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What woman's happier life repays
Her for those months of wretched days？
For all my mouthless body leeched
Ere Birth's releasing hell was reached？
What have I done； or tried； or said
In thanks to that dear woman dead？
Men triumph over women still；
Men trample women's rights at will；
And man's lust roves the world untamed。 。 。
O grave； keep shut lest I be shamed。
John Masefield ＇1878…
STEPPING WESTWARD
STEPPING WESTWARD
〃What； you are stepping westward？〃 … 〃Yea。〃
… 'Twould be a wildish destiny；
If we； who thus together roam
In a strange Land； and far from home；
Were in this place the guests of Chance：
Yet who would stop； or fear to advance
Though home or shelter he had none；
With such a sky to lead him on？
The dewy ground was dark and cold；
Behind； all gloomy to behold；
And stepping westward seemed to be
A kind of heavenly destiny：
I liked the greeting； 'twas a sound
Of something without place or bound；
And seemed to give me spiritual right
To travel through that region bright。
The voice was soft； and she who spake
Was walking by her native lake：
The salutation had to me
The very sound of courtesy：
Its power was felt； and while my eye
Was fixed upon the glowing Sky；
The echo of the voice enwrought
A human sweetness with the thought
Of travelling through the world that lay
Before me in my endless way。
William Wordsworth ＇1770…1850＇
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
（To Queen Elizabeth）
His golden locks Time hath to silver turned；
O Time too swift； O swiftness never ceasing！
His youth 'gainst time and age hath ever spurned；
But spurned in vain； youth waneth by increasing：
Beauty； strength； youth； are flowers but fading seen；
Duty； faith； love； are roots； and ever green。
His helmet now shall make a hive for bees；
And lovers' sonnets turned to holy psalms；
A man…at…arms must now serve on his knees；
And feed on prayers； which are Age his alms：
But though from court to cottage he depart；
His Saint is sure of his unspotted heart。
And when he saddest sits in homely cell；
He'll teach his swains this carol for a song； …
〃Blest be the hearts that wish my sovereign well；
Curst be the souls that think her any wrong。〃
Goddess； allow this aged man his right
To be your beadsman now that was your knight。
George Peele ＇1558？…1597？＇
THE WORLD
The World's a bubble； and the life of Man
Less than a span：
In his conception wretched； … from the womb；
So to the tomb；
Curst from his cradle； and brought up to years
With cares and fears。
Who then to frail mortality shall trust；
But limns on water； or but writes in dust。
Yet whilst with sorrow here we live oppressed；
What life is best？
Courts are but only superficial schools
To dandle fools：
The rural parts are turned into a den
Of savage men；
And where's a city from foul vice so free；
But may be termed the worst of all the three？
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 moan
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
Is a disease；
To cross the seas to any foreign soil；
Peril and toil；
Wars with their noise affright us； when they cease；
We are worse in peace：
… What then remains； but that we still should cry
For being born； or； being born； to die？
Francis Bacon ＇1561…1626＇
〃WHEN THAT I WAS AND A LITTLE TINY BOY〃
From 〃Twelfth Night〃
When that I was and a little tiny boy；
With hey； ho； the wind and the rain；
A foolish thing was but a toy；
For the rain it raineth every day。
But when I came to man's estate；
With hey； ho； the wind and the rain；
'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate；
For the rain it raineth every day。
But when I came； alas！ to wive；
With hey； ho； the wind and the rain；
By swaggering could I never thrive；
For the rain it raineth every day。
But when I came unto my beds；
With hey； ho； the wind and the rain；
With toss…pots still had drunken heads；
For the rain it raineth every day。
A great while ago the world begun；
With hey； ho； the wind and the rain；
But that's all one； our play is done；
And we'll strive to please you every day。
William Shakespeare ＇1564…1616＇
OF THE LAST VERSES IN THE BOOK
When we for age could neither read nor write；
The subject made us able to indite；
The soul； with nobler resolutions decked；
The body stooping does herself erect。
No mortal parts are requisite to raise
Her that； unbodied； can her Maker praise。
The seas are quiet when the winds give o'er；
So calm are we when passions are no more。
For then we know how vain it was to boast
Of fleeting things； so certain to be lost。
Clouds of affection from our younger eyes
Conceal that emptiness which age descries。
The soul's dark cottage； battered and decayed；
Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made：
Stronger by weakness； wiser； men become
As they draw near to their eternal home。
Leaving the old； both worlds at once they view
That stand upon the threshold of the new。
Edmund Waller ＇1606…1687＇
A LAMENT
The Night Before His Execution
My prime of youth is but a frost of cares；
My feast of joy is but a dish of pain；
My crop of corn is but a field of tares；
And all my good is but vain hope of gain；
The day is fled； and yet I saw no sun；
And now I live； and now my life is done！
The spring is past； and yet it is not sprung；
The fruit is dead； and yet the leaves be green；
My youth is gone； and yet I am but young；
I saw the world； and yet I was not seen；
My thread is cut； and yet it is not spun；
And now I live； and now my life is done！
I sought my death； and found it in my womb；
I looked for life； and saw it was a shade；
I trod the earth； and knew it was my tomb；
And now I die； and now I am but made；
The glass is full； and now my glass is run；
And now I live； and now my life is done！
Chidiock Tichborne ＇1558？…1586＇
TOMORROW
In the down…hill of life； when I find I'm declining；
May my fate no less fortunate be
Than a snug elbow…chair will afford for reclining；
And a cot that o'erlooks the wide sea；
With an ambling pad…pony to pace o'er the lawn；
While I carol away idle sorrow；
And blithe as the lark that each day hails the dawn；
Look forward with hope for Tomorrow。
With a porch at my door； both for shelter and shade too；
As the sunshine or rain may prevail；
And a small spot of ground for the use of the spade too；
With a barn for the use of the flail：
A cow for my dairy； a dog for my game；
And a purse when a friend wants to borrow；
I'll envy no Nabob his riches or fame；
Nor