Not at first sight,-not with a dribbing shot, Love gave the wound which while I breathe will bleed, But known worth did in tract of time proceed, Till by degrees it had full conquest got: I saw, and liked, I liked but loved not, I loved but straight did not what love decreed: At length, to love's decrees, I forced, agreed, Yet with repining at such partial lot. Many Sonnets follow in which the contest between love and reason, passion and virtue; between the ardour of the Poet's affection, and the strict sense of honour and firm principle of the unhappy object of it, are severally pourtrayed. At length we arrive at Sonnet 62. Late tir'd with woe, even ready for to pine Willed me these tempests of vain love to fly, Of love new-coined to help my beggary, The progress of the Poet's suit may be traced in Hope! art thou true? or dost thou flatter me? Doth Stella now begin with piteous eye The ruins of her conquest to espy? Will she take him, before all wrecked he be ? But fail'st thou not in phrase so heavenly high What blushing notes dost thou in margin see? Well, how so thou interpret the contents, Sonnet 68. Stella! the only planet of my light, Light of my life, and life of my desire. Chief good, whereto my hope doth only aspire, World of my wealth, and heaven of my delight Why dost thou spend the treasure of thy sp'rit With voice more fit to wed Amphion's lyre,. Seeking to quench in me the noble fire, Fed by thy worth, and kindled by thy sight? And all in vain, for while thy breath most sweet, With choicest words, thy words with reasons rase, Thy reasons firmly set on virtue's feet, Labour to kill in me this killing care: Oh! think I then, what paradise of joy It is, so fair a Virtue to enjoy! Sonnet 69. O joy! too high for my low style to shew: My friend! that oft saw'st through all masks my woe, Come, come, and let me pour myself on thee! My spring appears, O see what here doth grow! And though she give but this conditionally, This realm of bliss, while virtuous course I take, No kings be crowned, but they some covenants make! Sonnet 71. Who will in fairest book of nature know, Not by rude force, but sweetest sovereignty Thyself-dost strive all minds that way to move: Who mark in thee, what is in thee most fair ; So while thy beauty draws the heart to love, As fast thy virtue bends that love to good; But, ah! desire still cries, give me some food. Sonnet 72. Desire, though thou my old companion art, Virtue's gold now must head my Cupid's dart. Fear to offend, well worthy to appear, Care shining in mine eyes, faith in my sp'rite: To what little purpose the following Song directly shews: Have I caught my heavenly jewel Since sweet sleep her eyes hath charm'd- Now will I with that boy prove Some play while he is disarm'd. Her tongue, waking, still refuseth, Now will I attempt to know, See the hand which waking guardeth ; Now will I invade the fort; But O fool! think of the danger Of her just and high disdain : Now will I, alas! refrain!.. Love fears nothing else but anger.........o mai Yet those lips so sweetly swelling, Now will I but venture this! Who will read must first learn spelling. Oh! sweet kiss! but ah! she's waking; Now will I away hence flee; Fool! more fool! for no more taking. This stolen kiss fills the poet with raptures, which he expresses in several Sonnets, the following is perhaps the best. Sonnet 81. O kiss! which dost those ruddy gems impart, Or gems, or fruits of new-found Paradise, Or of thy gifts, at least, shade out some part? In the midst of these raptures, the following, Alas is found. Sonnet 78. Oh! how the pleasant airs of true love be Infected by those vapours, which arise |