The sapphires ringed on her panting breast Run as rich veins of ore about the mould, And are in sickness with a pale possest So true, for them I should disvalue gold. The melting rubies on her cherry lip
Are of such power to hold; that as one day Cupid flew thirsty by, he stooped to sip,
And fastened there could never get away.
The sweets of Candie are no sweets to me,' When hers I taste; nor the perfumes of price, Robb'd from the happy shrubs of Araby,
As her sweet breath, so powerful to entice. Ch hasten then, and if thou be not gone
Unto that wished traffic through the main, My powerful sighs shall quickly drive thee on, And then begin to draw thee back again. If in the mean rude waves have it opprest It shall suffice, I ventured at the best.
The complaint of Pan.
What boot is it though I am said to be The worthy son of winged Mercury? That I with gentle nymphs in forests high Kissed out the sweet time of my infancy?
And when more years had made me able grown, Was through the mountains as their leader known? That high-browed Mænalus where I was bred, And stony hills not few have honoured
Me as protector by the hands of swains, Whose sheep retire there from the open plains? That I in shepherd's cups-rejecting gold- Of milk and honey measures eight times told Have offered to me, and the ruddy wine Fresh and new pressed from the bleeding vine? VOL. II.
That gleesome hunters pleased with their sport With sacrifices due have thanked me for 't? That patient anglers standing all the day Near to some shallow stickle or deep bay, And fishermen whose nets have drawn to land A shoal so great it wellnigh hides the sand, For such success some promontory's head Thrust at by waves, hath known me worshipped? But to increase my grief, what profits this, 'Since still the loss is as the loser is?'
The song of Celadyne.
Marina's gone and now sit I As Philomela on a thorn, Turned out of nature's livery,
Mirthless, alone, and all forlorn :
Only she sings not, while my sorrows can Breathe forth such notes as suit a dying swan.
So shuts the marigold her leaves
At the departure of the sun; So from the honey-suckle sheaves
The bee goes when the day is done; So sits the turtle when she is but one, And so all woe, as I, since she is gone.
To some few birds kind Nature hath Made all the summer as one day; Which once enjoy'd, cold winter's wrath, As night, they sleeping pass away. Those happy creatures are, they know not yet The pain to be deprived, or to forget.
I oft have heard men say there be Some, that with confidence profess The helpful Art of Memory ;
But could they teach forgetfulness,
I'd learn, and try what further art could do To make me love her and forget her too.
Sad melancholy, that persuades
Men from themselves, to think they be Headless, or other body's shades,
Hath long and bootless dwelt with me. For could I think she some idea were I still might love, forget, and have her here.
But such she is not; nor would I
For twice as many torments more, As her bereaved company
Hath brought to those I felt before;
For then no future time might hap to know That she deserv'd, or I did love her so.
Ye hours then, but as minutes be!
Though so I shall be sooner old, Till I those lovely graces see,
Which, but in her, can none behold. Then be an age! that we may never try More grief in parting, but grow old and die.
As when a woodman on the greeny lawns, Where daily chants the sad-sweet nightingale,
Would count his herd, more bucks, more prickets, fawns Rush from the copse and put him from his tale; Or some way-faring man, when morning dawns, Would tell the sweet notes in a joysome vale, At every foot a new bird lights and sings, And makes him leave to count their sonnettings. So when my willing muse would gladly dress Her several graces in immortal lines, Plenty empoors her; every golden tress,
Each little dimple, every glance that shines As radiant as Apollo, I confess
My skill too weak for so admired designs; For whilst one beauty I am close about, Millions do newly rise and put me out.
[From Minor Poems.]
Welcome, welcome do I sing
Far more welcome than the spring: He that parteth from you never Shall enjoy a spring for ever.
Love, that to the voice is near Breaking from your ivory pale, Need not walk abroad to hear The delightful nightingale.
Welcome, welcome then I sing Far more welcome than the spring He that parteth from you never Shall enjoy a spring for ever.
Love, that looks still on your eyes, Tho' the winter have begun
To benumb our arteries,
Shall not want the summer's sun.
Welcome, welcome, &c.
Love, that still may see your cheeks, Where all rareness still reposes,
Is a fool if ere he seeks
Other lilies, other roses.
Welcome, welcome, &c.
Love, to whom your soft lip yields, And perceives your breath in kissing,
All the odours of the fields
Never, never shall be missing.
Welcome, welcome, &c.
Love, that question would anew What fair Eden was of old, Let him rightly study you, And a brief of that behold.
Welcome welcome &c.
Son of Erebus and night Hie away; and aim thy flight Where consort none other fowl Than the bat and sullen owl; Where upon thy limber grass Poppy and mandragoras With like simples not a few Hang for ever drops of dew. Where flows Lethe without coil Softly like a stream of oil. Hie thee hither gentle sleep : With this Greek no longer keep. Thrice I charge thee by my wand, Thrice with moly from my hand Do I touch Ulysses eyes,
And with the jaspis: then arise Sagest Greek.
Fairest, when by the rules of palmistry You took my hand to try if you could guess, By lines therein, if any wight there be Ordained to make me know some happiness; I wished that those characters could explain, Whom I will never wrong with hope to win; Or that by them a copy might be seen, By you, O love, what thoughts I had within. But since the hand of Nature did not set (As providently loth to have it known) The means to find that hidden alphabet, Mine eyes shall be th' interpreters alone;
By them conceive my thoughts, and tell me, fair, If now you see her that doth love me there?
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