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The Book of Restoration Verse
W.S.B.
In a true piece of wit all things must be; / Yet all things there agree. / As in the ark, join’d without force or strife, / All creatures dwelt; all creatures that had life.
Ode of Wit, ll. 57–60.
Abraham
Cowley

The Book of Restoration Verse

Chosen and Edited with Notes by William Stanley Braithwaite

Braithwaite’s magnum opus—and a great landmark in verse anthologies—these three monumental volumes with extensive notes contain 1,796 selections. See also the Books of Elizabethan and Georgian Verse.

Bibliographic Record Preface

Contents

NEW YORK: BRENTANO’S, 1910
NEW YORK: BARTLEBY.COM, 2013

Book First
Song on May Morning by John Milton
Hymn: To Light by Abraham Cowley
On a Drop of Dew by Andrew Marvell
The Swallow by Abraham Cowley
Song: ‘Look Nymphs, and Shepherds look’ by John Milton
Song: ‘O’er the smooth enameld green’ by John Milton
Song: ‘Nymphs and Shepherds dance no more’ by John Milton
The Merry Beggars by Richard Brome
The Garden by Andrew Marvell
The Mower against Gardens by Andrew Marvell
The Picture of Little T. C. in a Prospect of Flowers by Andrew Marvell
The Pastime of the Queen of Fairies by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle
The Fountain by Sir Edward Sherburne
To the Nightingale by John Milton
The Nymph Complaining for the Death of Her Fawn by Andrew Marvell
What Is Love by Robert Heath
The Definition of Love by Andrew Marvell
Love in Thy Youth by Walter Porter
Expectation by Thomas Stanley
Young Love by Andrew Marvell
The Spring by Abraham Cowley
We Must Not Part As Others Do—Anonymous
The Magnet by Thomas Stanley
The Surprise by Sir Edward Sherburne
Husbandry by William Hammond
The Fair Singer by Andrew Marvell
To the Lady May by Aurelian Townsend
To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell
See’st Not, My Love, with What a Grace by William Bosworth
Song: ‘Come, come, thou glorious object of my sight’ by William Killigrew
Mounting Hyperboles by Richard Brathwaite
No More unto My Thoughts Appear by Sidney Godolphin
David’s Song by Abraham Cowley
Celia, Sleeping or Singing by Thomas Stanley
To His Mistress by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham
Phillis Inamorata by Lancelot Andrewes
The Mower to the Glow-worms by Andrew Marvell
A Mock Song by Alexander Brome
The Kiss by Thomas Stanley
Weeping and Kissing by Sir Edward Sherburne
The Mower’s Song by Andrew Marvell
The Chronicle by Abraham Cowley
Fuscara, or the Bee Errant by John Cleveland
Greedy Lover Pause Awhile by John Wilson
To Julia to Expedite Her Promise by John Cleveland
Upon Black Eyes and Becoming Frowns by James Howell
When on Mine Eyes Her Eyes First Shone by John Wilson
To Cynthia by Sir Francis Kynaston
Novo Inamoramento by Sir Edward Sherburne
Mercury Complaining by Aurelian Townsend
The Resolve by Alexander Brome
The Vow by Sir Edward Sherburne
The Relapse by Thomas Stanley
The Sweetmeat by Sir Edward Sherburne
The Forsaken Maid by William Hammond
The Disposition by Thomas Stanley
Humility by Richard Brome
Change Defended by Sir Edward Sherburne
The Exequies by Thomas Stanley
The Parting by Thomas Stanley
The Tomb by Thomas Stanley
To the State of Love; Or the Senses’ Festival by John Cleveland
Friendship and Single Life, against Love and Marriage by Sir John Denham
Epithalamium by Samuel Sheppard
Childhood by Henry Vaughan
The Burial of an Infant by Henry Vaughan
Song: ‘See, O see!’ by George Digby, Earl of Bristol
Eyes and Tears by Andrew Marvell
The Rainbow by Henry Vaughan
For Hope by Abraham Cowley
A Wish by Abraham Cowley
The Wish by Abraham Cowley
To a Virtuous Young Lady by John Milton
On His Being Arrived to the Age of Twenty-three by John Milton
To the Royal Society by Abraham Cowley
Ode of Wit by Abraham Cowley
To the Lord General Cromwell by John Milton
An Horatian Ode by Andrew Marvell
Brutus by Abraham Cowley
On Shakespear 1630 by John Milton
On Paradise Lost by Andrew Marvell
To the Lady Margaret Ley by John Milton
To Mr. Lawrence by John Milton
To Cyriack Skinner by John Milton
To Mr. Hobbes by Abraham Cowley
Upon Tom of Christ Church, Oxford by John Cleveland
When the Assault Was Intended to the City by John Milton
On the Late Massacher in Piemont by John Milton
Abel’s Blood by Henry Vaughan
The Rebel Scot by John Cleveland
Sailors for My Money by Martin Parker
Song by Lady Happy, as a Sea-Goddess by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle
The Star That Bids the Shepherd Fold by John Milton
Song: ‘Sweet Echo, sweetest Nymph that liv’st unseen’ by John Milton
Song: ‘Sabrina fair’ by John Milton
To the Ocean Now I Fly by John Milton
Themista’s Reproof by Richard Brathwaite
Poets and Their Theft by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle
The Author’s Apology for His Book by John Bunyan
An Epilogue by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle
Drinking by Abraham Cowley
The Epicure by Abraham Cowley
Another by Abraham Cowley
The Excellency of Wine by Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery
The Healths by Patrick Cary
Loyalty Confined by Sir Roger L’Estrange
Lord Stafford’s Meditations in the Tower—Anonymous
A Royal Lamentation by King Charles I.
L’Allegro by John Milton
Il Penseroso by John Milton
A Poetic Descant upon a Private Music-Meeting by Edward Benlowes
At a Solemn Musick by John Milton
Man by Henry Vaughan
Upon the Weakness and Misery of Man by Samuel Butler
On Time by John Milton
The Retreat by Henry Vaughan
Corruption by Henry Vaughan
Affliction by Henry Vaughan
On His Blindness by John Milton
The Pilgrim by John Bunyan
The Shepherd Boy Sings in the Valley of Humiliation by John Bunyan
The World by Henry Vaughan
The Philosopher’s Devotion by Henry More
On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity: First Part by John Milton
On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity: The Hymn by John Milton
Hymn: ‘Lord, when the wise men came from far’ by Sidney Godolphin
Crucifixus Pro Nobis by Patrick Cary
The Favour by Henry Vaughan
The Eclipse by Henry Vaughan
Whilst I Beheld the Neck o’ th’ Dove by Patrick Cary
The Coronet by Andrew Marvell
Come, Come! What Do I Here? by Henry Vaughan
The Morning-Watch by Henry Vaughan
The Dawning by Henry Vaughan
And Do They So? Have They a Sense by Henry Vaughan
The Rock by Thomas Washbourne
I Walk’d the Other Day to Spend My Hour by Henry Vaughan
Bermudas by Andrew Marvell
Peace by Henry Vaughan
Evening Hymn by Sir Thomas Browne
The Night by Henry Vaughan
Song: ‘Morpheus, the humble god, that dwells’ by Sir John Denham
They Are All Gone into the World of Light by Henry Vaughan
On His Deceased Wife by John Milton
To Cynthia by Sir Francis Kynaston
Lycidas by John Milton
On the Death of Mr. Crashaw by Abraham Cowley
On the Death of Mr. William Hervey by Abraham Cowley
An Epitaph on Thomas, Third Lord Fairfax by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham
On Mr. Abraham Cowley’s Death and Burial among the Ancient Poets by Sir John Denham
Epitaph: ‘He whom Heaven did call away’—Anonymous
An Epitaph upon— by Andrew Marvell
A Pagan Epitaph—Anonymous
Epitaph: ‘In this marble casket lies’—Anonymous
Epitaph: ‘She on this clayen pillow layed her head’—Anonymous
Epitaph: ‘Here lies a piece of Christ’ by Robert Wild
The Valediction by Richard Baxter
Book Second
Robin Hood and Little John—Anonymous
Robin Hood and the King—Anonymous
Robin Hood and Allin a Dale—Anonymous
Robin Hood Rescuing the Widow’s Three Sons—Anonymous
Robin Hood and the Monk—Anonymous
Robin Hood and the Butcher—Anonymous
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne—Anonymous
Robin Hood’s Death and Burial—Anonymous
Sir Patrick Spens—Anonymous
The Battle of Otterbourne—Anonymous
The Hunting of the Cheviot—Anonymous
Kinmont Willie—Anonymous
Captain Care or Edom o Gordon—Anonymous
The Bonnie House o’ Airly—Anonymous
Mary Ambree—Anonymous
Bonnie George Campbell—Anonymous
Earl Brand—Anonymous
Johney Scot—Anonymous
The Dowy Houms of Yarrow—Anonymous
The Twa Sisters—Anonymous
Clerk Saunders—Anonymous
Love Gregor; or, the Lass of Lochroyan—Anonymous
Child Waters—Anonymous
Fair Annie—Anonymous
Lord Thomas and Fair Annet—Anonymous
Bonny Barbara Allan—Anonymous
The Queen’s Marie—Anonymous
Lord Donald—Anonymous
Edward—Anonymous
Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard—Anonymous
Thomas the Rhymer—Anonymous
Tam Lin—Anonymous
Clerk Colvill—Anonymous
The Wife of Usher’s Well—Anonymous
Fine Flowers in the Valley—Anonymous
The Daemon Lover—Anonymous
The Three Ravens—Anonymous
The Twa Corbies—Anonymous
A Lyke-Wake Dirge—Anonymous
Bessie Bell and Mary Gray—Anonymous
Burd Helen—Anonymous
Annan Water—Anonymous
Willie Drowned in Yarrow—Anonymous
There Was a Maid Came out of Kent—Anonymous
The Gay Goshawk—Anonymous
Hind Horn—Anonymous
The Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington—Anonymous
St. Stephen and Herod—Anonymous
Book Third
The Salutation by Thomas Traherne
A Song to a Fair Young Lady, Going out of the Town in the Spring by John Dryden
Come, Sweet Lass by Thomas D’Urfey
To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship by Katherine Philips (‘Orinda’)
To Mrs. M. A. at Parting by Katherine Philips (‘Orinda’)
The Enquiry by Katherine Philips (‘Orinda’)
On an Hour-Glass by John Hall
Dumbness by Thomas Traherne
Hunting-Song by John Dryden
Harvest Home by John Dryden
Incantation by John Dryden
Incantation by John Dryden
Song: ‘Hear, ye sullen powers below!’ by John Dryden
Thamesis’ Song by John Dryden
A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day by John Dryden
Alexander’s Feast; Or, the Power of Music by John Dryden
The Choice by Thomas Traherne
The Person by Thomas Traherne
Contentation by Charles Cotton
Upon Nothing by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
To a Very Young Lady by Sir George Etherege
To a Very Young Lady by Sir Charles Sedley
Love’s New Philosophy by Philip Ayres
Love Will Find out the Way—Anonymous
The Lure by John Hall
The Call by John Hall
You Pleasing Dreams of Love and Sweet Delight by John Dryden
Song: ‘Love in fantastic triumph sate’ by Aphra Behn
Love Still Has Something of the Sea by Sir Charles Sedley
Les Amours by Charles Cotton
The Plaything Changed—Anonymous
He or She That Hopes to Gain—Anonymous
Song: ‘O Love! that stronger art than wine’ by Aphra Behn
The Enchantment by Thomas Otway
Constancy by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Love and Life by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
To His Mistress by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
On the Eyes and Breasts of the Lady on Whom He Was Enamoured—Anonymous
The Mistress by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
A Song: ‘My dear mistress has a heart’ by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Chloe’s Triumph by Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough
Roundelay by John Dryden
Phillis Knotting by Sir Charles Sedley
Ode: ‘Fair Isabel, if ought but thee’ by Charles Cotton
Song: ‘Join once again, my Celia’ by Charles Cotton
Song: ‘Not, Celia, that I juster am’ by Sir Charles Sedley
To a Lady, Asking How Long He Would Love Her by Sir George Etherege
Song: ‘Phillis, for shame, let us improve’ by Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset
Song: ‘Phillis, men say that all my vows’ by Sir Charles Sedley
Song: ‘Ladies, though to your conquering eyes’ by Sir George Etherege
Written on a White Fan Borrowed from Miss Osborne, Afterwards His Wife by Francis Atterbury
Song: ‘Dorinda’s sparkling wit and eyes’ by Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset
Laura Sleeping by Charles Cotton
On Lydia Distracted by Philip Ayres
On a Fair Beggar by Philip Ayres
A Lady to a Young Courtier by Dr. Henry Hughes
When I a Lover Pale Do See—Anonymous
Song, Written at Sea, in the First Dutch War (1665), the Night before an Engagement by Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset
Song: ‘Some thirty or forty or fifty at least’ by Thomas D’Urfey
A Scotch Song: ‘Jocky was a dowdy lad’ by Thomas D’Urfey
Ladies, Farewell, I Must Retire by James Howard
Chloe Divine by Thomas D’Urfey
The Fair Stranger by John Dryden
Song: ‘Why, dearest, shouldst thou weep, when I relate’ by Charles Cotton
To Coelia by Charles Cotton
A Song: ‘Absent from thee I languish still’ by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
The Song of Venus by John Dryden
Damilcar’s Song by John Dryden
May the Ambitions Ever Find by Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset
Song: ‘How happy the lover’ by John Dryden
Song: ‘In vain, Clemene, you bestow’ by Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset
To One Persuading a Lady to Marriage by Katherine Philips (‘Orinda’)
Song: ‘More love or more disdain I crave’ by Charles Webbe
Phillada Flouts Me—Anonymous
Song: ‘Phillis is my only joy’ by Sir Charles Sedley
Song: ‘I feed a flame within, which so torments me’ by John Dryden
A Song: ‘Fair, sweet and young, receive a prize’ by John Dryden
Song: ‘You charmed me not with that fair face’ by John Dryden
Song betwixt a Shepherd and a Shepherdess by John Dryden
Song: ‘Dear, from thine arms then let me fly’ by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Phyllis’s Resolution by William Walsh
The Dream by Aphra Behn
To Mira by George Granville, Lord Lansdowne
Song: ‘How hardly I concealed my tears’ by Anne Wharton
Song: ‘The happiest mortals once were we’ by George Granville, Lord Lansdowne
A Pastoral Song: ‘As I was sitting on the grass’—Anonymous
Song: ‘If she be not kind as fair’ by Sir George Etherege
The Defiance by Thomas Flatman
Fading Beauty—Anonymous
Song: ‘How prodigious is my fate’ by Katherine Philips (‘Orinda’)
Song: ‘Ye happy swains whose hearts are free’ by Sir George Etherege
Song: ‘Farewell, ungrateful traitor!’ by John Dryden
To Regina Collier, on Her Cruelty to Philaster by Katherine Philips (‘Orinda’)
Song: ‘Of all the torments, all the cares’ by William Walsh
The Despairing Lover by William Walsh
Song: ‘Can life be a blessing’ by John Dryden
The Libertine by Aphra Behn
Song: ‘When on those lovely looks I gaze’ by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Song: ‘Give me leave to rail at you’ by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Song: ‘No, no, poor suffering heart, no change endeavour’ by John Dryden
Song: ‘Come, Celia, let’s agree at last’ by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire
Inconstancy Excused by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire
Rondeau by Charles Cotton
The Winchester Wedding by Thomas D’Urfey
A South Sea Ballad by Edward Ward
Upon Drinking in a Bowl by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
Ode: ‘The day is set did earth adorn’ by Charles Cotton
The Commons’ Petition to King Charles II. by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
The Victory in Hungary by Thomas Shadwell
Lines Printed under the Engraved Portrait of Milton by John Dryden
Prologues to the University of Oxford, I by John Dryden
Prologues to the University of Oxford, II by John Dryden
Prologues to the University of Oxford, III by John Dryden
A Wish by Thomas Flatman
For Thoughts by Thomas Flatman
On News by Thomas Traherne
The Aspiration by John Norris
The Preparative by Thomas Traherne
Song: ‘Ah, fading joy! how quickly art thou past!’ by John Dryden
Hymn to Darkness by John Norris
Sonnet: ‘What has this bugbear Death that’s worth our care?’ by William Walsh
Death—A Song by Thomas Flatman
Song of the Priestesses by Nahum Tate
On His Mistress Drowned by Thomas Sprat
Epitaph on Charles II. by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
To the Memory of Mr. Oldham by John Dryden
On the Death of Waller by Aphra Behn
To the Pious Memory of the Accomplished Young Lady Mrs. Anne Killigrew by John Dryden
To His Book by William Walsh
Book Fourth
A Description of the Morning by Jonathan Swift
An Epistle to the Right Honourable the Earl of Burlington by John Gay
A Description of a City Shower by Jonathan Swift
Hymn to Contentment by Thomas Parnell
The Blind Boy by Colley Cibber
To the Nightingale by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
The Tree by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
To a Child of Quality by Matthew Prior
A Letter to the Honourable Lady Miss Margaret Cavendish Holles-Harley by Matthew Prior
Song: ‘My days have been so wondrous free’ by Thomas Parnell
Secret Love by Peter Anthony Motteux
The Rose-bud by William Broome
The Poet and the Rose by John Gay
Song: ‘See, see, she wakes, Sabina wakes!’ by William Congreve
Song: ‘When thy beauty appears’ by Thomas Parnell
Song: ‘O ruddier than the cherry!’ by John Gay
A Song: ‘If wine and music have the power’ by Matthew Prior
A Song: ‘I smile at Love and all its arts’ by Sir John Vanbrugh
Song: ‘Only tell her that I love’ by John Cutts, Lord Cutts
An Ode: ‘The merchant, to secure his treasure’ by Matthew Prior
Sally in Our Alley by Henry Carey
Sweet William’s Farewell to Black-eyed Susan by John Gay
Song: ‘Pious Selinda goes to prayers’ by William Congreve
The Indifferent by William Pattison
Amoret by William Congreve
To a Lady Making Love by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Song: ‘Why, lovely charmer, tell me, why’ by Sir Richard Steele
The Advice by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
The Answer by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
On a Certain Lady at Court by Alexander Pope
Semele to Jupiter by William Congreve
The Declaimer by Henry Baker
The Answer by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
Those Arts Which Common Beauties Move by John Oldmixon
The Lady Who Offers Her Looking-glass to Venus by Matthew Prior
A Song: ‘Persuade me not, there is a grace’ by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
Verses, Written for the Toasting-glasses of the Kit-Cat Club, 1703 by Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax
The Question, to Lisetta by Matthew Prior
Lisetta’s Reply by Matthew Prior
To Chloe by John Oldmixon
The Female Phaeton by Matthew Prior
To Apollo Making Love by Thomas Tickell
A Better Answer by Matthew Prior
To a Lady by Matthew Prior
False Though She Be to Me and Love by William Congreve
To Chloe Weeping by Matthew Prior
A Song: ‘In vain you tell your parting lover’ by Matthew Prior
An Elegy to an Old Beauty by Thomas Parnell
Colin and Lucy by Thomas Tickell
A Ballad: ‘’Twas when the seas were roaring’ by John Gay
Pastoral: Hylas and Ægon by Alexander Pope
Eloïsa to Abelard by Alexander Pope
A Pastoral by John Byrom
On My Birthday by Matthew Prior
Stella’s Birthday, 1720 by Jonathan Swift
Stella’s Birthday, March 13, 1727 by Jonathan Swift
The Secretary, Written at The Hague by Matthew Prior
The Jugglers by John Gay
The Goat without a Beard by John Gay
The Hare with Many Friends by John Gay
Apollo’s Edict by Jonathan Swift
An Account of the Greatest English Poets by Joseph Addison
Mr. Pope’s Welcome from Greece by John Gay
To Sir Godfrey Kneller on His Picture of the King by Joseph Addison
Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, Being the Prologue to the Satires by Alexander Pope
An Epigram by John Byrom
On the Death of Dr. Swift by Jonathan Swift
Theristes, or the Lordling by Thomas Tickell
A Grub Street Elegy by Jonathan Swift
On a Fly by William Oldys
The Wine Vault by George Alexander Stevens
Trifles by George Farquhar
Verses, Imitated from the French of Mons. Maynard to Cardinal Richelieu by George Stepney
Careless Content by John Byrom
Ode on Solitude by Alexander Pope
The Hermit by Thomas Parnell
The Wish by Walter Pope
The Change by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
To the Evening Star by George Stepney
A Nocturnal Reverie by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea
A Hymn for Evening by Thomas Parnell
A Night-Piece on Death by Thomas Parnell
On the Origin of Evil by John Byrom
Divine Ode by Joseph Addison
A Cradle Hymn by Isaac Watts
The Universal Prayer by Alexander Pope
To His Soul by Matthew Prior
The Dying Christian to His Soul by Alexander Pope
The Day of Judgment by Isaac Watts
Verses Sent by Lord Melcombe to Dr. Young by George Bubb Dodington, Lord Melcombe
On the Death of the Earl of Cadogan by Thomas Tickell
To the Earl of Warwick, on the Death of Mr. Addison by Thomas Tickell
Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady by Alexander Pope
My Own Epitaph by John Gay
For My Own Monument by Matthew Prior
Life’s Progress by Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea