Lucasta [27]
glasse, And but unto our selves to all remaine Invisible, thou feature of this face!
VIII. So said, her sad swaine over-heard and cried: Yee Gods! for faith unstaind this a reward! Feathers and glasse t'outweigh my vertue tryed! Ah! show their empty strength! the gods accord.
IX. Now fall'n the brittle favourite lyes and burst! Amas'd LUCASTA weepes, repents and flies To her ALEXIS, vowes her selfe acurst, If hence she dresse her selfe but in his eyes.
<26.1> This adaptation of the fan to the purposes of a mirror, now so common, was, as we here are told, familiar to the ladies of Lovelace's time. Mr. Fairholt, in his COSTUME IN ENGLAND, 1846, p. 496, describes many various forms which were given at different periods to this article of use and ornament; but the present passage in LUCASTA appears to have escaped his notice.
<26.2> Ostrich. Lyly, in his EUPHUES, 1579, sig. c 4, has ESTRIDGE. The fan here described was composed of ostrich-feathers set with precious stones.
<26.3> In allusion to the digestive powers of this bird.
<26.4> Original reads NEERE.
<26.5> The poet means that Lucasta, when she did not require her fan for immediate use, wore it suspended at her side or from her girdle.
<26.6> The sun.
LUCASTA, TAKING THE WATERS AT TUNBRIDGE.<27.1>
I. Yee happy floods! that now must passe The sacred conduicts of her wombe, Smooth and transparent as your face, When you are deafe, and windes are dumbe.
II. Be proud! and if your waters be Foul'd with a counterfeyted teare, Or some false sigh hath stained yee, Haste, and be purified there.
III. And when her rosie gates y'have trac'd, Continue yet some Orient wet, 'Till, turn'd into a gemme, y'are plac'd Like diamonds with rubies set.
IV. Yee drops, that dew th' Arabian bowers, Tell me, did you e're smell or view On any leafe of all your flowers Soe sweet a sent, so rich a hiew?
V. But as through th' Organs of her breath You trickle wantonly, beware: Ambitious Seas in their just death As well as Lovers, must have share.
VI. And see! you boyle as well as I; You, that to coole her did aspire, Now troubled and neglected lye, Nor can your selves quench your owne fire.
VII. Yet still be happy in the thought, That in so small a time as this, Through all the Heavens you were brought Of Vertue, Honour, Love and Blisse.
<27.1> From this it might be conjectured, though the ground for doing so would be very slight, that LUCASTA was a native of Kent or of one of the adjoining shires; but against this supposition we have to set the circumstance that elsewhere this lady is called a "northern star."
TO LUCASTA. ODE LYRICK.
I. Ah LUCASTA, why so bright? Spread with early streaked light! If still vailed from our sight, What is't but eternall night?
II. Ah LUCASTA, why so chaste? With that vigour, ripenes grac't, Not to be by Man imbrac't Makes that Royall coyne imbace't, And this golden Orchard waste!
III. Ah LUCASTA, why so great, That thy crammed coffers sweat? Yet not owner of a seat May shelter you from Natures heat, And your earthly joyes compleat.
IV. Ah Lucasta, why so good? Blest with an unstained flood Flowing both through soule and blood; If it be not understood, 'Tis a Diamond in mud.
V. LUCASTA! stay! why dost thou flye? Thou art not bright but to the eye, Nor chaste but in the mariage-tye, Nor great but in this treasurie, Nor good but in that sanctitie.
VI. Harder then the Orient stone, Like an apparition, Or as a pale shadow gone, Dumbe and deafe she hence is flowne.
VII. Then receive this equall dombe: Virgins, strow no teare or bloome, No one dig the Parian wombe; Raise her marble heart i'th' roome, And 'tis
VIII. So said, her sad swaine over-heard and cried: Yee Gods! for faith unstaind this a reward! Feathers and glasse t'outweigh my vertue tryed! Ah! show their empty strength! the gods accord.
IX. Now fall'n the brittle favourite lyes and burst! Amas'd LUCASTA weepes, repents and flies To her ALEXIS, vowes her selfe acurst, If hence she dresse her selfe but in his eyes.
<26.1> This adaptation of the fan to the purposes of a mirror, now so common, was, as we here are told, familiar to the ladies of Lovelace's time. Mr. Fairholt, in his COSTUME IN ENGLAND, 1846, p. 496, describes many various forms which were given at different periods to this article of use and ornament; but the present passage in LUCASTA appears to have escaped his notice.
<26.2> Ostrich. Lyly, in his EUPHUES, 1579, sig. c 4, has ESTRIDGE. The fan here described was composed of ostrich-feathers set with precious stones.
<26.3> In allusion to the digestive powers of this bird.
<26.4> Original reads NEERE.
<26.5> The poet means that Lucasta, when she did not require her fan for immediate use, wore it suspended at her side or from her girdle.
<26.6> The sun.
LUCASTA, TAKING THE WATERS AT TUNBRIDGE.<27.1>
I. Yee happy floods! that now must passe The sacred conduicts of her wombe, Smooth and transparent as your face, When you are deafe, and windes are dumbe.
II. Be proud! and if your waters be Foul'd with a counterfeyted teare, Or some false sigh hath stained yee, Haste, and be purified there.
III. And when her rosie gates y'have trac'd, Continue yet some Orient wet, 'Till, turn'd into a gemme, y'are plac'd Like diamonds with rubies set.
IV. Yee drops, that dew th' Arabian bowers, Tell me, did you e're smell or view On any leafe of all your flowers Soe sweet a sent, so rich a hiew?
V. But as through th' Organs of her breath You trickle wantonly, beware: Ambitious Seas in their just death As well as Lovers, must have share.
VI. And see! you boyle as well as I; You, that to coole her did aspire, Now troubled and neglected lye, Nor can your selves quench your owne fire.
VII. Yet still be happy in the thought, That in so small a time as this, Through all the Heavens you were brought Of Vertue, Honour, Love and Blisse.
<27.1> From this it might be conjectured, though the ground for doing so would be very slight, that LUCASTA was a native of Kent or of one of the adjoining shires; but against this supposition we have to set the circumstance that elsewhere this lady is called a "northern star."
TO LUCASTA. ODE LYRICK.
I. Ah LUCASTA, why so bright? Spread with early streaked light! If still vailed from our sight, What is't but eternall night?
II. Ah LUCASTA, why so chaste? With that vigour, ripenes grac't, Not to be by Man imbrac't Makes that Royall coyne imbace't, And this golden Orchard waste!
III. Ah LUCASTA, why so great, That thy crammed coffers sweat? Yet not owner of a seat May shelter you from Natures heat, And your earthly joyes compleat.
IV. Ah Lucasta, why so good? Blest with an unstained flood Flowing both through soule and blood; If it be not understood, 'Tis a Diamond in mud.
V. LUCASTA! stay! why dost thou flye? Thou art not bright but to the eye, Nor chaste but in the mariage-tye, Nor great but in this treasurie, Nor good but in that sanctitie.
VI. Harder then the Orient stone, Like an apparition, Or as a pale shadow gone, Dumbe and deafe she hence is flowne.
VII. Then receive this equall dombe: Virgins, strow no teare or bloome, No one dig the Parian wombe; Raise her marble heart i'th' roome, And 'tis