The first foe in the field;

And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such,

As you too shall adore;

I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not Honor more.

60

And take the harmless folly of the time.
We shall grow old apace and die
Before we know our liberty.
Our life is short, and our days run
As fast away as does the sun,
And as a vapor, or a drop of rain,
Once lost can ne'er be found again;
So when or you or I are made
A fable, song, or fleeting shade,
All love, all liking, all delight,
Lies drown'd with us in endless night.
Then while time serves, and we are but
decaying;

Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.

NIGHT PIECE, TO JULIA

Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee,
The shooting stars attend thee,
And the elves also,

Whose little eyes glow

Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee.

No will-o'-th' wisp mislight thee;
Nor snake or slow-worm bite thee;
But on, on thy way,
Not making a stay,

70

Since ghost there's none to affright thee.

Let not the dark thee cumber;
What though the moon does slumber?