And now we've told you all our loves,
And likewise all our fears,
In hopes this declaration moves
Some pity for our tears;
Let's hear of no inconstancy,
We have too much of that at sea.

Sir Charles Sedley

was one of the best writers of light verse in the reign of Charles II., at whose Court he was a great wit. His daughter was held in high favour by James II., and Sedley was sorely displeased. He used his influence against James in promoting the Revolution, and willingly explained his reason:-'From principles of gratitude, for, since his Majesty has made my daughter a Countess, it is fit I should do all I can to make his daughter a Queen.' Sedley

was born in 1639, and died in 1701.

We'll all the World excel

PHILLIS, let's shun the common fate,
And let our love ne'er turn to hate;
I'll dote no longer than I can,
Without being called a faithless man.
When we begin to want discourse,
And kindness seems to taste of force,
As freely as we met we 'll part,
Each one possessed of their own heart.
Thus, whilst rash fools themselves undo,
We'll game and give off savers too;
So equally the match we 'll make
Both shall be glad to draw the stake.
A smile of thine shall make my bliss,
I will enjoy thee in a kiss :

If from this height our kindness fall,
We'll bravely scorn to love at all:

If thy affection first decay,
I will the blame on Nature lay.
Alas, what cordial can remove
The hasty fate of dying Love?
Thus we will all the world excel
In loving and in parting well.

Phillis is my only Joy

PHILLIS is my only joy,

Faithless as the winds or seas; Sometimes coming, sometimes coy, Yet she never fails to please : If with a frown

I am cast down,

Phillis smiling,

And beguiling,

Makes me happier than before.

Tho', alas! too late I find
Nothing can her fancy fix,
Yet the moment she is kind
I forgive her all her tricks :
Which tho' I see,

I can't get free :

She deceiving,

I believing :

What need lovers wish for more?

Fobn Wilmot

Lord Wilmot, afterwards the Earl of Rochester, was born at Ditchley in Oxfordshire in 1647. His very companionable qualities made him a favourite with the King. He set about a short life and a merry one. By the time he had attained his thirtieth year he had exhausted the fund of life. About this time he came under the influence of Dr. Burnet, who afterwards wrote, Some Passages of the Life and Death of John, Earl of Rochester. A lingering illness terminated in his death in 1680. He was a man of considerable attainments, and wrote a poem, Upon Nothing, revealing, strangely enough, his highest genius upon this threadbare subject. His songs, in the opinion of Johnson, are smooth and easy, but have

little nature and little sentiment.

My Dear Mistress

My dear mistress has a heart

Soft as those kind looks she gave me,

When, with love's resistless art,

And her eyes, she did enslave me :

But her constancy's so weak,

She's so wild and apt to wander,
That my jealous heart would break
Should we live one day asunder.

Melting joys about her move,

Killing pleasures, wounding blisses;

She can dress her eyes in love,

And her lips can warm with kisses. Angels listen when she speaks;

She's my delight, all mankind's wonder,

But my jealous heart would break,

Should we live one day asunder.

Love and Life

ALL my past life is mine no more,
The flying hours are gone :
Like transitory dreams given o'er,
Whose images are kept in store
By memory alone.

The time that is to come is not;

How can it then be mine?

The present moment's all my lot;
And that, as fast as it is got,
Phillis, is only thine.

Then talk not of inconstancy,

False hearts, and broken vows;

If I, by miracle, can be

This life-long minute true to thee, 'Tis all that heaven allows.