IX PRESENT IN ABSENCE BSENCE, hear thou my protestation A Against thy strength, Distance, and length; Do what thou canst for alteration : For hearts of truest mettle Absence doth join, and Time doth settle. Who loves a mistress of such quality, Affection's ground Beyond time, place, and all mortality. Absence is Presence, Time doth tarry. By absence this good means I gain, Where none can watch her, Anon. X ABSENCE BEING your slave, what should I do but tend Upon the hours and time of your desire ? I have no precious time at all to spend Nor services to do, till you require : Nor dare I chide the world-without-end-hour Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you, When you have bid your servant once adieu : Nor dare I question with my jealous thought But like a sad slave, or your affairs suppose, stay and think of nought Save, where you are, how happy you make those; So true a fool is love, that in your will, W. Shakespeare H XI OW like a winter hath my absence been From Thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen, What old December's bareness everywhere! And yet this time removed was summer's time: Yet this abundant issue seem'd to me Or if they sing, 't is with so dull a cheer, WH XII A CONSOLATION HEN in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, For thy sweet love remember'd, such wealth brings XIII THE UNCHANGEABLE NEVER say that I was false of heart, Though absence seem'd my flame to qualify : As easy might I from myself depart As from my soul, which in thy breast doth lie ; That is my home of love; if I have ranged, Just to the time, not with the time exchanged, Never believe, though in my nature reign'd For nothing this wide universe I call, W. Shakespeare XIV To your eye eyed me, fair Friend, you never can be old, Such seems your beauty still. I Three winters cold Have from the forests shook three summers' pride; Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turn'd Three April perfumes in three hot Junes burn'd, Ah! yet doth beauty, like a dial hand, For fear of which, hear this, thou age unbred, D XV DIAPHENIA IAPHENIA like the daffadowndilly, Heigh ho, how I do love thee ! I do love thee as my lambs Are beloved of their dams; How blest were I if thou wouldst prove me. Diaphenia like the spreading roses, I do love thee as each flower For dead, thy breath to life might move me. Diaphenia like to all things blesséd As the birds do love the spring, Then in requite, sweet virgin, love me! H. Constable L' XVI ROSALINE IKE to the clear in highest sphere Where all imperial glory shines, Of selfsame colour is her hair Whether unfolded, or in twines : |