104

SONGS AND SONNETS

A FOREBODING

AGAINST that time, if ever that time come,

When I shall see thee frown on my defects, When-as thy love hath cast his utmost sum, Call'd to that audit by advised respects;

Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass
And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,
When love, converted from the thing it was,
Shall reasons find of settled gravity,—

Against that time do I ensconce me here
Within the knowledge of mine own desert,
And this my hand against myself uprear,

To guard the lawful reasons on thy part :

To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws, Since why to love I can allege no cause.

OF SHAKESPEARE

105

VIA DOLOROSA

HOW heavy do I journey on the way

When what I seek, my weary travel's end, Doth teach that ease and that repose to say 'Thus far the miles are measured from thy friend!'

The beast that bears me, tired with my woe,
Plods dully on, to bear that weight in me,

As if by some instinct the wretch did know
His rider loved not speed, being made from thee:

The bloody spur cannot provoke him on
That sometimes anger thrusts into his hide,
Which heavily he answers with a groan
More sharp to me than spurring to his side;

For that same groan doth put this in my mind; My grief lies onward, and my joy behind.

106

SONGS AND SONNETS

THE RETURN

HUS can my love excuse the slow offence

THUS

Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed : From where thou art why should I haste me thence ? Till I return, of posting is no need.

O, what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind ;
In winged speed no motion shall I know:

Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;
Therefore desire, of perfect' st love being made,
Shall neigh-no dull flesh-in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade ;

Since from thee going he went wilful-slow, Towards thee I'll run, and give him leave to go.

CARUM QUOD RARUM

am I as the rich, whose blesséd key

So ar

Can bring him to his sweet up-lockéd treasure, The which he will not every hour survey,

For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure.

Therefore are feasts so seldom and so rare,
Since, seldom coming, in the long year set,
Like stones of worth they thinly placed are,
Or captain jewels in the carcanet.

So is the time that keeps you as my chest,
Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide
To make some special instant special-blest
By new unfolding his imprison'd pride.

Blessed are you, whose worthiness gives scope, Being had, to triumph, being lack'd, to hope.

108

SONGS AND SONNETS

REALITY AND SHADOW

WHAT is your substance? whereof are you

made,

That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
Since every one hath, every one, one shade,
And you, but one, can every shadow lend.

Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
Is poorly imitated after you;

On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
And you in Grecian tires are painted new :

Speak of the spring and foison of the year;
The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
The other as your bounty doth appear;
And you in every blesséd shape we know :-

In all external grace you have some part,
But you like none, none you, for constant heart.