You common people of the skies, What are you, when the Moon shall rise? You curious chanters of the wood
That warble forth dame Nature's lays, Thinking your passions understood
By your weak accents; what's your praise When Philomel her voice doth raise?
You violets that first appear,
By your pure purple mantles known Like the proud virgins of the year,
As if the spring were all your own,- What are you, when the Rose is blown? So when my Mistress shall be seen In form and beauty of her mind, By virtue first, then choice, a Queen, Tell me, if she were not design' Th' eclipse and glory of her kind? Sir H. Wotton
TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY
Daughter to that good Earl, once President Of England's Council and her Treasury, Who lived in both, unstain'd with gold or fee, And left them both, more in himself content,
Till the sad breaking of that Parliament Broke him, as that dishonest victory At Chaeroneia, fatal to liberty,
Kill'd with report that old man eloquent ;
Though later born than to have known the days Wherein your father flourish'd, yet by you, Madam, methinks I see him living yet;
So well your words his noble virtues praise, That all both judge you to relate them true, And to possess them, honour'd Margaret. J. Milton
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 steadfast mind, Gentle thoughts, and calm desires, Hearts with equal love combined, Kindle never-dying fires :- Where these are not, I despise Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes.
Sweet, be not proud of those two eyes Which starlike sparkle in their skies; Nor be you proud, that you can see All hearts your captives; yours yet free : Be you not proud of that rich hair Which wantons with the lovesick air; Whenas that ruby which you wear, Sunk from the tip of your soft ear, Will last to be a precious stone When all your world of beauty's gone.
Love in thy youth, fair Maid, be wise; Old Time will make thee colder,
And though each morning new arise Yet we each day grow older.
Thou as Heaven art fair and young, Thine eyes like twin stars shining;
But ere another day be sprung
All these will be declining.
Then winter comes with all his fears, And all thy sweets shall borrow;
Too late then wilt thou shower thy tears,— And I too late shall sorrow!
Tell her, that wastes hertime and me, That now she knows,
When I resemble her to thee,
How sweet and fair she seems to be.
Tell her that's young
And shuns to have her graces spied, That hadst thou sprung In deserts, where no men abide, Thou must have uncommended died.
Small is the worth
Of beauty from the light retired : Bid her come forth,
Suffer herself to be desired,
And not blush so to be admired.
Then die! that she
The common fate of all things rare
May read in thee:
How small a part of time they share That are so wondrous sweet and fair! E. Waller
Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I'll not look for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I would not change for thine.
I sent thee late a rosy wreath, Not so much honouring thee As giving it a hope that there
It could not wither'd be ;
But thou thereon didst only breathe And sent'st it back to me;
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee !
There is a garden in her face
Where roses and white lilies blow; A heavenly paradise is that place, Wherein all pleasant fruits do grow ; There cherries grow that none may buy, Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry.
Those cherries fairly do enclose
Of orient pearl, a double row,
Which when her lovely laughter shows,
They look like rose-buds fill'd with snow:
Yet them no peer nor prince may buy, Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry.
Her eyes like angels watch them still; Her brows like bended bows do stand, Threat'ning with piercing frowns to kill
All that approach with eye or hand These sacred cherries to come nigh, Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry!
CORINNA'S MAYING
Get up, get up for shame! The blooming morn Upon her wings presents the god unshorn.
See how Aurora throws her fair Fresh-quilted colours through the air: Get up, sweet Slug-a-bed, and see The dew bespangling herb and tree. Each flower has wept, and bow'd toward the east, Above an hour since; yet you not drest, Nay! not so much as out of bed? When all the birds have matins said, And sung their thankful hymns: 'tis sin, Nay, profanation, to keep in,- Whenas a thousand virgins on this day, Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch-in May.
Rise; and put on your foliage, and be seen To come forth, like the Spring-time, fresh and green And sweet as Flora. Take no care For jewels for your gown, or hair : Fear not; the leaves will strew Gems in abundance upon you:
Besides, the childhood of the day has kept, Against you come, some orient pearls unwept : Come, and receive them while the light Hangs on the dew-locks of the night : And Titan on the eastern hill
Retires himself, or else stands sti!!
Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying:
Few beads are best. when once we go a Maying.
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