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.

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