IX. THE MARRIED MAN.

I only am the man, among all married men,
That does not wish the Priest, to be unlinked again!
And though my shoe did wring, I would not make my moan,
Nor think my neighbour's chance more happy than mine own
Yet court I not my Wife! but yield observance due;
Being neither fond! nor cross! nor jealous! nor untrue!

X. THE WIFE.

The first of all our sex came from the side of Man;
I thither am returned, from whence our sex began.
I do not visit oft; nor many, when I do!

I tell my mind to few; and that in counsel too!

I seem not sick, in health; nor sullen, but in sorrow!

I care for somewhat else, than what to wear to-morrow.

XI. THE WIDOW.

My husband knew, how much his death would grieve me; And therefore left me wealth, to comfort and relieve me. Though I no more will have; I must not love disdain ! PENELOPE herself did suitors entertain!

And yet, to draw on such as are of best esteem,
Nor younger than I am, nor richer, will I seem!

XII. THE MAID.

I, marriage would forswear; but that I hear men tell,
That she that dies a Maid must lead an ape in hell.
Therefore, if Fortune come, I will not mock and play;
Nor drive the bargain on, till it be driven away!
Titles and Lands I like: yet rather fancy can
A man that wanteth gold; than gold that wants a man!

SAD, all alone, not long I musing sat,
But that my thoughts compelled me to aspire!
A laurel garland in my hand I gat;

So the Muses I approached the nigher.
My suit was this, A Poet to become!

To drink with them; and from the heavens be fed! PHOEBUS denied; and sware, 'There was no room,

Such to be Poets as fond Fancy led!'

With that, I mourned; and sat me down to weep.
VENUS, she smiled; and, smiling, to me said:
'Come, drink with me; and sit thee still and sleep!'
This voice I heard; and VENUS I obeyed.
That poison, Sweet! hath done me all this wrong;
For now of Love must needs be all my Song!

LIKE MEMNON's rock, touched with the rising sun,

Which yields a sound, and echoes forth a voice: But, when it's drowned in western seas, is dumb; And, drowsy-like, leaves off to make a noise. So I, my Love! enlightened with your shine, A Poet's skill within my soul I shroud! Not rude, like that which finer Wits decline; But such as Muses to the best allowed! But when your figure and your shape is gone; I speechless am! like as I was before: Or if I write, my Verse is filled with moan;

And blurred with tears, by falling in such store. Then, muse not, LICIA! if my Muse be slack; For when I wrote, I did thy beauty lack!

DISTANCE of place, my Love and me did part ; Yet both did swear, We never would remove! In sign thereof, I bade her take my heart!

Which did, and doth, and cannot chose but, love. Thus did we part, in hope to meet again; Where both did vow, most constant to remain!

A she there was, that passed betwixt us both ;
By whom, each knew, how other's cause did fare;
For men, to trust men in their love are loth!

Thus had we both, of love a Lover's care.
Haply he seeks his sorrows to renew,
That for his Love doth make another sue!

By her, a kiss, a kiss to me, She sent;

A kiss, for price, more worth than purest gold! She gave it her! To me, the kiss was meant! A she to kiss! what harm, if she were bold. Happy those lips, that had so sweet a kiss! For Heaven itself scarce yields so sweet a bliss.

This modest she, blushing for shame of this,

Or loth to part from that she liked so well, Did play false play; and gave me not the kiss!

Yet my Love's kindness could not choose but tell. Then blame me not! That, kissing, sighed, and swore, 'I kissed but her; whom you had kissed before!'

'Sweet! love me more! and blame not me, sweet Love!
I kissed those lips; yet harmless, I do vow!
Scarce would my lips, from off those lips remove;
For still methought, sweet Fair! I kissed you!
And thus, kind Love, the sum of all my bliss.
Was both begun, and ended, in a kiss.

'Then send me more; but send them by your friend! Kiss none but her; nor her, nor none at all! Beware by whom such treasures you do send !

I must them lose; except I for them call! And love me, Dear! and still, still, kissing be! Both like and love; but none, sweet Love! but me!'

My Love lay sleeping, where birds music made;
Shutting her eyes, disdainful of the light.
The heat was great; but greater was the shade,
Which her defended from his burning sight.
This CUPID saw, and came a kiss to take;

Sucking sweet nectar from her sugared breath. She felt the touch, and blushed, and did awake!

Seeing 'twas Love, which She did think was DEATH, She cut his wings, and causèd him to stay:

Making a vow, He should not thence depart;
Unless to her, the wanton Boy should pay

The truest, kindest, and most loving heart!
His feathers still She usèd for a fan;
Till, by exchange, my heart his feathers wan!

LIKE as a huntsman, after weary chase,

Seeing the game from him escaped away,
Sits down to rest him, in some shady place,
With panting hounds beguilèd of their prey—
So, after long pursuit and vain assay,

When I, all weary, had the chase forsook, The gentle Dear returned the selfsame way, Thinking to quench her thirst at the next brook. There She, beholding me with milder look,

Sought not to fly, but fearless still did bide, Till I in hand, her yet half trembling took;

And, with her own good will, her firmly tied. Strange thing, meseemed, to see a beast so wild, So goodly won, with her own will beguiled!

ONE day, I wrote her name upon the strand;
But came the waves, and washed it away!
Again I wrote it, with a second hand;

But came the tide, and made my pains his prey! 'Vain man,' said She, 'that dost in vain assay, A mortal thing so to immortalize! For I myself shall, like to this, decay;

And eke my name be wipèd out likewise!' 'Not so,' quod I: 'let baser things devise

To die in dust; but you shall live by fame! My Verse, your virtues rare shall eternize;

And in the heavens write your glorious name! Where, when as death shall all the World subdue, Our love shall live, and later life renew!'