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

2

"Writ each character of bliss;

4

"Whose sweet face 3 all beauty passeth,
"Save thy mind which yet 5 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 7 move you!

"Never season was more fit,

"Never room more apt for it!

"Smiling air allows my reason;

"These 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.2

3

Then she spake; her speech was such

As not ears but heart did touch;

While 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,

4

"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, hopeless, endless languish !

'Ed. 1591, "compelling."

Ed. 1591,

expelling."

From this line to the four last of the poem is wanting in

ed. 1591.

**Eng. Hel. "doth." Eng. Hel. "feed."

6 Eng. Hel." helpless."

"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! heart

"If to secret of my

"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 bliss 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 to passion rent

With what she had done and spoken,

That therewith my song

is broken.

1 Eng, Hel, "on.”

$

• Ed. 1591, “ with.”

SONG.

[From "Astrophel and Stella." Also in "England's "Helicon."]

ONLY joy, now here you are,
Fit to hear and ease my care;
Let my whispering voice obtain
Sweet reward for sharpest pain.

Take me to thee, and thee to me-
"No, no?-no, no!-my dear, let be!"

Night hath clos'd all in her cloak;
Twinkling stars love-thoughts provoke ;
Danger hence good care doth keep;

3

Cupid's yoke to loose, or bind:

These sweet flowers on fine bed too

Us in their best language woo.

Take me, &c.

That you heard was but a mouse:
Dumb sleep holdeth all the house:

'Ed. 1591, "rewards."

Ed. 1591, "knot.”

* Ed. 1591, "himself."

♦ Ed. 1591, "our.”

Yet, asleep, methinks they say,

66

Young folks, take time while you may."
Take me, &c.

Your fair mother is a-bed,

Candles out, and curtains spread :

She thinks you do letters write:

Write, but let me first 2 endite.
Take me, &c.

Sweet, alas! why strive 3 you thus ?
Concord better fitteth us;

Leave to Mars the force of hands!

Your power in your beauty stands.
Take me, &c.

Wo to me! and do you + swear
Me to hate? but I forbear!

Cursed be my destins 5 all,

That brought me so high to fall!

Soon with my death I will please thee.—

"No, no!-no, no!-my dear, let be!"

'Ed. 1591, "fools."

Eng. Hel. "saine."

2 Ed. 1591, "first let me."

4 Eng. Hel. "you do."

Eng. Hel, and ed. 1591, “destinies."