LOVE GIVEN OVER. IT is enough; enough of time and pain Leave, wretched Cowley! leave Thyself with shadows to deceive; Think that already lost which thou must never gain. Three of thy lustiest and thy freshest years (Toss'd in storms of hopes and fears) Like helpless ships that be Set on fire i' th' midst o' the sea, Have all been burnt in love, and all been drown'd in tears. Resolve then on it, and by force or art Free thy unlucky heart; Since Fate does disapprove Th' ambition of thy love, And not one star in heaven offers to take thy part. If e'er I clear my heart from this desire, Though thousand beauties call it out: The pox, the plague, and every small disease, But death and love are never found To give a second wound, We're by those serpents bit, but we 're devour'd by these. Alas! what comfort is 't that I am grown Since such an enemy needs not fear Lest any else should quarter there, Who has not only sack'd, but quite burnt down, the town. THE FORCE OF LOVE. PRESERVED FROM AN OLD MANUSCRIPT. THROW an apple up a hill, Down the mountain flows the stream, Up ascends the lambent flame; Smoke and vapour mount the skies ; Nought below, and nought above, Seems averse, but prone to Love. Stop the meteor in its flight, Salamanders live in fire, Metals grow within the mine, Man is born to live and die, Snakes to creep, and birds to fly; Fishes in the waters swim, Doves are mild, and lions grim: Nature thus, below, above, Pushes all things on to Love. Does the cedar love the mountain? Is the valiant hero bold? As the wencher loves a lass, When young maidens courtship shun, EPIGRAM, ON THE POWER OF LOVE. N. B. This is delivered down by tradition as a production of Cowley; and was spoken at the Westminster-school election, on the following subject: "Nullis amor est medicabilis herbis. OVID. SOL Daphne sees, and seeing her admires, |