar of thy blood.

Alexander Rosse, 1650.

WINE of Cyprus, not for me,
Thou, nor juice of Italy;
Nor Atlantic's luscious pride,
From Madeira's sunny side;
Nor from Caprea's royal hoard,
Nor from Lisbon's modern board,
Nor from elder Egypt's crypt,
Which Mark Antony hath stripped -
Nor from Rhine or laughing France,
Where Garonne's blue ripples dance,
Nor from banks of classic river,
Winding Po or Guadalquiver.

All the grapes in vintage crushed,
Could not satisfy my thirst;
Purple flood in chrysolite,
Where it moves itself aright,

Freely poured in princely hall,
Sparkling at high festival,

Well refined, or on the lees,
Could not my ambition please;
Draught that passing pleasure brings,
Leaving ever during stings.

When my lips the beaker kiss,
I have other wine than this,
Taken from the fruitful hill,
Which doth live in poesy still;
Where for vine, a cross of wood,
Guarded by the Roman, stood;
Whose rich spoil was gathered when
Triumphed hell and triumphed men :
Crushed and mangled was whose grape,
While the heavens looked agape,
And in sackcloth hid-whose wine
Streaming, dimmed the mid-day's shine,
Fermented in nature's sigh,

Ripened in the earthquake's cry.

How it stirs my languid blood!
How it cheers my soul, like food!
Drink, ye kings! and cares forget,
Drink, ye sad! and triumph yet.
Drink, ye aged! strength renew,
Drink, ye children! 'tis for you.
Drink, ye pilgrims! while 'tis nigh—

Drink, nor in the desert die.

Drink, ye fainting! thirst ye never,

Drink, ye dying! live for ever.

WOMAN.

By Woman's words to man so well seducing,
Came sin's accursed entrance and our wo;
She, the unhallowed science introducing,
of good, forbidden, taught us ill to know.

By Woman's lips were first the accents spoken

To cheer a world whose hope was in the grave; That Jesus had the three-days slumber broken, And, rising, showed that He was strong to save.

She, from free Eden to the earth's dark prison,
Led Adam by the flattery of her tongue;
She unto Peter told, "the Lord is risen!"
In melody like that to sweet harps strung.

By Woman, then, though sometimes cometh sorrow,
(And who of mortals is exempt from this?)
By Woman's love, besides the hope of morrow,
There's full fruition of the present bliss.

She, in life's sunshine, will increase life's pleasure By social converse, and the charms of mind; She, in affliction, will be found a treasure,

To soothe the heart and banish care, unkind.

She, in youth's journey, from the wayside flower
Will pluck the thorn, lest it should give thee pain;
In age still constant, and in death's last hour
A helper when all other help is vain.

« PreviousContinue »