Again! till these two lights be four :- THOUGH [Extract from "The Spring."] you be absent here, I needs must say The trees as beauteous are, and flowers as gay As ever they were wont to be: Nay, the birds' rural music too Is as melodious and free As if they sung to pleasure you. [From "The Request."] * I ASK not one in whom all beauties grow→→→ Let me but love, whate'er she be, She cannot seem deform'd to me; And I would have her seem to others so. * That happy thing a lover grown, I shall not see with others' eyes-scarce with mine own. * But do not touch my heart, and so be gone: As great in love as in religion. Come arm'd with flames, for I would prove * [From "Not fair."] 'Tis very true, I thought you once as fair As women in th' idea are: Whatever here seems beauteous, seem'd to be But a faint metaphor of thee. But then, methought, there something shin'd within Which cast this lustre o'er thy skin. But since I knew thy falsehood, and thy pride, And all thy thousand faults beside; "When I'm that."-Ed. 1647. A very Moor, methinks, plac'd near to thee, Nay, when the world but knows how false you are, There's not a man will think you fair. * [From "The Change."] Love in her sunny eyes does basking play, And sows and reaps a thousand kisses there. [From "The Soul."] Ir mine eyes do e'er declare They've seen a second thing that's fair, Besides thy voice in any sound; If my taste do ever meet After thy kiss with ought that's sweet; If my abused touch allow Ought to be smooth or soft but you; If what seasonable springs, Or the eastern summer brings, Do my smell persuade at all Ought perfume but thy breath to call; May I as worthless seem to thee, If I ever anger know, Till some wrong be done to you; If ever I an hope admit, Without thy image stamp'd on it; To find that you're concern'd therein; If a joy e'er come to me, That tastes of any thing but thee; If any sorrow touch my mind Whilst you are well and not unkind; If I a minute's space debate, Whether I shall curse and hate The things beneath thy hatred fall, Though all the world, myself and all; If any passion of my heart, By any force or any art, Be brought to move one step from thee, WELL, then; I now do plainly see And they, methinks, deserve my pity, Ah! yet, ere I descend to th' grave, May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, and many books, both true, Both wise, and both delightful too! And (since Love ne'er will from me flee,) A mistress, moderately fair, And good, as guardian-angels are; Only belov❜d, and loving me! * |