The gentle rising, which on either hand
Leads to the quire above,

Is Confidence;

But the sweet cement, which in one sure band

Ties the whole frame, is Love

And Charity.

Hither sometimes sin steals, and stains
The marble's neat and curious veins;
But all is cleansèd when the marble weeps.
Sometimes death, puffing at the door,
Blows all the dust about the floor;

But while he thinks to spoil the room, he sweeps.
Blessed be the Architect, whose art
Could build so strong in a weak heart.

THE WINDOWS.

LORD, how can man preach Thy eternal Word?

He is a brittle crazy glass,

Yet in Thy temple Thou dost him afford

This glorious and transcendent place,
To be a window, through thy grace.

But when thou dost anneal * in glass Thy story,
Making Thy life to shine within

The holy preachers, then the light and glory

More reverend grows, and more doth win;
Which else shows waterish, bleak, and thin,

* To anneal is to fix the colours in painted glass, by melting them and it in great heat.

Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one

When they combine and mingle, bring
A strong regard and awe; but speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing,
And in the ear, not conscience, ring.

TRINITY SUNDAY.

LORD, who hast formed me out of mud,
And hast redeemed me through Thy blood,
And sanctified me to do good;

Purge all my sins done heretofore;
For I confess my heavy score,
And I will strive to sin no more.

Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,
With faith, with hope, with charity;
That I may run, rise, rest with thee.

CONTENT.

PEACE, muttering thoughts! and do not grudge to

keep

Within the walls of your own breast.

Who cannot on his own bed sweetly sleep,

Can on another's hardly rest.

Gad not abroad at ev'ry quest and call
Of an untrained hope or passion.

To court each place or fortune that doth fall,
Is wantonness in contemplation.

Mark how the fire in flints doth quiet lie,
Content and warm t' itself alone;

But when it would appear to other's eye,
Without a knock it never shone.

Give me the pliant mind, whose gentle measure
Complies and suits with all estates;

Which can let loose to a crown, and yet with pleasur
Take up within a cloister's gates.

This sou doth span the world, and hang content
From either pole unto the centre ;

Wherein each room of the well furnish'd tent
He lies warm, and without adventure.

The brags of life are but a nine days' wonder;
And after death the fumes that spring
From private bodies, make as big a thunder
As those which rise from a huge king.

Only thy chronicle is lost; and yet

Better by worms be all once spent,

Than to have hellish moths still gnaw and fret
Thy name in books, which may not rent.*

When all thy deeds, whose brunt thou feel'st alone,
And are chawed by others' pens and tongue,

And as their wit is, their digestion,

Thy nourished fame is weak or strong.

Then cease discoursing, soul; till thine own ground;
Do not thyself or friends impòrtune.

He that by seeking hath himself once found,
Hath ever found a happy fortune.

❤ Which are lasting.

THE QUIDDITY.*

My God, a verse is not a crown;
No point of honor, or gay suit,
No hawk, or banquet, or renown,
Nor a good sword, nor yet a lute:

It cannot vault, or dance, or play;
It never was in France or Spain;
Nor can it entertain the day

With a great stable or domain.

It is no office, art, or news;

Nor the Exchange, or busy Hall :
But it is that which, while I use,

I am with Thee, and Most take all.

HUMILITY.

I SAW the Virtues sitting hand in hand

In sev'ral ranks upon an azure throne, Where all the beasts and fowls, by their command, Presented tokens of submission.

Humility, who sat the lowest there

To execute their call,

When by the beasts the presents tendered were,

Gave them about to all.

* A scholastic term, synonymous with a quip or quirk.

The angry Lion did present his paw,

Which by consent was given to Mansuetude.*
The fearful Hare her ears, which by their law
Humility did reach to Fortitude.

The jealous Turkey brought his coral chain,
That went to Temperance.

On Justice was bestowed the Fox's brain,

Killed in the way by chance.

At length the Crow, bringing the Peacock's plume,
(For he would not) as they beheld the grace
Of that brave gift, each one began to fume,
And challenge it, as proper to his place,

Till they fell out; which, when the beasts espied,
They leapt upon the throne;

And if the Fox had lived to rule their side,

They had deposed each one.

Humility, who held the plume, at this

Did weep so fast, that the tears trickling down
Spoiled all the train; then saying, "Here it is
For which ye wrangle," made them turn their frown.
Against the beasts; so, jointly bandying,

They drive them soon away;

And then amerced them, double gifts to bring
At the next session day.

*Gentleness. The probable meaning of this quaint allegory is, that as the united Virtues dominated the Evil Passions (represented by beasts), while guided by Humility, so, when Pride awoke, and bade them each claim worldly splendor (the peacock's train)" as proper to his place," the Evil Passions would have conquered them thus divided, had not Humility preserved them be her tears,

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