To keep cheap nature even and upright;
To coole, not cocker appetite.
Thus thou canst tearcely live to satisfie
The belly chiefly, not the eye:
Keeping the barking stomach wisely quiet,
Lesse with a neat then needfull diet.

But that which most makes sweet thy country life

Is, the fruition of a wife :

Whom, Stars consenting with thy fate, thou hast
Got, not so beautifull, as chast:

By whose warme side thou dost securely sleep,
While love the centinell doth keep,

With those deeds done by day, which n'er affright
Thy silken slumbers in the night.
Nor has the darknesse power to usher in

Feare to those sheets that know no sin;
But still thy wife, by chast intentions led,
Gives thee each night a maidenhead.
The damaskt medowes, and the peebly streames
Sweeten and make soft your dreames;
The purling springs, groves, birds, and well-
weav'd bowrs,

With fields enameled with flowers,

Present their shapes; while fantasie discloses
Millions of lillies mixt with roses.

Then dream, ye heare the lamb by many a bleat
Woo'd to come suck the milkie teat;

While Faunus in the vision comes to keep,

From rav'ning wolves the fleecie sheep:

With thousand such enchanting dreams, that meet

To make sleep not so sound, as sweet. Nor can these figures so thy rest endeare,

[rise

As not to rise when Chanticlere Warnes the last watch; but with the dawne dost

To work, but first to sacrifice;

Making thy peace with heav'n for some late fault,

[us,

With holy meale, and spirting salt; Which done, thy painfull thumb this sentence tells Love for our labour all things sells us.

Nor are thy daily and devout affaires

Attended with those desp'rate cares

Th' industrious merchant has; who for to find
Gold, runneth to the Western Inde,
And back again, tortur'd with fears, doth fly,
Untaught to suffer poverty.

But thou at home, blest with securest ease,
Sitt'st, and beleev'st that there be seas
And watrie dangers; while thy whiter hap

But sees these things within thy map,
And viewing them with a more safe survey,

[man

Mak'st easie feare unto thee say, A heart thrice wall'd with oke, and brasse that

Had, first durst plow the ocean.

But thou at home without or tyde or gale,

Canst in thy map securely saile,
Seeing those painted countries; and so guesse
By those fine shades, their substances,
And from thy compasse taking small advice,
Buy'st travell at the lowest price.

Nor are thine eares so deafe, but thou canst heare, Far more with wonder then with feare,

Fame tell of states, of countries, courts, and

kings,

And beleeve there be such things,

[lyes

When of these truths, thy happyer knowledge
More in thine eares then in thine eyes.

And when thou hear'st by that too true report,
Vice rules the most, or all, at court,

Thy pious wishes are, though thou not there,
Vertue had, and mov'd her sphere.

But thou liv'st fearlesse; and thy face ne'r shewes
Fortune when she comes, or goes;

But with thy equall thoughts, prepar'd dost stand To take her by the either hand;

Nor car'st which comes the first, the foule or faire : A wise man ev'ry way lies square,

And like a surly oke with storms perplext,

Growes still the stronger, strongly vext.
Be so, bold spirit; stand center-like, unmov'd;
And be not onely thought, but prov'd
To be what I report thee; and inure

Thy selfe, if want comes, to endure.
And so thou dost; for thy desires are
Confin'd to live with private larr ;

Not curious whether appetite be fed,

Or with the first, or second bread;
Who keep'st no proud mouth for delicious cates;
Hunger makes coorse meats delicates.—

Can'st, and unurg'd, forsake that larded fare

Which art, not nature, makes so rare, To taste boyl'd nettles, colworts, beets, and eate These and sowre herbs as dainty meat, While soft opinion makes thy genius say,

Content makes all ambrosia.

Nor is it, that thou keep'st this stricter size

So much for want, as exercise:

[haste it,

To numb the sence of dearth, which sho'd sinne
Thou might'st but onely see't, not taste it.
Yet can thy humble roofe maintaine a quire
Of singing crickits by thy fire:

And the brisk mouse may feast her selfe with

crums,

Till that the green-ey'd kitling comes.
Then to her cabbin, blest she can escape
The sudden danger of a rape.

And thus thy little well-kept stock doth prove,
Wealth cannot make a life, but love.
Nor art thou so close-handed, but can'st spend
(Counsell concurring with the end)

As well as spare: still conning o'r this theame,
To shun the first, and last extreame;
Ordaining that thy small stock find no breach,
Or to exceed thy tether's reach :

But to live round, and close, and wisely true
To thine owne selfe, and knowne to few.

Thus let thy rural sanctuary be

Elizium to thy wife and thee;

There to disport your selves with golden measure;

For seldome use commends the pleasure.

Live, and live blest, thrice happy paire! let

breath,

But lost to one, be th' others death; And as there is one love, one faith, one troth, Be so one death, one grave to both. Till when, in such assurance live, ye may Nor feare, or wish your dying day.

DIVINATION BY A DAFFADILL.

WHEN a daffadill I see,

Hanging down his head t'wards me,
Guesse I may, what I must be:
First, I shall decline my head;
Secondly, I shall be dead;
Lastly, safely buryed.

TO THE PAINTER, TO DRAW HIM A PICTURE.

COME, skilfull Lupo, now, and take
Thy bice, thy vmber, pink, and lake ;
And let it be thy pensil's strife,
To paint a bridgeman to the life.
Draw him as like too, as you can,
An old, poore, lying, flatt'ring man :
His cheeks be-pimpled, red and blue;
His nose and lips of mulbrie hiew.
Then for an easie fansie, place