Remain still firm: be provident, And think before the summer's spent Of following winter: like the ant In plenty hoard for time of scant. Cull out, amongst the multitude Of lovers that seek to intrude Into your favour, one that may Love for an age, not for a day.
For, when the storms of time have mov'd Waves on that cheek which was belov❜d; When a fair lady's face is pin'd,
And yellow spread where red once shin'd ; When beauty, youth, and all sweets leave her, Love may return, but lover never!
And old folks say there are no pains Like itch of love in aged veins.
Oh, love me then! and now begin it; Let us not lose this present minute! For time and age will work that wrack, Which time or age shall ne'er call back. The snake each year fresh skin resumes, And eagles change their aged plumes; The faded rose each spring receives A fresh red tincture on her leaves; But if your beauties once decay, You never know a second May.
Oh then be wise! and, whilst your season Affords you days for sport, do reason! Spend not in vain your life's short hour, But crop in time your beauty's flower, Which will away, and doth together Both bud and fade, both blow and wither!
Persuasions to enjoy.
If the quick spirits in your eye Now languish, and anou must die; If every sweet, and every grace Must fly from that forsaken face; Then, Celia, let us reap our joys Ere time such goodly fruit destroys.
Or, if that golden fleece must grow For ever free from aged snow;
If those bright suns must know no shade, Nor your fresh beauties ever fade;
Then fear not, Celia, to bestow
What, still being gather'd, still must grow.
Thus either Time his sickle brings
In vain, or else in vain his wings.
Good Counsel to a young Maid.
WHEN you the sun-burnt pilgrim see, Fainting with thirst, haste to the springs; Mark how, at first, with bended knee
He courts the chrystal Nymphs, and flings His body to the earth, where he Prostrate adores the flowing deity.
But when his sweaty face is drench'd In her cool waves, when from her sweet Bosom his burning thirst is quench'd, Then mark how with disdainful feet
He kicks her banks, and from the place That thus refresh'd him moves with sullen pace.
So shalt thou be despis'd, fair maid,
When by the sated lover tasted !
What first he did with tears invade
Shall afterwards with scorn be wasted: When all thy virgin springs grow dry,
When no streams shall be left but in thine eye.
Disdain returned.
He that loves a rosy cheek, Or a coral lip admires, Or from star-like eyes doth seek Fuel to maintain his fires,- As old Time makes these decay, So his flames must waste away.
But a smooth and stedfast mind, Gentle thoughts, and calm desires, Hearts with equal love combin'd, Kindle never-dying fires. Where these are not, I despise Lovely checks, or lips, or eyes.
This firstling of the infant year; Ask me why I send to you
This primrose, all bepearl'd with dew ;- I straight will whisper in your ears, The sweets of love are wash'd with tears Ask me why this flower doth show So yellow, green, and sickly too;
Ask me why the stalk is weak,
And bending, yet it doth not break ;- I must tell you, these discover
What doubts and fears are in a lover.
AMONGST the myrtles as I walk'd, Love and my sighs thus intertalk'd: "Tell me," said I in deep distress,
"Where may I find my shepherdess ?”
"Thou fool," said Love," know'st thou not this?
"In every thing that's good she is.
"In yonder tulip go and seek,
"There thou may'st find her lip, her cheek:
"In yon enamell'd pansy by,
"There thou shalt have her curious eye:
"In bloom of peach, in rosy bud,
"There wave the streamers of her blood."
""Tis true," said I; and thereupon
I went to pluck them one by one, To make of parts a union:
But, on a sudden, all was gone.
« ПредыдущаяПродолжить » |