April 28.
Chronology.
In 1658, during this month, the accomplished colonel Richard Lovelace died in the Gatehouse at Westminster, whither he had been committed for his devotion to the interests and fortunes of the Stuart family. His celebrity is preserved by some elegant poems; one is especially remarkable for natural imagery, and beautiful expression of noble thought:—
When love with unconfined wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at my grates;
When I lye tangled in her haire,
And fettered with her eye,
The birds that wanton in the aire
Know no such libertye.
When flowing cups ran swiftly round
With no allaying Thames,
Our carelesse heads with roses crowned,
Our hearts with loyal flames;
When thirsty griefe in wine we steepe,
When healths and draughts goe free,
Fishes, that tipple in the deepe,
Know no such libertie.
When, linnet-like, confined I
With shriller note shall sing
The mercye, sweetness, majestye,
And glories of my king;
When I shall voyce aloud how good
He is, how great should be,
Th’ enlarged winds, that curl the flood,
Know no such libertie.
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron barrs a cage,
Mindes, innocent and quiet, take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soule am free,
Angels alone, that soare above,
Enjoy such libertie.