Lucasta [25]
III. Alex. But part we, when thy figure I retaine Still in my heart, still strongly in mine eye? Lu. Shadowes no longer than the sun remaine, But his beams, that made 'em, fly, they fly. Cho. Vaine dreames of love! that only so much blisse Allow us, as to know our wretchednesse; And deale a larger measure in our paine By showing joy, then hiding it againe.
IV. Alex. No, whilst light raigns, LUCASTA still rules here, And all the night shines wholy in this sphere. Lu. I know no morne but my ALEXIS ray, To my dark thoughts the breaking of the day.
Chorus. Alex. So in each other if the pitying sun Thus keep us fixt, nere may his course be run! Lu. And oh! if night us undivided make; Let us sleepe still, and sleeping never wake!
The close. Cruel ADIEUS may well adjourne awhile The sessions of a looke, a kisse, or smile, And leave behinde an angry grieving blush; But time nor fate can part us joyned thus.
<22.1> i.e. the poet himself.
<22.2> "John Gamble, apprentice to Ambrose Beyland, a noted musician, was afterwards musician at one of the playhouses; from thence removed to be a cornet in the King's Chapel. After that he became one in Charles the Second's band of violins, and composed for the theatres. He published AYRES AND DIALOGUES TO THE THEORBO AND BASS VIOL, fol. Lond., 1659."--Hawkins.
SONNET. SET BY MR. WILLIAM LAWES.
I. When I by thy faire shape did sweare, And mingled with each vowe a teare, I lov'd, I lov'd thee best, I swore as I profest. For all the while you lasted warme and pure, My oathes too did endure. But once turn'd faithlesse to thy selfe and old, They then with thee incessantly<23.1> grew cold.
II. I swore my selfe thy sacrifice By th' ebon bowes<23.2> that guard thine eyes, Which now are alter'd white, And by the glorious light Of both those stars, which of<23.3> their spheres bereft, Only the gellie's left. Then changed thus, no more I'm bound to you, Then swearing to a saint that proves untrue.
<23.1> i.e. at once, immediately.
<23.2> Her eyebrows.
<23.3> Original reads OF WHICH.
LUCASTA WEEPING. SONG. SET BY MR. JOHN LANEERE.
I. Lucasta wept, and still the bright Inamour'd god of day, With his soft handkercher of light, Kist the wet pearles away.
II. But when her teares his heate or'ecame, In cloudes he quensht his beames, And griev'd, wept out his eye of flame, So drowned her sad streames.
III.<24.1> At this she smiled, when straight the sun Cleer'd by her kinde desires; And by her eyes reflexion Fast kindl'd there his fires.
<24.1> This stanza is not found in the printed copy of LUCASTA, 1649, but it occurs in a MS. of this poem written, with many compositions by Lovelace and other poets, in a copy of Crashaw's POEMS, 1648, 12mo, a portion of which having been formed of the printer's proof-sheets, some of the pages are printed only on one side, the reverse being covered with MSS. poems, among the rest with epigrams by MR. THOMAS FULLER (about fifty in number). There can be little doubt, from the character of the majority of these little poems, that by "Mr. Thomas Fuller" we may understand the church-historian.
TO LUCASTA. FROM PRISON AN EPODE.<25.1>
I. Long in thy shackels, liberty I ask not from these walls, but thee; Left for awhile anothers bride, To fancy all the world beside.
II. Yet e're I doe begin to love, See, how I all my objects prove; Then my free soule to that confine, 'Twere possible I might call mine.
III. First I would be in love with PEACE, And
IV. Alex. No, whilst light raigns, LUCASTA still rules here, And all the night shines wholy in this sphere. Lu. I know no morne but my ALEXIS ray, To my dark thoughts the breaking of the day.
Chorus. Alex. So in each other if the pitying sun Thus keep us fixt, nere may his course be run! Lu. And oh! if night us undivided make; Let us sleepe still, and sleeping never wake!
The close. Cruel ADIEUS may well adjourne awhile The sessions of a looke, a kisse, or smile, And leave behinde an angry grieving blush; But time nor fate can part us joyned thus.
<22.1> i.e. the poet himself.
<22.2> "John Gamble, apprentice to Ambrose Beyland, a noted musician, was afterwards musician at one of the playhouses; from thence removed to be a cornet in the King's Chapel. After that he became one in Charles the Second's band of violins, and composed for the theatres. He published AYRES AND DIALOGUES TO THE THEORBO AND BASS VIOL, fol. Lond., 1659."--Hawkins.
SONNET. SET BY MR. WILLIAM LAWES.
I. When I by thy faire shape did sweare, And mingled with each vowe a teare, I lov'd, I lov'd thee best, I swore as I profest. For all the while you lasted warme and pure, My oathes too did endure. But once turn'd faithlesse to thy selfe and old, They then with thee incessantly<23.1> grew cold.
II. I swore my selfe thy sacrifice By th' ebon bowes<23.2> that guard thine eyes, Which now are alter'd white, And by the glorious light Of both those stars, which of<23.3> their spheres bereft, Only the gellie's left. Then changed thus, no more I'm bound to you, Then swearing to a saint that proves untrue.
<23.1> i.e. at once, immediately.
<23.2> Her eyebrows.
<23.3> Original reads OF WHICH.
LUCASTA WEEPING. SONG. SET BY MR. JOHN LANEERE.
I. Lucasta wept, and still the bright Inamour'd god of day, With his soft handkercher of light, Kist the wet pearles away.
II. But when her teares his heate or'ecame, In cloudes he quensht his beames, And griev'd, wept out his eye of flame, So drowned her sad streames.
III.<24.1> At this she smiled, when straight the sun Cleer'd by her kinde desires; And by her eyes reflexion Fast kindl'd there his fires.
<24.1> This stanza is not found in the printed copy of LUCASTA, 1649, but it occurs in a MS. of this poem written, with many compositions by Lovelace and other poets, in a copy of Crashaw's POEMS, 1648, 12mo, a portion of which having been formed of the printer's proof-sheets, some of the pages are printed only on one side, the reverse being covered with MSS. poems, among the rest with epigrams by MR. THOMAS FULLER (about fifty in number). There can be little doubt, from the character of the majority of these little poems, that by "Mr. Thomas Fuller" we may understand the church-historian.
TO LUCASTA. FROM PRISON AN EPODE.<25.1>
I. Long in thy shackels, liberty I ask not from these walls, but thee; Left for awhile anothers bride, To fancy all the world beside.
II. Yet e're I doe begin to love, See, how I all my objects prove; Then my free soule to that confine, 'Twere possible I might call mine.
III. First I would be in love with PEACE, And