IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 241 



Who God doth late and early pray 

 More of His grace than gifts to lend ; 

 And entertains the harmless day 

 With a religious book or friend ; 



This man is freed from servile bands 

 Of hope to rise, or fear to fall ; 

 Lord of himself, though not of lands ; 

 And having nothing, yet hath all. 



Elizabeth of Bohemia^ 



You meaner beauties of the night, 



That poorly satisfy our eyes 

 More by your number than your light, 



You common people of the skies. 

 What are you, when the Sun ^ shall rise ? 



You curious chanters of the wood 

 That warble forth dame Nature's lays. 



Thinking your passions understood 



By your weak accents ; what's your praise 



When Philomel her voice doth raise ? 



You violets that first appear, 



By your pure purple mantles known 



Like the proud virgins of the year. 

 As if the spring were all your own, — 



What are you, when the Rose is blown ? 



1 She was a daughter of James I., and married, in 1613, Frederick 

 Elector Palatine of Bavaria, afterwards King of Bohemia. 



2 Moon is sometimes given instead of Sun 



Q 



