Night hath closed all in her cloak;
Twinkling stars love-thoughts provoke ;
Danger hence good care doth keep;
Jealousy himself doth sleep :

Take me to thee, and thee to me !
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

Better place no wit can find,
Cupid's knot to loose or bind;
These sweet flowers, our fine bed, too
Us in their best language woo:

Take me to thee, and thee to me;

66

'No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

This small light the moon bestows
Serves thy beams but to disclose,
So to raise my hap more high;
Fear not, else none can us spy:
Take me to thee, and thee to me !·
"No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

That you heard was but a mouse;
Dumb sleep holdeth all the house;
Yet asleep, methinks they say -
Young fools! take time while you may :
Take me to thee, and thee to me!

“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

Niggard Time threats, if we miss
This large offer of our bliss,

Long stay ere he grant the same :

Sweet! then, while each thing doth frame,

Take me to thee, and thee to me ! —

"No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

Your fair mother is a-bed,

Candles out and curtains spread;
She thinks you do letters write;
Write, but let me first indite :

Take me to thee, and thee to me! —

66

'No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!”

Sweet! alas! why strive you thus?
Concord better fitteth us;

Leave to Mars the force of hands ;
Your power in your beauty stands :
Take thee to me, and me to thee! -

66

No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

Woe to me, and do you swear

Me to hate but I forbear?
Cursed be my destines all,

That brought me so high to fall!

Soon with my death I will please thee

66

'No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be!"

WHO

THE COLLOQUY

HO is it that this dark night
Underneath my window plaineth?”
It is one who, from thy sight
Being, ah! exiled, disdaineth
Every other vulgar light.

Be not yet those fancies changèd?”.
Dear! when you find change in me,
Though from me you be estrangèd,
Let my change to ruin be?

66

Well, in absence this will die :

Leave to see, and leave to wonder !".

Absence sure will help if I

Can learn how myself to sunder
From what in my heart doth lie.

"But time will these thoughts remove :
Time doth work what no man knoweth."
Time doth as the subject prove :
With time still affection groweth
In the faithful turtle dove.

"What if we new beauties see?
Will not they stir new affection?'
I will think they pictures be,
(Image-like of saints' perfection)
Poorly counterfeiting thee.

"But your reason's purer light

Bids

you leave such minds to nourish."
Dear! do reason no such spite :
Never doth thy beauty flourish
More than in my reason's sight.

"But the wrongs love bears will make
Love at length leave undertaking."-

No! the more fools it do shake
In a ground of so firm making,
Deeper still they drive the stake.

"Peace! I think that some give ear ;
Come no more, lest I get anger!".
Bliss! I will my bliss forbear,
Fearing, Sweet! you to endanger;
But my soul shall harbour there.

"Well, begone! begone! I say:
Lest that Argus eyes perceive you." —
O, unjust is Fortune's sway

Which can make me thus to leave you,
And from louts to run away.

EPITHALAMIUM

LET Mother Earth now deck herself in flowers, To see her offspring seek a good increase, Where justest love doth vanquish Cupid's powers, And war of thoughts is swallow'd up in peace, Which never may decrease,

But, like the turtles fair,

Live one in two, a well-united pair:

Which that no chance may stain,

O Hymen! long their coupled joys maintain !

O Heaven! awake, show forth thy stately face;
Let not these slumbering clouds thy beauties hide,
But with thy cheerful presence help to grace
The honest Bridegroom and the bashful Bride,
Whose loves may ever bide,

Like to the elm and vine,

With mutual embracements them to twine :

In which delightful pain,

O Hymen! long their coupled joys maintain!

Ye Muses all! which chaste affects allow
And have to Thyrsis shown your secret skill,
To this chaste love your sacred favours bow;
And so to him and her your gifts distill
That they all vice may kill

And, like to lilies pure,

May please all eyes, and spotless may endure : Where that all bliss may reign,

O Hymen! long their coupled joys maintain!

Ye Nymphs which in the waters empire have !
Since Thyrsis' music oft doth yield you praise,⚫
Grant to the thing which we for Thyrsis crave:
Let one time but long first - close up their days,

One grave their bodies seize ;

And, like two rivers sweet

When they though divers do together meet,
One stream both streams contain !

O Hymen! long their coupled joys maintain !

Pan father Pan, the god of silly sheep!
Whose care is cause that they in number grow,
Have much more care of them that them do keep,
Since from these good the others' good doth flow;
And make their issue show

In number like the herd

Of younglings which thyself with love hast rear'd, Or like the drops of rain!

O Hymen! long their coupled joys maintain !