Poems of Henry Vaughan, Silurist Part 31

4. [EURIPIDES. FRAGM. MLXXI.]

You minister to others' wounds a cure, But leave your own all rotten and impure.

5. [EURIPIDES. CRESPHONTES, FRAGM. CCCCLV.]

Chance, taking from me things of highest price, At a dear rate hath taught me to be wise.

6. [INCERTI.]

[He] Knaves' tongues and calumnies no more doth prize Than the vain buzzing of so many flies.

7. [PINDAR. FRAGM. C.]

His deep, dark heart--bent to supplant-- Is iron, or else adamant.

8. [SOLON. FRAGM. XV.]

What though they boast their riches unto us?

Those cannot say that they are virtuous.

From _Of the Diseases of the Mind and the Body_: translated from Plutarch (1651).

1. [HOMER. ILIAD, XVII. 446-7.]

That man for misery excell'd All creatures which the wide world held.

2. [EURIPIDES. BACCHAE, 1170-4.]

A tender kid--see, where 'tis put-- I on the hills did slay, Now dress'd and into quarters cut, A pleasant, dainty prey.

From _Of the Diseases of the Mind and the Body_: translated from Maximus Tyrius (1651).

1. [ARIPHRON.]

O health, the chief of gifts divine!

I would I might with thee and thine Live all those days appointed mine!

From _The Mount of Olives_ (1652).

1. [DEATH.]

Draw near, fond man, and dress thee by this gla.s.s, Mark how thy bravery and big looks must pa.s.s Into corruption, rottenness and dust; The frail supporters which betray'd thy trust.

O weigh in time thy last and loathsome state!

To purchase heav'n for tears is no hard rate.

Our glory, greatness, wisdom, all we have, If mis-employ'd, but add h.e.l.l to the grave: Only a fair redemption of evil times Finds life in death, and buries all our crimes.

2. [HADRIAN'S ADDRESS TO HIS SOUL.]

My soul, my pleasant soul, and witty, The guest and consort of my body.

Into what place now all alone Naked and sad wilt thou be gone?

No mirth, no wit, as heretofore, Nor jests wilt thou afford me more.

3. [PAULINUS. CARM. APP. I. 35-40.]

What is't to me that s.p.a.cious rivers run Whole ages, and their streams are never done?

Those still remain: but all my fathers died, And I myself but for few days abide.

4. [ANEURIN. ENGLYNION Y MISOEDD, III. 1-4.]

In March birds couple, a new birth Of herbs and flow'rs breaks through the earth; But in the grave none stirs his head, Long is the impris'ment of the dead.