old. He is as fresh as the spring, as blithe as summer, and as ripe as autumn. We know of no English poet who is so abandonné, as the French term it, who so wholly gives himself up to his present feelings, who is so much heart and soul in what he writes, and this not on one subject only but on all subjects alike. The spirit of song dances in his veins, and flutters around his lips-now bursting into the joyful and hearty voice of the Epicurean; sometimes breathing forth strains soft as the sigh of "buried love ;" and sometimes uttering feelings of the most delicate pensiveness. His poems resemble a luxuriant meadow, full of king-cups and wild flowers, or a July firmament sparkling with a myriad of stars. His fancy fed upon all the fair and sweet things of nature; it is redolent of roses and jessamine; it is as light and airy as the thistle-down, or the bubbles which laughing boys blow into the air, where they float in a waving line of beauty. Like the sun, it communicates a delightsome gladness to every thing it shines upon, and is as bright and radiant as his beams; and yet many of his pieces conclude with the softest touches of sensibility and feeling. Indeed it is that delicate pathos, which is, at the same time, natural and almost playful, which most charms us in the writings of Herrick. And as for his versification, it presents one of the most varied specimens of rhythmical harmony in the language, flowing with an almost wonderful grace and flexibility. We shall first give a few specimens of our author's amatory poetry, which is exceedingly buoyant and graceful. To his Mistress objecting to his neither toying nor talking. "You say I love not, 'cause I do not play Deep waters noiseless are; and this we know, If so be you ask me, where The Kiss, a Dialogue. 1. "Among thy fancies, tell me this: It is a creature born, and bred And makes more soft the bridal bed: 2. It is an active flame, that flies First to the babies of the eyes, And charms them there with lullabies; Chor. And stills the bride too when she cries: 2. Then to the chin, the cheek, the ear, It frisks, and flies; now here, now there; Chor. And here, and there, and every-where. 1. Has it a speaking virtue?-2. Yes.1. How speaks it, say?-2. Do you but this, Part your join'd lips, then speaks your kiss; Chor. And this love's sweetest language is. 1. Has it a body?-2. Aye, and wings, With thousand rare encolourings; And, as it flies, it gently sings, Chor.-Love honey yields, but never stings." The Rock of Rubies and the Quarry of Pearls. "Some ask'd me where the rubies grew; And nothing I did say, But with my finger pointed to The lips of Julia. Some ask'd how pearls did grow, and where; Then spoke I to my girl To part her lips, and shew them there The quarrelets of pearl." Upon Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler, under the name of Amaryllis. "Sweet Amaryllis by a spring's Soft, and soul-melting murmurings Brought leaves and moss to cover her; The lid began to let out day: At which poor robin flew away; And seeing her not dead, but all disleav'd, For some rich flow'r he took the lip Of Julia, and began to sip: But when he felt he suck'd from thence He drank so much he scarce could stir; And thus surpris'd, as filchers use, That, that he took, and that was all. Be she fat, or be she lean; The following is inserted, with some variations, in the collection of Carew's poems. There is also another poem, addressed by Herrick to Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler, in the same collection, under the title of the Enquiry. But both appear to have been erroneously attributed to Carew. Those which succeed are in a more pathetic strain. The cruel Maid. "And, cruel maid, because I see I'll trouble you no more; but go The rose, the violet, one day See; both these lady-flow'rs decay; |