That wit even to the skies hath glory won. O hands that conquer more than Cæsar's force! ANON. THERE is a lady sweet and kind,1 Was never face so pleased my mind; I did but see her passing by, Her gesture, motion, and her smiles, Cupid is winged and doth range, SONG.. WEEP eyes, break heart! My love and I must part. ANON. Cruel fates true love do soonest sever : My love and I must part. THOMAS MIDDLETON 1 From Forde's Music of Sundry Kinds. Three verses of six. FOR CHARIS1 EE the chariot at hand here of Love, SEE Wherein my Lady rideth! Each that draws is a swan or a dove, And well the car Love guideth. As she goes, all hearts do duty And enamour'd, do wish, so they might That they still were to run by her side, Through swords, through seas, whither she would ride. Do but look on her eyes, they do light Do but mark, her forehead's smoother Than words that soothe her: And from her arched brows, such a grace Sheds itself through the face, As alone there triumphs to the life All the gain, all the good of the elements' strife. Have you seen but a bright lily grow Before rude hands have touch'd it? Have you mark'd but the fall of the snow Before the soil hath smutch'd it? Have you felt the wool of the beaver ? Or swan's down ever? 1 The second and third stanzas, so exquisite in their beauty, are from "The Devil is an Ass" (1616). The whole song, however, appeared in Underwoods in 1640. Or have smelt o' the bud of the briar? Or have tasted the bag of the bee? O, so white! O, so soft! O, so sweet is she! DR TO CELIA 1 BEN JONSON RINK to me only with thine eyes, Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I'll not look for wine. But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I sent thee late a rosy wreath, It could not wither'd be ; And sent'st it back to me; Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, BEN JONSON Он SONG 2 H do not wanton with those eyes, Nor cast them down, but let them rise, 1 The Ninth Song in The Forest. Oh be not angry with those fires, Oh do not steep them in thy tears, BEGGING ANOTHER 1 BEN JONSON FOR Love and should not beg in vain. 'OR Love's sake, kiss me once again! I Here's none to spy, or see; Why do you doubt or stay? I'll taste as lightly as the bee, That doth but touch his flower, and flies Once more, and, faith, I will be gone, And all your bounty wrong: away. This could be call'd but half a kiss ; I will but mend the last, and tell Where, how, it would have relish'd well ; Join lip to lip, and try : Each suck the other's breath, And whilst our tongues perplexed lie, Let who will think us dead, or wish our death. 1 From Underwoods. BEN JONSON HIS EXCUSE FOR LOVING 1 LET it not your wonder move, Less your laughter, that I love, All the world for love may die. BEN JONSON DEA THE DREAM EAR love, for nothing less than thee For reason, much too strong for fantasy. 1 From Underwoods. |