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Do but look on her eyes, they do light
All that Love's world compriseth!
Do but look on her, she is bright

As Love's star when it riseth!
Do but mark, her forehead's smoother
Than words that soothe her!

And from her arch'd brows, such a grace
Sheds itself through her 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 o' the snow
Before the soil hath smutch'd it?
Have you felt the wool of the beaver?

Or swan's down ever?

Or have smell'd o' the bud of the briar?

Or the 'nard in the fire?

Or have tasted the bag of the bee?

O so white! O so soft! O so sweet is she!

Ben Jonson.

XXI..

A FRAGMENT.

HE that loves a rosy cheek,
Or a coral lip admires,
Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires;
As old Time makes these decay,
So his flames must waste away.

But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts, and calm desires,—
Hearts with equal love combined,
Kindle never-dying fires;

Where these are not, I despise
Lovely cheeks, or lips, or eyes.

Thomas Carew.

XXII.

A LOVER of late was I,

For Cupid would have it so; (The boy that had never an eyeAs every man doth know.)

I sigh'd, and sobb'd, and cried, "alas," For her that laugh'd and call'd me ass.

Then knew not I what to do,

When I saw it was in vain

A lady so coy to woo,

Who gave me the ass so plain; Yet would I her ass freely be,

So she would help, and bear with me.

An' I were as fair as she,

Or she were as kind as me,
What pair could have made, as we
So pretty a sympathy:

I was as kind as she was fair;
But for all this we could not pair.

Pair with her that will for me!-
With her I will never pair
That cunningly can be coy,
For being a little fair-

The ass I'll leave to her disdain ;

And now I am myself again.

XXIII.

Unknown.

FAIN Would I, Chloris, ere I die,
Bequeath you such a legacy,

That you might say, when I am gone,
None hath the like:-my heart alone
Were the best gift I could bestow,
But that's already yours, you know:
So that till you my heart resign,
Or fill with yours the place of mine,
And by that grace my store renew,
I shall have nought worth giving you

Whose breast has all the wealth I have,
Save a faint carcass and a grave.
But had I as many hearts as hairs,
As many loves as love has fears,
As many lives as years have hours,
They should be all and only yours.

Unknown.

XXIV.

THE WILLOW TREE.

WILLY.

How now, shepherd, what means that?
Why that willow in thy hat?

Why thy scarfs of red and yellow,
Turn'd to branches of green willow?

CUDDY.

They are changed, and so am I;
Sorrows live, but pleasures die:
Phillis hath forsaken me,

Which makes me wear the willow-tree.

WILLY.

Phillis! she that loved thee long?
Is she the lass hath done thee wrong?
She that loved thee long and best,
Is her love turn'd to a jest?

CUDDY.

She that long true love profest,
She hath robb'd my heart of rest:
For she a new love loves, not me;

Which makes me wear the willow-tree.

WILLY.

Come then, shepherd, let us join,

Since thy hap is like to mine:
For the maid I thought most true,

She hath also bid adieu.

CUDDY.

Thy hard hap doth mine appease,
Company doth sorrow ease:

Yet, Phillis, shall I pine for thee,
And still must wear the willow-tree.

WILLY.

Shepherd, be advised by me,
Cast off grief and willow-tree;
For thy griefs bring her content,
She is pleased if thou lament.

CUDDY.

Herdsman, I'll be ruled by thee,
There lie grief and willow-tree;
Henceforth I will do as they,
And love a new love every day.

Unknown.

XXV.

THE INQUIRY.

AMONGST the myrtles as I walk'd, Love and my sighs, thus intertalk'd: "Tell me," said I, in deep distress,

66 Where may I find my shepherdess?"

"Thou fool," said Love, "know'st thou not this, In every thing that's good, she is?

In yonder tulip go and seek,

There thou may'st find her lip, her cheek;

In yon enamell'd pansy by,

There thou shalt have her curious eye;

In bloom of peach, in rosy bud,

There wave the streamers of her blood;
In brightest lilies that there stand,
The emblems of her whiter hand;
In yonder rising hill there smell
Such sweets as in her bosom dwell":
""Tis true," said I. And thereupon
I went to pluck them one by one,
To make of parts an union :
But on a sudden all was gone.
83

With that I stopt. Said Love, "these be,
Fond man, resemblances of thee;

And as these flowers, thy joy shall die,
E'en in the twinkling of an eye;

And all thy hopes of her shall wither,

Like these short sweets thus knit together."

Thomas Carew.

XXVI.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND MISTRESS ELIZA WHEELER,

NAME OF AMARILLIS.

UNDER THE

(H.) My dearest love, since thou wilt go,

And leave me here behind thee;

For love or pity, let me know

The place where I may find thee.

(A.) In country meadows, pearl'd with dew,
And set about with lilies;

There, filling maunds with cowslips, you
May find your Amarillis.

(H.) What have the meads to do with thee,
Or with thy youthful hours?

Live thou at Court, where thou may'st be
The queen of men-not flowers.

Let country wenches make 'em fine
With posies, since 'tis fitter
For thee with richest gems to shine,
And like the stars to glitter.

(A.) You set too high a rate upon
A shepherdess so homely.

(H.) Believe it, dearest, there's not one
I' th' Court that's half so comely.

I prithee stay. (A.) I must away;
Let's kiss first, then we'll sever;
(AMBO.) And tho' we bid adieu to-day,
We shall not part for ever.

[graphic]

Robert Herrick.

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