Their ears hungry of each word
Which the dear tongue would afford,
But their tongues restrain'd from walking
Till their hearts had ended talking.

But, when their tongues could not speak,

Love itself did silence break;

Love did set his lips asunder,

Thus to speak in love and wonder.

Stella! sovereign of my joy,
Fair triumpher of annoy!
Stella, star of heavenly fire!
Stella, loadstar of desire!

Stella, in whose shining eyes

Are the lights of Cupid's skies,

Whose beams, where they once are darted,

Love therewith is straight imparted!

Stella, whose voice, when it speaks,

Senses all asunder breaks !

Stella, whose voice, when it singeth,
Angels to acquaintance bringeth!

Stella, in whose body is

Writ each character of bliss ;

Whose face all all beauty passeth,

Save thy mind, which yet surpasseth!

Grant, O grant, but speech, alas!
Fails me, fearing on to pass;

Grant, O me! what am I saying?

But no fault there is in praying:

Grant- O Dear! on knees I pray,
(Knees on ground he then did stay),
That, not I, but since I love you,

Time and place for me may move you.

Never season was more fit;

Never room more apt for it;

Smiling air allows my reason;

These birds sing – "Now use the season!"

This small wind, which so sweet is,

See how it the leaves doth kiss!
Each tree in its best attiring,
Sense of love to love inspiring.

Love makes earth the water drink ;
Love to earth makes water sink;
And, if dumb things be so witty,
Shall a heavenly grace want pity?

There his hands, in their speech, fain

Would have made tongue's language plain;

But her hands, his hands repelling,

Gave repulse all grace excelling.

Then she spake her speech was such

:

As not ears but heart did touch;
While such wise she love denied
As yet love she signifièd.

Astrophel! said she, my love
Cease in these effects to prove !
Now be still! yet still believe me,

Thy grief more than death would grieve me.

If that any thought in me
Can taste comfort but of thee,
Let me, fed with hellish anguish,
Joyless, hopeless, endless languish !

If those eyes you praisèd be
Half so dear as you to me,

Let me home return stark-blinded

Of those eyes, and blinder-minded!

If to secret of my heart

I do any wish impart

Where thou art not foremost placèd, Be both wish and I defaced!

If more may be said, I say:
All my bliss in thee I lay:

If thou love, my love content thee !
For all love, all faith is meant thee.

Trust me, while I thee deny,
In myself the smart I try ;

Tyrant Honour doth thus use thee;
Stella's self might not refuse thee.

Therefore, Dear! this no more move,
Lest, though I leave not thy love,
Which too deep in me is framed,

I should blush when thou art namèd!

Therewithal away she went,

Leaving him so passion-rent

With what she had done and spoken,

That therewith my song is broken.

О

ABSENCE

DEAR LIFE! when shall it be
That mine eyes thine eyes shall see,

And in them thy mind discover:
Whether absence have had force
Thy remembrance to divorce
From the image of thy lover?

O, if I myself find not

After parting aught forgot

Nor debarr'd from Beauty's treasure, Let not tongue aspire to tell

In what high joys I shall dwell!

Only thought aims at the pleasure.

Thought therefore I will send thee
To take up the place for me;

Long I will not after tarry:
There, unseen, thou may'st be bold
Those fair wonders to behold

Which in them my hopes do carry.

Thought! see thou no place forbear!
Enter bravely everywhere!

Seize on all to her belonging!
But if thou wouldst guarded be,
Her beams fearing, take with thee
Strength of liking, rage of longing!

Think of that most grateful time,
When my leaping heart will climb
In my lips to have his biding:

There those roses for to kiss,
Which do breathe a sugar'd bliss,

Opening rubies, pearls dividing!

Think of my most princely power,
Which, I blessed, shall devour

With my greedy licorous senses
Beauty, music, sweetness, love,
While she doth against me prove
Her strong darts but weak defences!

Think, think of those dallyings
When, with dove-like murmurings,
With glad moaning, passed anguish,
We change eyes and, heart for heart,
Each to other do depart

Joying till joy makes us languish !

O, my Thought! thy thoughts surcease!
Thy delights my woes increase;

My life melts with too much thinking:

Think no more,

-but die in me

Till thou shalt revived be,

At her lips my nectar drinking!

OPPORTUNITY

ONLY JOY! now here you are,

Fit to hear and ease my care,
Let my whispering voice obtain
Sweet reward for sharpest pain:
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
"No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"