Come here, and chose

On which of these proud plats thou would repose,

With both dispence?
And thus ascend

In higher flights then wings can lend.

Since man's but pasted up of Earth,
And ne're was cradled in the skies,
What Terra Lemnia gave thee birth?

What Diamond eyes?

Or thou alone

To tell what others were, came down?

John Hall.

ΙΟ

To Celia pleading want of Merit.

DEa

Ear urge no more that killing cause
Of our divorce;

Love is not fetter'd by such laws,
Nor bows to any force:

Though thou deniest I should be thine,
Yet say not thou deserv'st not to be mine.

Oh rather frown away my breath

With thy disdain,

Or flatter me with smiles to death;

By joy or sorrow slain,

"Tis lesse crime to be kill'd by thee,

Then I thus cause of mine own death should be.

Thy self of beauty to devest

And me of love,

Or from the worth of thine own breast
Thus to detract, would prove

In us a blindnesse, and in thee

At best a sacrilegious modestie.

But (Celia) if thou wilt despise
What all admire,

Nor rate thy self at the just price

Of beauty or desire,

Yet meet my flames and thou shalt see

That equal love knows no disparity.

Thomas Stanley.

ΤΟ

20

Sicknesse may fright the roses from her cheek,
Or make the Lilies fade,

But all the subtile wayes that death doth seek
Cannot my love invade:

Flames that are kindled by the eye,
Through time and age expire;

But ours that boast a reach far higher
Can nor decay, nor die.

For when we must resign our vital breath,
Our Loves by Fate benighted,

We by this friendship shall survive in death,
Even in divorce united.

Weak Love through fortune or distrust

In time forgets to burn,

But this pursues us to the Urn,

And marries either's Dust.

Thomas Stanley.

ΙΟ

20

The Divorce.

Dear, back my wounded heart restore,

And turn away thy powerful eyes

Flatter my willing soul no more,

Love must not hope what Fate denies.

Take, take away thy smiles and kisses,

Thy Love wounds deeper then Disdain, For he that sees the Heaven he misses, Sustains two Hels, of losse and pain.

Shouldst thou some others suit prefer,

I might return thy scorn to thee,
And learn Apostasie of her
Who taught me first Idolatry.

Or in thy unrelenting breast

Should I disdain or coynesse move,
He by thy hate might be releas't,
Who now is prisoner to thy love.

Since then unkind Fate will divorce
Those whom Affection long united,
Be thou as cruel as this force,

And I in death shall be delighted.

Thus whilst so many suppliants woe
And beg they may thy pitty prove,
I onely for thy scorn do sue,
'Tis charity here not to love.

Thomas Stanley.