Читать книгу Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham - Edmund Waller - Страница 9

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When from black clouds no part of sky is clear,

But just so much as lets the sun appear,

Heaven then would seem thy image, and reflect

Those sable vestments, and that bright aspect.

A spark of virtue by the deepest shade

Of sad adversity is fairer made;

Nor less advantage doth thy beauty get,

A Venus rising from a sea of jet!

Such was th'appearance of new-formed light,

While yet it struggled with eternal night. 10

Then mourn no more, lest thou admit increase

Of glory by thy noble lord's decease.

We find not that the laughter-loving dame[2]

Mourn'd for Anchises; 'twas enough she came

To grace the mortal with her deathless bed,

And that his living eyes such beauty fed;

Had she been there, untimely joy, through all

Men's hearts diffused, had marr'd the funeral.

Those eyes were made to banish grief: as well

Bright Phoebus might affect in shades to dwell, 20

As they to put on sorrow: nothing stands,

But power to grieve, exempt from thy commands.

If thou lament, thou must do so alone;

Grief in thy presence can lay hold on none.

Yet still persist the memory to love

Of that great Mercury of our mighty Jove,

Who, by the power of his enchanting tongue,

Swords from the hands of threat'ning monarchs wrung.

War he prevented, or soon made it cease, 29

Instructing princes in the arts of peace;

Such as made Sheba's curious queen resort

To the large-hearted Hebrew's famous court.

Had Homer sat amongst his wond'ring guests,

He might have learn'd at those stupendous feasts,

With greater bounty, and more sacred state,

The banquets of the gods to celebrate.

But oh! what elocution might he use,

What potent charms, that could so soon infuse

His absent master's love into the heart

Of Henrietta! forcing her to part 40

From her loved brother, country, and the sun,

And, like Camilla, o'er the waves to run

Into his arms! while the Parisian dames

Mourn for the ravish'd glory; at her flames

No less amazed than the amazèd stars,

When the bold charmer of Thessalia wars

With Heaven itself, and numbers does repeat,

Which call descending Cynthia from her seat.

[1] 'Mourning': Carlisle was a luxurious liver, and died in 1636, poor,

but, like many spendthrifts, popular. He had represented Prince

Charles at his marriage with Princess Henrietta at Paris.

[2] 'Dame': Venus.