Ode to Sir William Sidney, on His Birthday

  
XIV.
 — ODE TO SIR WILLIAM SIDNEY, ON HIS BIRTH-DAY.
 

                       Some sing, 
    And all do strive to advance 
The gladness higher;
                Wherefore should I 
                Stand silent by, 
                    Who not the least,    That I may tell to SIDNEY what 
                       This day 
                       Doth say, 
    And he may think on that 
Which I do tell;
                When all the noise 
                Of these forced joys, 
                    Are fled and gone,
    Are justly summ'd, that make you man;
                       Your vow 
                       Must now 
    Strive all right ways it can, 
T' outstrip your peers :
                Since he doth lack 
                Of going back 
                    Little,  whose will
    Of nobles' virtue, shew in you ;
                       Your blood 
                       So good 
    And great, must seek for new, 
And study more :
                Not weary, rest 
                On what's deceas't.
 
                    For they, that swell
    Whose nephew, whose grandchild you are ;
                       And men 
                       Will then 
    Say you have follow'd far, 
When well begun :
                Which must be now, 
                They teach you how, 
                    And he that stays
    If with this truth you be inspired ;
                       So may 
                       This day 
    Be more, and long desired ;
And with the flame 
                Of love be bright, 
                As with the light 
                    Of bonfires !  then



    And some do drink, and some do dance, 
                       Some ring, 
                       Some sing, 
    And all do strive to advance 
The gladness higher;
                Wherefore should I 
                Stand silent by, 
                    Who not the least,

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