Constancy LAY a garland on my hearse Maidens, willow branches bear; Say, I died true. My love was false, but I was firm Lightly, gentle earth! The Student awakened by Love BEAUTY clear and fair, Where the air Rather like a perfume dwells; Where the violet and the rose Their blue veins in blush disclose. And came to honour nothing else. Where to live near, And planted there, Is to live, and still live new ; Where to gain a favour is More than light, perpetual bliss,— Make me live by serving you. Beaumont and Fletcher Dear, again back recall A stranger to himself and all; Speak, Love DEAREST, do not delay me, Since, thou knowest, I must be gone; Oh, then speak, thou fairest fair! Kill not him that vows to serve thee; But perfume this neighbouring air, Else dull silence, sure, will starve me : 'Tis a word that 's quickly spoken, Which, being restrained, a heart is broken. Hear what Mighty Love can do HEAR, ye ladies that despise, What the mighty love has done; Fear examples, and be wise: Fair Calisto was a nun ; Leda, sailing on the stream Danaë, in a brazen tower, Where no love was, loved a shower. Hear, ye ladies that are coy, What the mighty love can do ; Fear the fierceness of the boy : The chaste moon he makes to woo ; Vesta, kindling holy fires, Circled round about with spies, Never dreaming loose desires, Doating at the altar dies; Ilion, in a short hour, higher He can build, and once more fire. A Bridal Song (From Two Noble Kinsmen,' given in the first quarto edition of 1634 to be the joint work of Shakespeare and Fletcher.) ROSES, their sharp spines being gone, Not royal in their smells alone, But in their hue; Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint, Beaumont and Fletcher Primrose, first-born child of Ver, Oxlips in their cradles growing, All, dear Nature's children sweet, Lie 'fore bride and bridegroom's feet, Blessing their sense! Not an angel of the air, Bird melodious, or bird fair, Be absent hence! The crow, the slanderous cuckoo, nor May on our bride-house perch or sing, At Cupid's Shrine COME, my children, let your feet To present this sacrifice To great Cupid, in whose name, Young men, take your loves and kiss ; Kiss again, and in your kissing Let no promises be missing; Nor let any maiden here Dare to turn away her ear Unto the whisper of her love, But give bracelet, ring, or glove, Of an after secret meeting. Now, boy, sing, to stick our hearts Swift-winged Love THOU deity, swift-winged Love, And thy loop-holes ladies' eyes, From whence thou strikest the fond and wise; Did all the shafts in thy fair quiver Stick fast in my ambitious liver, Yet thy power would I adore, |