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George Peele. (1558?–1597?) (continued)

228

    His helmet now shall make a hive for bees,
  And lovers’ songs be turned to holy psalms;
A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees,
  And feed on prayers, which are old age’s alms.

Sonnet. Polyhymnia.

229

    My merry, merry, merry roundelay
  Concludes with Cupid’s curse:
They that do change old love for new,
  Pray gods, they change for worse!

Cupid’s Curse.

Sir Walter Raleigh. (1554?–1618)

230

If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every shepherd’s tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee, and be thy love.

The Nymph’s Reply to the Passionate Shepherd.

231

Fain would I, but I dare not; I dare, and yet I may not;
I may, although I care not, for pleasure when I play not.

Fain Would I.

232

Passions are likened best to floods and streams:
The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb. 1

The Silent Lover.

233

    Silence in love bewrays more woe
  Than words, though ne’er so witty:
A beggar that is dumb, you know,
  May challenge double pity.

The Silent Lover.

234

    Go, Soul, the body’s guest,
  Upon a thankless arrant:
Fear not to touch the best,
  The truth shall be thy warrant:
    Go, since I needs must die,
    And give the world the lie.

The Lie.

Note 1.
Altissima quæque flumina minimo sono labi (The deepest rivers flow with the least sound).—Q. Curtius, vii. 4. 13.

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.—William Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI. act iii. sc. i. [back]

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