I had eight birds hatched in one nest, Four cocks there were, and hens the rest. I nursed them up with pain and care, Nor cost, nor labour did I spare, Till at the last they felt their wing,...
A ship that bears much sail, and little ballast, is easily overset; and that man, whose head hath great abilities, and his heart little or no grace, is in danger of foundering....
Lo now four other act upon the stage, Childhood and Youth the Manly & Old age; The first son unto flegm, Grand-child to water, Unstable, supple, cold and moist's his nature....
The former four now ending their discourse, Ceasing to vaunt their good, or threat their force, Lo other four step up, crave leave to show The native qualityes that from them flow:...
No sooner come, but gone, and fal'n asleep, Acquaintance short, yet parting caus'd us weep. Three flours, two scarcely blown, the last i'th' bud, Cropt by th' Almighties hand; yet is he good,...
Thou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain, Who after birth did'st by my side remain, Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true, Who thee abroad expos'd to public view,...
In secret place where once I stood Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood, I heard two sisters reason on Things that are past and things to come. One Flesh was call'd, who had her eye...
The Fire, Air, Earth and Water did contest Which was the strongest, noblest and the best, Who was of greatest use and might'est force; In placide Terms they thought now to discourse,...
When time was young, & World in Infancy, Man did not proudly strive for Soveraignty: But each one thought his petty Rule was high, If of his house he held the Monarchy....
Another four I've left yet to bring on, Of four times four the last Quarternion The Winter, Summer, Autumn & the Spring, In season all these Seasons I shall bring:...
To sing of Wars, of Captains, and of Kings, Of Cities founded, Common-wealths begun, For my mean pen are too superior things: Or how they all, or each their dates have run...
Stout Romulus, Romes founder, and first King, Whom vestal Rhea to the world did bring; His Father was not Mars as some devis'd, But 'mulus in Armour all disguiz'd:...
Cyrus Cambyses Son of Persia King, Whom Lady Mandana did to him bring, She daughter unto great Astiages, He in descent the seventh from Arbaces. Cambyses was of Achemenes race,...
Great Alexander was wise Philips son, He to Amyntas, Kings of Macedon; The cruel proud Olympias was his Mother, She to Epirus warlike King was daughter. This Prince (his father by Pausanias slain)...
As he said vanity, so vain say I, Oh! vanity, O vain all under Sky; Where is the man can say, lo, I have found On brittle Earth a Consolation sound? What is't in honour to be set on high?...
Most truly honoured, and as truly dear, If worth in me, or ought I do appear, Who can of right better demand the same? Then may your worthy self from whom it came. The principle might yield a greater sum,...
Dear Sir of late delighted with the sight Of your four Sisters cloth'd in black and white, Of fairer Dames the Sun ne'r saw the face; Though made a pedestal for Adams Race;...
By duty bound, and not by custome led To celebrate the praises of the dead, My mournfull mind, sore prest, in trembling verse Presents my Lamentations at his Herse, Who was my Father, Guide, Instructor too,...
And live I still to see relations gone, And yet survive to sound this wailing tone; Ah, woe is me, to write thy Funeral Song, Who might in reason yet have lived long,...