Summer is come, for every spray now springs ;
The hart hath hung his old head on the pale ;
The buck in brake his winter coat he flings ;
The fishes flete with new-repaired scale ;
The adder all her slough away she slings ;
The swift swallow pursueth the flies smale ;
The busy bee her honey now she mings;
Winter is worn that was the flowers' bale :
And thus I see among these pleasant things
Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs.

HENRY HOWARD, EARL OF SURREY.

COME, SLEEP, () SLEEP.

Come, Sleep, O Sleep, the certain knot of peace,
The baiting place of wit, the balm of woe,
The poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release,
The indifferent judge between the high and low.
With shield of proof shield me from out the prease
Of those fierce darts, Despair at me doth throw;
O make in me those civil wars to cease :
I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.
Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest bed ;
A chamber, deaf to noise, and blind to light;

COME, SLEEP, O SLEEP.

A rosy garland, and a weary head.
And if these things, as being thine by right,
Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me
Livelier than elsewhere Stella's image see.

Having this day my horse, my hand my lance
Guided so well, that I obtain’d the prize,
Both by the judgment of the English eyes,
And of some sent from that sweet enemy France ;
Horsemen my skill in horsemanship advance ;
Townfolks my strength; a daintier judge applies
His praise to sleight which from good use doth rise ;
Some lucky wits impute it but to chance ;
Others, because of both sides I do take
My blood from them who did excel in this,
Think Nature me a man of arms did make.
How far they shot awry! the true cause is,
Stella look'd on, and from her heavenly face
Sent forth the beams which made so fair my race.

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. vi

CONTENTS.

BORN

DIED

PAGE

FAIR IS MY LOVE

Samuel Daniel.

1.563 BIRDS IX SPRING

Michael Drtyton. 1563 VIRTUE.-SWEET DAY! So COOL

George Herbert.

1592 SUNDAY.-0 DAY MOST CALM Celia's TRIUMPH

Ben Jonson.

1574 STILL TO BE NEAT TO THE QUEEN OF BOHEMIA

Sir Henry Wotton. 1568 WHY SO PALE AND WAN, FOND LOVER Sir John Suckling. 1608 DELIGHT IN GOD ONLY

Francis Quarles.

1592 To A NIGHTINGALE .

Villiam Drummond. 1583
PRAISE OF A SOLITARY LIFE
HAPPINESS OF THE SHEPHERD'S LIFE Phineas Fletcher. 1584
To DAFFODILS

Robert Herrick.

1591 A COUNTRY LIFE DEATH'S FINAL CONQUEST

James Shirley.

1596 ON A STOLEN KIss

George Wither.

1588
CHRISTMAS
THE LARK NOW LEAVES AIS WATERY NEST Sir William Darenant. 1605
THE ANGLER'S WISH

Izaak Walton.

1593 GO, LOVELY Rose

Edmund Waller. 1605 EARLY RISING AND PRAYER

Henry Vaughan. 1614 MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS

Anon.

The Editor has included a few Poems which were written before the time of Elizabeth, and a few which properly belong to the early part of the reign of James the First. They all partake of a similar character, and stand unrivalled for the elegance of their language and their exquisite thought.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

DRAWN BY

TE

Blame not my lute .
The soote season.
IVith how sad steps, O Moon
When May is in his prime .
Come live with me.
Like as a ship
The wrathful winter
The pedlar's song
Jog on, jog on
Blow, blow, thou winter wind.
Under the greenwood tree
When icicles hang by the wall
Go, soul, the body's guest
Birds in spring
Sweet rose!
0 day most calm, most bright
See the chariot at hand
You meaner beauties of the night
Sweet bird! that sing'st away .
The shepherd's life
Fair daffodils
Sireet country life
The breath of great-eyed kine
('hristmas time
The wenches with their wassail bowls
I with my angle would rejoice
Go, lovely rose
My mind to me a kingilom is

48 49

JOHN GILBERT,
JULIAN PORTCH.
E. M. WIMPERIS.
JULIAN PORTCH.
E. M. WIMPERIS.
JULIAN PORTCH.
E. M. WIMPERIS.
F. W. KEYL.
E. M. WIMPERIS.
JULIAN PORTCH.
E. M. WIMPERIS.

52

54

59

63

65

67

71

4

77

JULIAN PORTCH.
BIRKET FOSTER.

79

83