So he on me; refus'd and made away,

I could renew those times, when first I saw Though willing she pleaded a weary day :

Love in your eyes, that gave my tongue the law
I found my miss, struck hands, and pray'd him tell To like what you lik'd; and at masks and plays
(To hold acquaintance still) where he did dwell; Commend the self-same actors, the same ways;
He barely nam'd the street, promis'd the wine; Ask how you did, and often, with intent
But his kind wife gave me the very sign.

Of being officious, be impertinent;
All which were such soft pastimes, as in these
Love was as subtily catch'd, as a disease ;

But being got it is a treasure sweet,
ELEGY XVII.

Which to defend is harder than to get :
THE EXPOSTULATION.

And ought not be profan'd on either part,

For though 't is got by chance, 't is kept by arte
To make the doubt clear, that no woman 's true,
Was it my fate to prove it strong in you?
Thought I, but one had breathed purest air,

ELEGY XVIII.
And must she needs be false, because she's fair?
Is it your beauty's mark, or of your youth, WHOEVER loves, if he do not propose
Or your perfection not to study truth?

The right true end of love, he's one that goes
Or think you Heav'n is deaf, or hath no eyes, To sea for nothing but to inake him sick:
Or those it hath smile at your perjuries?

Love is a bear-whelp born, if we o'er-liok
Are vows so cheap with women, or the matter Our love, and force it new strong shapes to take,
Whereof they're made, that they are writ in water, We err, and of a lump a monster make.
And blown away with wind? Or doth their breath Were not a calf a monster, that were grown
(Both hot and cold) at once make life and death? Fac'd like a man, though better than his own
Who could have thought so many accents sweet Perfection is in unity : prefer
Form'd into words, so many sighs should meet, One woman first, and then one thing in her.
As from our hearts, so many oaths, and tears I, when I value gold, may think upon
Sprinkled among (all sweet'ned by our fears) The ductilness, the application,
And the divine impression of stol'n kisses,

The wholesoinness, the ingenuity,
That seald the rest, should now prove empty blisses? From rust, from soil, from fire ever free:
Did you draw bonds to forfeit? sign to break ? But if I love it, 't is beause 't is made
Or must we read you quite from what you speak, By our new nature (use) the soul of trade.
And find the truth out the wrong way? or must All these in women we might think npon
He first desire you false, who'ld wish you just? (If women had them) and yet love but one.
O, I profane: though most of women be

Can men more injure women than to say
This kind of beast, my thoughts shall except thee, They love them for that, by which they're not they?
My dearest love; though froward jealousy Makes virtue woman? must I cool my blood
With circumstance might urge thy inconstancy, Till I both be, and find one, wise and good ?
Sooner I 'll think the Sun will cease to cheer May barren angels love so. But if we
The teeming Earth, and that forget to bear : Make love to woman, virtue is not she:
Sooner that rivers will run back, or Thames As beauties, no, nor wealth: he that strays thus
With ribs of ice in June will bind his streams; From her to hers, is more adulterous
Or Nature, by whose strength the world endures, Than if he took her maid. Search every spbere
Would change her course, before you alter yours. And firmament, our Capid is not there :
But oh! that treacherous breast, to whom weak you He's an infernal god, and under ground,
Did trust our counsels, and we both may rue, With Pluto dwells, where gold and fire abound;
Having his falsehood found too late, 't was be Men to such gods their sacrificing coals
That made me cast you guilty, and you me; Did not on altars lay, but pits and holes :
Whilst he (black wretch) betray'd each simple word Although we see celestial bodies move
We spake unto the cunning of a third.

Above the earth, the earth we till and love: Curs'd may he be, that so our love hath slain, So we her airs contemplate, words and heart, And wander on the Earth, wretched as Cain, And virtues; but we love the centric part. Wretched as he, and not deserve least pity;

Nor is the soul more worthy, or more fit In plaguing him let misery be witty.

For love, than this, as infinite as it. Let all eyes shun him, and he shun each eye, But in attaining this desired place Till he be noisome as his infamy ;

How much they err, that set out at the face
May he without remorse deny God thrice,

The hair a forest is of ambushes,
And not be trusted more on his soul's price; Of springs and snares, fetters and manacles :
And after all self-torment, when he dies

The brow becalms us, when 't is smooth and plain;
May wolves tear out his heart, vultures his eyes; And when 't is wrinkled, shipwrecks us again.
Swine eat his bowels; and his falser tongue, Smooth, 't is a paradise, where we would have
That utter'd all, be to some raven flung;

Immortal stay; but wrinkled, 't is a grave. And let his carrion-corse be a longer feast The nose (like to the sweet meridian) runs To the king's dogs, than any other beast.

Not 'twixt an east and west, but 'twixt two suns ; Now I have curs'd, let us our love revive; It leaves a cheek, a rosy bemisphere lu me the flame was never more alive;

On either side, and then directs us where I could begin again to court and praise,

Upon the Islands Fortunate we fall, And in that pleasure lengthen the short days Not faint Canaries, but ambrosial. Of my life's lease; like painters, that do take Unto her swelling lips when we are come, Delight, not in made works, but whilst they make. We anchor there, and think ourselves at home,

For they seem all: there sgrens' songs, and there A Hear'n like Mahomet's paradise; and though Wise Delphic oracles do fill the ear;

Ill spirits walk in white, we eas'ly know Then in a creek, where chosen pearls do swell By this these angels from an evil sprite; The remora, her cleaving tongue doth dwell. Those set our bairs, but these our flesh upright. These and (the glorious promontory) her chin License my roving hands, and let them go Being past the straits of Hellespont, between Before, behind, between, above, below. The Sestos and Abydos of her breasts,

O my America! my Newfoundland ! (Not of two lovers, but two loves the nests) My kingdom's safest when with one man man'd. Succeeds a boundless sea, but yet thine eye My mine of precious stones : my empery, Some island moles may scatterd there descry ; How am I bless'd in thus discovering thee! And sailing towards her India, in that way To enter in these bonds is to be free; Shall at her fair Atlantic navel stay ;

Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be. Though there the current be the pilot made,

Full nakedness! all joys are due to thee; Yet ere thon be where thou should'st be embay'd, As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth'd must be, Thou shalt upon another forest set,

To taste whole joys. Geins, which you women use, Where many shipwreck and no further get. Are like Atlanta's ball, cast in men's views; When thou art there, consider what this chase That when a fool's eye lighteth on a gem, Misspent, by thy beginning at the face.

His earthly soul may court that, and not them: Rather set out below; practise my art;

Like pictures, or like books' gay coverings, made Some symmetry the foot hath with that part For laymen, are all women thus array'd. Which thou dust seek, and is thy map for that, Themselves are only mystic books, which we Lovely enough to stop, but not stay at:

(Whom their imputed grace will dignify) Least subject to disguise and change it is;

Must see reveal’d." Then since that I may know; Men say the Devil never can change his.

As liberally as to thy midwife show It is the emblem, that hath figured

Thyself: cast all, yea, this white linen hence; Firmness; 't is the first part that comes to bed. There is no penance due to innocence. Civility we see refin'd: the kiss,

To teach thee, I am naked first; why, then, Which at the face began, transplanted is,

What need'st thou have more covering than a man?
Since to the band, since to th' imperial knee,
Now at the papal foot delights to be.
If kings think that the nearer way, and do
Rise from the foot, lovers may do so too:
For as free spheres move faster far than can

AN EPITHALAMIUM
Birds, whom the air resists; so may that man,
Which goes this empty and ethereal way,
Than if at beauty's enemies he stay.

FREDERICK COUNT PALATINE OF THE RHYNE, Rich Nature hath in women wisely made

AND THE LADY ELIZABETH,
Teo purses, and their mouths aversely laid :
They then, which to the lower tribute owe,

BEING MARRIED ON ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.
That way, which that exchequer looks, must go :
He which doth not, his errour is as great,

Hail bishop Valentine, whose day this is,
As who by clyster gives the stomach meat.

All the air is thy diocese,

And all the chirping choristers
And other birds are thy parishioners:

Thou marry'st every year

The lyric lark, and the grave whispering dove; ELEGY XIX.

The sparrow, that neglects his life for love;

The household bird with the red stomacher;
TO HIS MISTRESS GOING TO BED.

Thou mak'st the blackbird speed as soon,
Come, madam, come, all rest my powers defy,

As doth the goldfinch or the balcyon; Until I labour, I in labour lie.

The husband cock looks out, and straight is sped, The foe oft-times baving the foe in sight

And meets his wife, wbich brings her feather-bed.
Is tir'd with standing, though he never fight. This day more cheerfully than ever shine.
Of with that girdle, like Heaven's zone glittering, This day, which might inflamethyself, old Valentine,
But a far fairer world encompassing.
Unpin that spangled breast-plate, which you wear, Till now thou warm’dst with multiplying loves
That th' eyes of busy fools may be stopp'd there. Two larks, two sparrows, or two doves;
Unlace yourself, for that harmonious chime

All that is nothing unto this,
Tells me from you, that now it is bed-time. For thou this day couplest two phenixes.
Off with that happy busk, which I envy,

Thou mak'st a taper see
That still can be, and still can stand, so nigh. What the Sun never saw, and what the ark
Your gown going off such beauteous state reveals, (Which was of fowl and beasts the cage and park)
As when through flow'ry meads th’ hill's shadow Did not contain, one bed contains through thee
steals.

Two phenixes, whose joined breasts Off with that wiry coronet, and show

Are unto one another mutual nests; The hairy diadem, which on your head doth grow:

Where motion kindles such fires, as shall give Now off with those shoes, and then softly tread Young phenixes, and yet the old shall live: In this Love's hallow'd temple, this soft bed. Whose love and courage never shall decline, In such white robes Heaven's angels us'd to be But make the whole year through thy day, O VHReveal'd to men: thoa angel bring'st with thee

ON

HIS ACTIONS THERE.

Up then, fair phenix bride, frustrate the Sun; They pay, they give, they lend, and so let fall
Thyself from thine affection

No occasion to be liberal.
Tak’st warmth enough, and from thine eye More truth, more courage in these two do shine,
All lesser birds will take their jollity.

Than all thy turtles have and sparrows, Valentine.
Up, up, fair bride, and call
Thy stars from out their several boxes, take And by this act of these two phenixes
Thy rubies, pearls, and diamonds forth, and make Nature again restored is;
Thyself a constellation of them all:

For since these two are two no more,
And by their blazing signify,

There's but one phenix still, as was before. That a great princess falls, but doth not die :

Rest now at last, and we Be thou a new star, that to us portends

(As satyrs watch the Sun's uprise) will stay Ends of much wonder; and be thou those ends.

Waiting when your eyes opened let out day, Since thou dost this day in new glory shine, Only desir'd, because your face we see; May all men date records from this day, Valentine.

Others near you shall whispering speak,

And wagers lay, at wbich side day will break, Come forth, come forth, and as one glorious flame, And win by observing then whose hand it is Meeting another, grows the same:

That opens first a curtain, her's or his; So meet thy Frederick, and so

This will be tried to morrow after nine,
To an unseparable union go;

Till which hour we thy day enlarge, 0 Valentine.
Since separation
Falls not on such things as are infinite,
Nor things, which are but once, and disanite;
You ’re twice inseparable, great, and one.

ECLOGUE,
Go then to where the bishop stays,
To make you one, his way, which divers ways

DECEMBER, 26, 1613.
Must be effected; and when all is past,

ALLOPHANES FINDING IDIOS IN THE COUNTRY IN CHRIST-
And that y'are one, by hearts and hands made fast;
You two have one way left yourselves t' entwine,

MAS TIME, REPREHENDS HIS ABSENCE FROM COURT, AT
Besides this bishop's knot, of bishop Valentine.

THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OR SOMERSET ; IDIOS

GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF HIS PURPOSE THEREIN, AND OF
But oh! what ails the Sun, that hence he stays
Longer to day than other days?

ALLOPHANES.
Stays he new light from these to get?
And finding here such stars, is loath to set ? UNSEASONABLE man, statue of ice,
And why do you two walk

What could to country's solitude entice
So slowly pac'd in this procession ?

Thee, in this year's cold and decrepid time? Is all your care but to be look'd upou,

Nature's instinct draws to the warmer clime And be to others spectacle and talk ?

Ev'n smaller birds, who by that courage dare The feast with gluttonous delays

In numerous fleets sail through their sea, the air.
Is eaten, and too long their meat they praise.

What delicacy can in fields appear,
The maskers come late, and I think will stay, Whilst Flora herself doth a frize jerkin wear?
Like fairies, till the cock crow them away.

Whilst winds do all the trees and hedges strip
Alas! did not antiquity assign

Of leaves, to furnish rods enough to whip
A night as well as day to thee, old Valentine ? Thy madness from thee, and all springs by frost

Having tak'n cold, and their sweet murmurs lost?
They did, and night is come: and yet we see If thou thy faults or fortunes would'st lament
Formalities retarding thee.

With just solemnity, do it in Lent:
What mean these ladies, which (as though At court the spring already advanced is, .
They were to take a clock in pieces) go

The Sun stays longer up; and yet not his
So nicely about the bride?

The glory is; far other, other fires :
A bride, before a good-night could be said, First zeal to prince and state ; then love's desires
Should vanish from her clothes into her bed; Burn in one breast, and like Heav'n'stwo great lights,
As souls from bodies steal, and are not spy'd. The first doth govern days, the other nights.

But now she 's laid: what though she be? And then that early light, which did appear
Yet there are more delays; for where is he? Before the Sun and Moon created were,
He comes and passeth through sphere after sphere; The prince's favour, is diffus'd o'er all,
First her sheets, then her arms, then any where. From which all fortunes, names, and natures fall;
Let not this day then, but this night be thine, Then from those wombs of stars, the bride's bright
Thy day was but the eve to this, 0 Valentine.

eyes,

At every glance a constellation fies, Here lies a she Sun, and a he Moon there,

And sows the court with stars, and doth prevent She gives the best light to his sphere,

In light and power the all-ey'd firmament. Or each is both, and all, and so

First her eyes kiodle other ladies' eyes, They unto one another nothing owe;

Then from their beams their jewels' lustres rise,
And yet they do, but are

And from their jewels torches do take fire;
So just and rich in that coin which they pay, And all is warmth, and light, and good desire.
That neither would, por needs, forbear nor stay, Most other courts, alas! are like to Hell,
Neither desires to be spar'd, nor to spare:

Where in dark plots fire without light doth dwell:
They quickly pay their debt, and then Or but like stoves, for lust and envy get
Take no acquittances, but pay again;

Continual but artificial heat;

.

i

IDIOS.

II.

Here zeal and love, grown one, all clouds digest, Of his own thoughts; I would not therefore stay And make our court an everlasting east.

At a great feast, having no grace to say.
And canst thou be from thence?

And yet I 'scap'd not here ; for being come
Full of the common joy, I utter'd some.
Read then this nuptial song, which was not made

Either the court or men's hearts to invade;
....... No, I am there :

But since I am dead and buried, I could frame As Heav'n, to men dispos'd, is ev'ry where;

No epitaph, which might advance iny fame So are those courts, whose princes animate,

So much as this poor song, which testifies
Not only all their house, but all their state.

I did unto that day some sacrifice.
Let no man think, because he's full, h' hath all,
Kings (as their pattern, God) are liberal
Not only in fulness but capacity,

1. THE TIME OF THE MARRIAGE.
Enlarging narrow men to feel and see,
And comprehend the blessings they bestow.

Thou art repriev'd, old Year, thou shalt not die, So reclus'd hermits oftentimes do know

Though thou upon thy death-bed lie,

And should'st within five days expire; More of Heav'n's glory, than a worldling can.

Yet thou art rescu'd from a mightier fire, As man is of the world, the heart of man

Than thy old soul, the Sun,
Is an epitome of God's great book

When he doth in his largest circle run.
Of creatures, and men need no further look ;
So 's the country of courts, where sweet peace and open wide their easy liquid jaw

The passage of the west or east would thaw,
doth
As their own common soul, give life to both.

To all our ships, could a Promethean art
And am I then from court?

Either unto the northern pole impart
The fire of these inflaming eyes, or of this loving

heart.
ALLOPHANES.
Dreamer, thou art.

EQUALITY OF PERSONS,
Think'st thou, fantastic, that thou hast a part
In the Indian fleet, because thou hast

But, undiscerning Muse, which heart, which eyes, A little spice or amber in thy taste ?

In this new couple dost thou prize,
Because thou art not frozen, art thou warm?

When his eye as inflaming is
Seest thou all good, because thou seest no harm ? As her's, and her heart loves as well as his?
The Earth doth in her inner bowels hold

Be tried by beauty, and then
Stuff well dispos'd, and which would fain be gold :

The bridegroom is a maid, and not a man; But never shall, except it chance to lie.

If by that manly courage they be try'd, So upward, that Heav'n gild it with his eye.

Which scorns unjust opinion; then the bride As for divine things, faith comes from above,

Becomes a man: should chance on envy's art So, for best civil use, all tinctures move

Divide these two, whom Nature scarce did part, From higher powers; from God religion springs; Since both have the inflaming eye, and both the Wisdom and honour from the use of kings:

loving heart.
Then unbeguile thyself, and know with me,
That angels, though on Earth employ'd they bé,
Are still in Hear'n; so is he still at home
That doth abroad to honest actions come:

Though it be some divorce to think of you
Chide thyself then, O fool, which yesterday

Single, so much one are you two, Migbt'st have read more than all thy books be

Let me here contemplate thee Hast thou a history, which doth present [wray: First, cheerful bridegroom, and first let me see A court, where all affections do assent

How thou prevent'st the Sun, Unto the king's, and that, that kings are just ?

And his red foaming horses dost outrun; And where it is no levity to trust,

How, having laid down in thy sovereign's breast Where there is no ambition but t'obey,

All businesses, from thence to reinvest Where men need wbisper nothing, and yet may;

Them, when these triumphs cease, thou forward art Where the king's favours are so plac'd, that all

To show to ber, who doth the like impart, Find that the king therein is liberal

The fire of thy inflaming eyes, and of thy loving To them, in him, because his favours bend

heart.
To virtue, to the which they all pretend ?
Thoa hast no such ; yet here was this, and more,
An earnest lover, wise then, and before.
Our little Cupid bath sued livery,

But now to thee, fair bride, it is some wrong, And is no more in his minority;

To think thou wert in bed so long; He is admitted now into that breast

Since soon thou liest down first, 't is fit
Where the king's counsels and his secrets rest. Thou in first rising should allow for it.
What hast thou lost, О ignorant man!

Powder thy radiant hair,
Which if without such ashes thou would'st wear,
Thou who, to all which come to look upon,

Wert meant for Phæbus, would'st be Phaeton.
I knew

For our ease give thine eyes th' unusual part All this, and only therefore I withdrew.

Of joy, a tear ; so quench'd, thou may'st impart, To know and feel all this, and not to have To us that come, thy'inflaming eyes; to him, thy Words to express it, makes a man a grave

loving heart.

III.

RAISING OP THE BRIDEGROOM.

IV.

RAISING OF THE BRIDE.

IDIOS.

V.

HER APPARELLING.

THE BRIDEGROOM'S COMING. Thus thou descend'st to our infirmity,

As he that sees a star fall runs apace, Who can the Sun in water see.

And finds a gelly in the place, So dost thoa, when in silk and gold

So doth the bridegroom haste as much, Thou cloud'st thyself ; since we, which do behold, Being told this star is fall’n, and finds her such. Are dust and worms, 't is just

And as friends may look strange Our objects be the fruits of worms and dust. By a new fashion, or apparel's change: Let every jewel be a glorioas star;

Their souls, though long acquainted they had been,
Yet stars are not so pure as their spheres are. These clothes, their bodies, never yet had seen.
And though thou stoop, t' appear to us in part,

Therefore at first she modestly might start,
Still in that picture thou entirely art, [ing heart. But must forth with surrender every part (or heart,
Which thy innaming eyes have made within his lov- As freely, as each to each before gave either hand

VI.

XI.

GOING TO THE CHIAPEL.

THE GOOD-NIGHT.
Now from your east you issue forth, and we, Now, as in Tullia's tomb one lamp burnt clear,
As men, which through a cypress see

Unchang'd for fifteen hundred year,
The rising Sun, do think it two;

May these love-lamps, we here enshrine, So, as you go to church, do think of you:

In warmth, light, lasting, equal the divine.
But that vail being gone,

Fire ever doth aspire,
By the church rites you are from thenceforth one. And makes all like itself, turns all to fire,
The church triumphant made this match before,

But ends in aslies; which these cannot do,
And now the militant doth strive no more.

For none of tbese is fuel, but fire too.
Then, reverend priest, who God's recorder art, This is joy's bonfire then, where Love's strong arts
Do from his dictates to these two impart

Make of so noble individual parts [hearts.
All blessings which are seen, or thought, by angel's One fire of four inflaming eyes, and of two loving

eye or heart.

IDIOS.

VII.

THE BENEDICTION.

As I have brought this song, that I may do Bless'd pair of swans, oh may you interbring

A perfect sacrifice, I 'll burn it too. Daily new joys, and never sing:

Live, till all grounds of wishes fail, Till honour, yea till wisdom grow so stale,

ALLOPHANES. That new great heights to try,

No, sir, this paper I have justly got, It must serve your ambition, to die,

For in burnt incense the perfume is not Raise heirs, and may here to the world's end live

His only, that presents it, but of all;
Heirs from this king to take thanks, you, to give. Whatever celebrates this festival
Nature and grace do all, and nothing art;

Is common, since the joy thereof is so.
May never age or errour overthwart [this heart. Nor may yourself be priest : but let me go
With any west these radiant eyes, with any north Back to the court, and I will lay 't upon

Sucb altars, as prize your devotion.

VIII.

FEASTS AND REVELS.

But you are over-bless'd. Plenty this day

Injures; it causeth time to stay;
The tables groan, as though this feast

EPITHALAMIUM
Would, as the flood, destroy all fowl and beast.
And were the doctrine new

MADE AT LINCOLN'S INN.
That the Earth mov'd, this day would make it true; The sun-beams in the east are spread,
For every part to dance and revel goes,

Leave, leave, fair bride, your solitary bed, They tread the air, and fall not where they rose.

No more shall you return to it alone,
Though six hours since the Sun to bed did part,

It nurseth sadness; and your body's print,
The masks and banquets will not yet impart
A sun-set to these weary eyes, a centre to this heart.

Like to a grave, the yielding down doth dint;

You and your other you meet there apon:
THE BRIDE'S GOING TO BED.

Put forth, put forth, that warm balm-breathing
thigh,

(smother, What mean'st thon, bride, this company to keep? Which when next time you in these sheets will To sit up, till thou fain would sleep?

There it must meet arother,
Thou may'st not, when thou 'rt laid, do so, Which never was, but must be oft more nigh;
Thyself must to him a new banquet grow,

Come glad from thence, go gladder than you came,
And you must entertain,

To day put on perfection, and a woman's name.
And do all this day's dances o'er again.
Know, that if Sun and Moon together do

Daughters of London, you which be
Rise in one point, they do not set so too.

Our golden mines, and furnish'd treasury; Therefore thou may'st, fair bride, to bed depart, You which are angels, yet still bring with you Thou art not gone being gone; where'er thou art, Thousands of angels on your marriage days, Thot leav'st in him thy watchful eyes, in him thy Help with your presence, and devise to praise loving heart.

These rites, which also unto you grow due ;

IX.