There is no danger, if the pain Should me to a fever bring; Compar'd with heats I now sustain, (Like drink which feverish men desire) That I should hope 't would almost quench my fire. THE SEPARATION. ASK me not what my love shall do or be Alas! I might as easily show, What after death the soul will do ; 'T will last, I'm sure, and that is all we know The thing call'd soul will never stir nor move Not that love will fly away, my But still continue; as, they say, Sad troubled ghosts about their graves 1 THE TREE. I CHOSE the flourishing'st tree in all the park, With freshest boughs and fairest head; I cut my love into his gentle bark, And in three days, behold! 't is dead: My very written flames so violent be, They've burnt and wither'd-up the tree. How should I live myself, whose heart is found With the large history of many a wound, What a few words from thy rich stock did take As a strong poison with one drop does make Love (I see now) a kind of witchcraft is, Or characters could ne'er do this. Pardon, ye birds and nymphs, who lov'd this shade; And pardon me, thou gentle tree; I thought her name would thee have happy made, And blessed omens hop'd from thee: "Notes of my love, thrive here," said I," and grow; "And with ye let my love do so." Alas, poor youth! thy love will never thrive! Go, tie the dismal knot (why shouldst thou live?) HER UNBELIEF. 'T IS a strange kind of ignorance this in you! That you your victories should not spy, Victories gotten by your eye! That your bright beams, as those of comets do, Should kill, but not know how, nor who! That truly you my idol might appear, Whilst all the people smell and see The odorous flames I offer thee, Thou sitt'st, and dost not see, nor smell, nor hear, Thy constant, zealous worshiper. They see 't too well who at my fires repine; 162927 Nor does the cause in thy face clearlier shine, Fair infidel by what unjust decree Must I, who with such restless care Would make this truth to thee appear, Must I, who preach it, and pray for it, be Damn'd by thy incredulity? I, by thy unbelief, am guiltless slain : Oh, have but faith, and then, that you It shall itself by a miracle maintain, And raise me from the dead again! Meanwhile my hopes may seem to be o'erthrown; But lovers' hopes are full of art, And thus dispute-That, since my heart, Though in thy breast, yet is not by thee known, Perhaps thou may'st not know thine own. THE GAZERS. COME, let's go on, where love and youth does call; I've seen too much, if this be all. Alas! how far more wealthy might I be With a contented ignorant poverty! To shew such stores, and nothing grant, For love to die an infant's lesser ill, Than to live long, yet live in childhood still. We'ave both sat gazing only, hitherto, As man and wife in picture do; The richest crop of joy is still behind, But th' armour at last improv'd; The statue itself at last a woman grew, Beauty to man the greatest torture is, Untless it heal, as well as strike; I would not, salamander-like, In scorching heats always to live desire, Mark how the lusty sun salutes the spring, His loving, beams unlock each maiden flower, The sun himself, although all eye he be, |