William Browne Quotes (1590-1645)

“For those sacred powers Tread on oblivion: no desert of ours Can be entombed in their celestial breasts.”

“As I have seene when on the breast of Thames A heavenly beauty of sweet English Dames, In some calme Ev’ning of delightfull May, With Musick give a farewell to the day, Or as they would (with an admired tone) Greet Nights ascension to her Eben Throne, Rapt with their melodie, a thousand more Run to be wafted from the bounding shore.”

“Down in a valley, by a forest side, Near where the crystal Thames rolls on her waves, I saw a mushroom stand in haughty pride, As if the lillies grew to be his slaves; The gentle daisy, with her silver crown, Worn in the breast of many a shepherd’s lass; The humble violet, that lowly down, Salutes the gay nymphs as they trimly pass; Those, with a many more, methought complain’d That Nature should those needless things produce, Which not alone the Sun from others gain’d, But turn it wholely to their proper use:   I could not choose but grieve, that Nature made   Such glorious flowers to live in such a shade.”