But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight I grant I never saw a Goddess go, My Mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my Love as rare As any She belied with false compare. Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediment! Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds Or bends with the remover to remove. O no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken : It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth's unknown although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come; Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error, and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. ROBERT DEVEREUX. (EARL OF ESSEX.) 1568-1601. THE FALSE FORGOTTEN. Change thy mind since she doth change! When her falsehood doth excuse thee. Love is dead, and thou art free : She doth live, but dead to thee. When she loved thee best a while, See how still she did delay thee: Using shows for to beguile, Those vain hopes which have betray'd thee! Now thou see'st, but all too late, Love loves truth, which women hate. Love! farewell! more dear to me Than my life which thou preservedst. Yet, thus much to ease my mind,— Having changed, is quite forgotten : Love no more, since she is gone! Leave to love, and love no other! BARNABE BARNES. 1568-9-1609. PARTHENOPHE. Why doth heaven bear a sun To give the world an heat? Why there have stars a seat? On earth (when all is done) Parthenophe's bright sun Doth give a greater heat. And in her heaven there be Than brightest of heaven's stars. Why doth earth bring forth roses, Or bright daffadillies? In her clear cheeks she closes In her neck white lilies, Violets in her veins. Why do men sacrifice Incense to deities? Her breath more favour gains, MADRIGALS. I Phœbus, rich father of eternal light And in his hand a wreath of heliochrise He brought, to beautify those tresses Whose train, whose softness, and whose gloss more bright, Apollo's locks did overprize : Thus with this garland while her brows he blesses, The golden shadow with his tincture Cover'd her locks, I gilded with the cincture. 2 Then, as she was 'bove human glory graced, And suddenly upon her feet she started. That female miracle, proud Nature's wonder, Lest Jove through heaven's clear windows should espy her And for her beauty Juno's love neglect: Down she descends, and as she walked by her A branch of lilies Juno tears in sunder. Then from her sphere did Venus down reflect, She beat upon her face. Then Juno closes Let both the rose and lily's colours fall Within her cheeks, which to be foremost hasten. SIR JOHN DAVIES. TO THE LARK. Early, cheerful, mounting Lark, Stint awhile thy song, and hark, Bear up this hymn, to heaven it bear; Renown'd Astrea, that great name, It is Astrea's name I praise: Now then, sweet Lark! do thou it raise, And in high heaven resound it! RICHARD BARNFIELD. 1574-1627. AN ODE. As it fell upon a day In the merry month of May, Sitting in a pleasant shade Which a grove of myrtles made, Beasts did leap, and birds did sing, Trees did grow, and plants did spring : She, poor bird! as all forlorn, Lean'd her breast up-till a thorn, Fie! fie! fie! now would she cry; That to hear her so complain For her griefs so lively shown Ah! thought I, thou mourn'st in vain; Senseless trees, they can not hear thee; King Pandion, he is dead; All thy friends are lapp'd in lead. Whilst as fickle Fortune smiled, Every one that flatters thee Is no friend to misery: Words are easy, like the wind; |