OF HIS MISTRESS:

M

UPON OCCASION OF HER WALKING IN A GARDEN.

Y lady's presence makes the roses red,

Because to see her lips they blush for shame :

The lily's leaves, for envy, pale became,
And her white hands in them this envy bred.
The marigold abroad her leaves doth spread,
Because the sun's and her power is the same;
The violet of purple colour came,

Dyed with the blood she made my heart to shed.
In brief, all flowers from her their virtue take:

From her sweet breath their sweet smells do proceed,
The living heat which her eye-beams do make
Warmeth the ground, and quickeneth the seed.

The rain wherewith she watereth these flowers

Falls from mine eyes, which she dissolves in showers.

PITY refusing my poor Love to feed,

A beggar starved for want of help he lies,

And at your mouth, the door of beauty, cries That thence some alms of sweet grants may proceed. But as he waiteth for some almës-deed

A cherry-tree before the door he spies

'Oh dear!' quoth he, 'two cherries may suffice, Two only life may save in this my need.'

But beggars, can they nought but cherries eat?
Pardon my Love, he is a goddess' son,

And never feedeth but on dainty meat,

Else need he not to pine as he hath done :

For only the sweet fruit of this sweet tree
Can give food to my Love, and life to me.

M

USES that sing Love's sensual empery,
And lovers kindling your enragèd fires

At Cupid's bonfires burning in the eye,

Blown with the empty breath of vain desires,You that prefer the painted cabinet

Before the wealthy jewels it doth store ye,
That all your joys in dying figures set,

And stain the living substance of your glory;
Abjure those joys, abhor their memory,
And let my Love the honoured subject be
Of love, and honour's complete history;
Your eyes were never yet let in to see
The majesty and riches of the mind,

But dwell in darkness; for your god is blind.

I

SAW the object of my pining thought

Within a garden of sweet Nature's placing, Wherein an arbour artificial wrought,

By workman's wondrous skill the garden gracing, Did boast his glory, glory far renowned,

For in his shady boughs my mistress slept, And with a garland of his branches crowned, Her dainty forehead from the sun ykept. Imperious Love upon her eyelids tending,

Playing his wanton sports at every beck,
And into every finest limb descending,

From eyes to lips, from lips to ivory neck;
And every limb supplied, and t' every part
Had free accéss, but durst not touch her heart.

HAT meant the poets in invective verse

WHAT

To sing Medea's shame, and Scylla's pride,
Calypso's charms by which so many died?
Only for this their vices they rehearse :

That curious wits, which in the world converse,
May shun the dangers and enticing shows
Of such false sirens, those home-breeding foes,
That from their eyes their venom do disperse.
So soon kills not the basilisk with sight;
The viper's tooth is not so venomous;
The adder's tongue not half so dangerous,
As they that bear the shadow of delight,

Who chain blind youths in trammels of their hair,
Till waste brings woe, and sorrow hastes despair.

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