SONNET.

FAINT amorist! what, dost thou think

To taste love's honey, and not drink
One dram of gall? or to devour

A world of sweet, and taste no sour?
Dost thou ever think to enter

Th' Elysian fields, that darest not venture
In Charon's barge? a lover's mind
Must use to sail with every wind!

He that loves, and fears to try,
Learns his mistress to deny.

Doth she chide thee? 'tis to shew it

That thy coldness makes her do it.
Is she silent, is she mute?
Silence fully grants thy suit.

Doth she pout and leave the room?
Then she goes to bid thee come.

Is she sick? why then be sure,
She invites thee to the cure.
Doth she cross thy suit with "No ?"
Tush! she loves to hear thee woo..

Doth she call the faith of men

In question? nay, she loves thee then;
And if e'er she makes a blot,

She's lost if that thou hit'st her not.

He that, after ten denials,

Dares attempt no farther trials,

Hath no warrant to acquire

The dainties of his chaste desire.

SONNET.

In a grove most rich of shade,
Where birds wanton music made,

May, then young, his pied weeds showing,
New perfum'd, with flow'rs fresh growing,
Astrophel, with Stella sweet,

Did for mutual comfort meet;
Both within themselves oppressed,

But each in the other blessed.

Him great harms had taught much care,
Her fair neck a foul yoke bare ;
But her sight his cares did banish,
In his sight her yoke did vanish.

Wept they had alas, the while!

But now tears themselves did smile;

*

Sigh they did, but now betwixt

Sighs of woes were glad sighs mix'd;

*

Their ears hungry of each word,
Which the dear tongue would afford.

"Stella! whose voice, when it singeth,

"Angels to acquaintance bringeth;

"Stella, in whose body is

"Writ each character of bliss; "In whose face all beauty passeth, "Save thy mind, which yet surpasseth; "Grant-O grant-but speech, alas! "Fails me, fearing on to pass― "Grant-O dear! on knees I pray, "(Knees on ground he then did stay) "That not I, but, since I love you, "Time and place for me may move you! "Never season was more fit,

"Never room more apt for it!

"Smiling air allows my reason,

"The birds sing, now use the season,' "This small wind, which so sweet is,

"See how it the leaves doth kiss ;

"And, if dumb things be so witty,
"Shall a heavenly grace want pity ?"

There, his hands, in their speech, fain
Would have made tongue's language plain;
But her hands, his hands repelling,
Gave repulse all grace excelling.

Then she spake; her speech was such
As not ear but heart did touch;
While in suchwise she love denied
As yet love she signified.

"Astrophel! (said she) my love, "Cease in these effects to prove. "Now be still; yet, still believe me, "Thy grief more than death would grieve me,

"If that any thought in me

"Can taste comfort, but of thee;
"Let me, fed with hellish anguish,
"Joyless, helpless, endless languish !
"If those eyes you praised, be
"Half so dear, as you to me,

"Let me home return stark-blinded

"Of those eyes, and blinder minded!

"If to secret of my heart,

"I do any wish impart,

"Where thou art not foremost placed,

"Be both wish and I defaced.

"If more may be said, I say "All my life in thee I lay:

"If thou love, my love content thee; "For, all love, all faith is meant thee; "Trust me, while I thee deny,

"In myself the smart I try.

Tyrant honour doth thus use thee, "Stella's self might not refuse thee. "Therefore, dear, this no more move, "Lest, (though I leave not thy love, "Which too deep in me is framed) "I should blush when thou art named."

Therewithal, away she went,

Leaving him by passion rent

With what she had done and spoken,
That therewith my song is broken.