If not a love, a ftrong defire
To create and spread that fire
In my breast, folicits me,
Beauteous Amoret! for thee.

'Tis amazement more than love
Which her radiant eyes do move:
If less splendour wait on thine,
Yet they fo benignly shine,
I would turn my dazzled fight
To behold their milder light:
But as hard 't is to destroy
That high flame as to enjoy;

Which how eas❜ly I may do,

Heav'n (as eas❜ly fcal'd) does know!

Amoret! as sweet and good

As the most delicious food,
Which but tafted does impart

Life and gladness to the heart.
Sachariffa's beauty's wine,
Which to madness doth incline;
Such a liquor as no brain

That is mortal can sustain.

Scarce can I to Heav'n excufe

The devotion which I use
Unto that adored dame;

For 't is not unlike the fame

Which I thither ought to fend;

So that if it could take end,

T'would to Heav'n itfelf be due,
To fucceed her and not you;
Who already have of me
All that's not idolatry;

Which, tho' not fo fierce a flame,

Is longer like to be the fame.

Then smile on me, and I will prove Wonder is fhorter-liv'd than love.

AMORET! the Milky Way

Fram'd of many nameless stars!

The smooth stream where none can fay
He this drop to that prefers!

Amoret! my lovely Foc!

Tell me where thy ftrength does lie?
Where the pow'r that charms us fo?
In thy foul, or in thy eye?

By that snowy neck alone,

Or thy grace in motion feen,

No fuch wonders could be done;
Yet thy waift is straight and clean
As Cupid's fhaft, or Hermes' rod,
And pow'rful, too, as either god.

ΤΟ

14

If not a love, a ftrong defire
To create and spread that fire
In my breaft, folicits me,
Beauteous Amoret! for thee.

'Tis amazement more than love
Which her radiant eyes do move:
If lefs fplendour wait on thine,
Yet they fo benignly shine,
I would turn my dazzled fight
To behold their milder light:
But as hard 't is to destroy
That high flame as to enjoy;
Which how eas❜ly I may do,
Heav'n (as eas❜ly fcal'd) does know!

Amoret! as fweet and good

As the most delicious food,
Which but tafted does impart
Life and gladness to the heart.
Sachariffa's beauty's wine,
Which to madness doth incline;
Such a liquor as no brain

That is mortal can sustain.

Y

Scarce can I to Heav'n excufe

The devotion which I use

Unto that adored dame;

is

30

⚫ 35

40

45

T'would to Heav'n itself be due,
To fucceed her and not you;
Who already have of me
All that's not idolatry;

Which, tho' not so fierce a flame,
Is longer like to be the fame.

The ímile on me, and I will prove
Wonderis forter-liv'd than love.

39

XIV.

TO PHYLLIS.

PHYLLIS! why should we delay
Pleasures shorter than the day?
Could we (which we never can)
Stretch our lives beyond their span,
Beauty like a shadow flies,
And our youth before us dies.
Or would youth and beauty stay,
Love hath wings, and will away.
Love hath swifter wings than Time.
Change in love to Heav'n does climb.
Gods, that never change their state,
Vary oft' their love and hate.

Phyllis! to this truth we owe
All the love betwixt us two.
Let not you and I inquire
What has been our past defire;

On what fhepherds you have smil'd,
Or what nymphs I have beguil'd:
Leave it to the planets too
What we shall hereafter do;
For the joys we now may prove,
Take advice of present love.