THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH No longer mourn for me when I am dead Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that I am fled From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell: Nay, if you read this line, remember not O! if, I say, you look upon this verse Lest the wise world should look into your moan, And mock you with me after I am gone. SELF ABASEMENT lest the world should task you to recite love After my death, dear Love, forget me quite, Unless you would devise some virtuous lie O, lest your true love may seem false in this, For I am shamed by that which I bring forth, And so should you, to love things nothing worth. QUATUOR NOVISSIMA THAT time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet bird sang: In me thou see'st the twilight of such day Which by and by black night doth take away, In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long. THE POET'S IMMORTALITY UT be contented: when that fell arrest BUT Without all bail shall carry me away, My life hath in this line some interest, Which for memorial still with thee shall stay. When thou reviewest this, thou dost review The earth can have but earth, which is his due ; So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life, The worth of that is that which it contains, And that is this, and this with thee remains. K RICH AND POOR So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet-season'd showers are to the ground; And for the peace of you I hold such strife As 'twixt a miser and his wealth is found; Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure ; Now counting best to be with you alone, Then better'd that the world may see my pleasure ; Sometime all full with feasting on your sight, And by and by clean starvéd for a look; Save what is had or must from you be took. Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day, |