Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/298

 GEORGE WITHER

I have such a flower to wear That for those I do not care.

Let the young and happy swains Playing on the Britain plains Court unblamed their shepherdesses, And with their gold curled tresses Toy uncensured, until I Grudge at their prosperity. Let all times, both present, past, And the age that shall be last, Vaunt the beauties they bring forth. I have found in one such worth, That content I neither care What the best before me were; Nor desire to live and see Who shall fair hereafter be, For I know the hand of Nature Will not make a fairer creature.

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��247 A Widow's Hymn

"OW near me came the hand of Death,

When at my side he struck my dear, And took away the precious breath Which quicken 'd my beloved peer' How helpless am I thereby made I By day how grieved, by night how sad! And now my life's delight is gone, Alas' how am I left alone'

247 peer] companion.

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