LOOKING ON, AND DISCOURSING WITH, HIS MISTRESS. THESE full two hours now have I gazing been, To look on heaven with mighty gulfs between Ah wretch! I seem to touch her now; but oh, As her hard soul's aversion from my love. So travellers, that lose their way by night, RESOLVED TO LOVE. I WONDER what the grave and wise Think of all us that love; Whether our pretty fooleries Their mirth or anger move : They understand not breath that words does want; Our sighs to them are insignificant. One of them saw me, th' other day, Touch the dear hand which I admire; My soul was melting strait away, And dropt before the fire: This silly wise-man, who pretends to know, Saw me with eyes all watry come; Nor could-the hidden cause explore, But thought some smoke was in the room : Such ignorance from unwounded learning came; He knew tears made by smoke, but not by flame. If learn'd in other things you be, And have in love no skill, For God's sake keep your arts from me, For I'll be ignorant still: Study or action others may embrace; My love's my business, and my books her face. These are but trifles, I confess, Which me, weak mortal! move; Nor is your busy-seriousness Less trifling than my love: The wisest king, who from his sacred breast MY FATE. GO bid the needle his dear North forsake, To which with trembling reverence it does bend; Go bid the stones a journey upwards make; Go bid th' ambitious flame no more ascend: And, when these false to their own motions prove, Then shall I cease thee, thee alone, to love. The fast-link'd chain of everlasting Fate Does nothing tie more strong than me to you; My fixt love hangs not on your love or hate, But will be still the same, whate'er you do: You cannot kill my love with your disdain ; Wound it you may, and make it live in pain. Me, mine example, let the Stoicks use, Let all predestinators me produce, Who struggle with eternal bonds in vain : This fire I'm born to-but 't is she must tell, Whether 't be beams of heaven or flames of hell. You, who men's fortunes in their faces read, Or, if stars shew it, gaze not on the skies; If thou find there kind and propitious rays, Is writ in heaven; but oh, my heaven is there. What can men learn from stars they scarce can see? Two great lights rule the world, and her two, me. IT THE HEART BREAKING. gave a piteous groan, and so it broke; In vain it something would have spoke: The love within too strong for 't was, Like poison put into a Venice-glass. I thought that this some remedy might prove; Cut by this chance in pieces small, In all still liv'd, and still it stung in all. And now, alas! each little broken part And every smallest corner still Lives with the torment which the whole did kill. Even so rude armies, when the field they quit, And into several quarters get; Each troop does spoil and ruin more Than all join'd in one body did before. How many Loves reign in my bosom now! Thus have I chang'd with evil fate THE USURPATION. THOU 'adst to my soul no title or pretence; I was mine own, and free, Till I had given myself to thee; But thou hast kept me slave and prisoner since. In an elective monarchy. Part of my heart by gift did to thee fall; But thou, their covetous neighbour, drav'st out all: |