A Part of an Ode
A Part of an Ode to the Immortal Memory and Friendship of that noble pair Sir Lucius Cary and Sir H. Morison
IT is not growing like a tree
In bulk doth make man better be;
Or standing long an oak three hundred year
To fall a log at last dry bald and sere:
A lily of a day 5
Is fairer far in May
Although it fall and die that night;
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be. 10
Call noble Lucius then for wine
And let thy looks with gladness shine:
Accept this garland plant it on thy head
And think¡ªnay know¡ªthy Morison 's not dead.
He leap'd the present age 15
Possest with holy rage
To see that bright eternal Day
Of which we Priests and Poets say
Such truths as we expect for happy men;
And there he lives with memory¡ªand Ben 20
Jonson: who sung this of him ere he went
Himself to rest
Or tast a part of that full joy he meant
To have exprest
In this bright Asterism 25
Where it were friendship's schism¡ª
Were not his Lucius long with us to tarry¡ª
To separate these twy
Lights the Dioscuri
And keep the one half from his Harry. 30
But fate doth so alternate the design
Whilst that in Heav'n this light on earth must shine.
And shine as you exalted are!
Two names of friendship but one star:
Of hearts the union: and those not by chance 35
Made or indenture or leased out to advance
The profits for a time.
No pleasures vain did chime
Of rimes or riots at your feasts
Orgies of drink or feign'd protests; 40
But simple love of greatness and of good
That knits brave minds and manners more than blood.
This made you first to know the Why
You liked then after to apply
That liking and approach so one the t'other 45
Till either grew a portion of the other:
Each styl¨¨d by his end
The copy of his friend.
You lived to be the great surnames
And titles by which all made claims 50
Unto the Virtue¡ªnothing perfect done
But as a CARY or a MORISON.
And such the force the fair example had
As they that saw
The good and durst not practise it were glad 55
That such a law
Was left yet to mankind
Where they might read and find
FRIENDSHIP indeed was written not in words
And with the heart not pen 60
Of two so early men
Whose lines her rules were and records:
Who ere the first down bloom¨¨d on the chin
Had sow'd these fruits and got the harvest in.