The fucl justice layeth on, And mercy blows the coals, The metal in this furnace wrought Are men's defiled souls: For which, as now on fire I am, To work them to their good, So will I melt into a bath, To wash them in my blood! With this he vanished out of sight, And swiftly shrunk away, And straight I called unto my mind That it was Christmas Day. XXV. SIR FRANCIS BACON, 1561-1626. LIFE. HE World's a bubble; and the life of man THE Less than a span : In his conception wretched; from the womb, So to the tomb : Curst from the cradle, and brought up to years, Who then to frail Mortality shall trust But limmes the water, or but writes in dust. Yet, since with sorrow here we live opprest, Courts are but only superficial schools The rural parts are turned into a den And where's a city from all vice so free Domestic cares afflict the husband's bed, Or pains, his head : Those that live single, take it for a curse, Or do things worse: Some would have children; those that have them none; Or wish them gone. What is it then to have or have no wife But single thraldom or a double strife? Our own affections still at home to please, To cross the sea to any foreign soil, Perils and toil: Wars with their noise affright us: when they cease What then remains, but that we still should cry, XXVI. SAMUEL DANIEL, 1562-1619. L SONG. OVE is a sickness full of woes, A plant that with most cutting grows, Most barren with best using Why so? More we enjoy it, more it dies ; If not enjoyed, it sighing cries, Love is a torment of the mind, Not well, nor full, nor fasting. Why so? More we enjoy it, more it dies If not enjoyed, it sighing cries, Hey, ho! ; XXVII. ULYSSES AND THE SIREN. SIREN. CON 'OME worthy Greek, Ulysses, come, The winds and seas are troublesome, Here may we sit and view their toil That travail in the deep, And joy the day in mirth the while, ULYSSES. Fair nymph, if fame or honour were Then would I come and rest with thee, But here it dwells, and here must I With danger seek it forth, To spend the time luxuriously Becomes not men of worth. SIREN. Ulysses, O be not deceived With that unreal name, |