Lucasta [38]
To find a PHOENIX melted in the fire, Out of whose ashes should spring up to birth A friend"-- POEMS OF Ben Johnson jun., by W. S., 1672, p. 18.
<37.9> This and the next eleven lines are not in MS.
<37.10> The MS. reads SHE.
<37.11> The MS. reads for BUT TH' "the."
<37.12> In the houses of such as could afford the expense, the walls of rooms were formerly lined with tapestry instead of paper.
<37.13> So MS.; original has A.
<37.14> An allusion to the fable of Jupiter and Ganymede.
<37.15> MIX'D WITH DROPPINGE SNOW--MS.
<37.16> This and the succeeding line are not in MS.
<37.17> This and the six following lines are not in MS.
<37.18> Here we have a figure, which reminds us of Jonson's famous lines on the Countess of Pembroke; but certainly in this instance the palm of superiority is due to Lovelace, whose conception of Time having his scythe snatched from him is bolder and finer than that of the earlier and greater poet.
THE SCRUTINIE. SONG. SET BY MR. THOMAS CHARLES.<38.1>
I. Why shouldst thou<38.2> sweare I am forsworn, Since thine I vow'd to be? Lady, it is already Morn, And 'twas last night I swore to thee That fond impossibility.
II. Have I not lov'd thee much and long, A tedious twelve moneths<38.3> space? I should<38.4> all other beauties wrong, And rob thee of a new imbrace; Should<38.5> I still dote upon thy face.
III. Not but all joy in thy browne haire In<38.6> others may be found; But I must search the black and faire, Like skilfulle minerallists that sound For treasure in un-plow'd-up<38.7> ground.
IV. Then if, when I have lov'd my<38.8> round, Thou prov'st the pleasant she; With spoyles<38.9> of meaner beauties crown'd, I laden will returne to thee, Ev'n sated with varietie.
<38.1> This poem appears in WITS INTERPRETER, by John Cotgrave, ed. 1662, p. 214, under the title of "On his Mistresse, who unjustly taxed him of leaving her off."
<38.2> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads SHOULD YOU.
<38.3> So Cotgrave. This is preferable to HOURS, the reading in LUCASTA.
<38.4> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads MUST.
<38.5> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA has COULD.
<38.6> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads BY.
<38.7> UNBIDDEN--Cotgrave.
<38.8> THEE--Cotgrave.
<38.9> IN SPOIL--Cotgrave.
PRINCESSE LOYSA<39.1> DRAWING.
I saw a little Diety, MINERVA in epitomy, Whom VENUS, at first blush, surpris'd, Tooke for her winged wagge disguis'd. But viewing then, whereas she made Not a distrest, but lively shade Of ECCHO whom he had betrayd, Now wanton, and ith' coole oth' Sunne With her delight a hunting gone, And thousands more, whom he had slaine; To live and love, belov'd againe: Ah! this is true divinity! I will un-God that toye! cri'd she; Then markt she SYRINX running fast To Pan's imbraces, with the haste Shee fled him once, whose reede-pipe rent He finds now a new Instrument. THESEUS return'd invokes the Ayre And windes, then wafts his faire; Whilst ARIADNE ravish't stood Half in his armes, halfe in the flood. Proud ANAXERETE doth fall At IPHIS feete, who smiles at<39.2> all: And he (whilst she his curles doth deck) Hangs no where now, but on her neck. Here PHOEBUS with a beame untombes Long-hid LEUCOTHOE, and doomes Her father there; DAPHNE the faire Knowes now no bayes but round her haire; And to APOLLO and his Sons, Who pay him their due Orisons, Bequeaths her lawrell-robe, that flame Contemnes, Thunder and evill Fame. There kneel'd ADONIS fresh as spring, Gay as his youth, now offering Herself those joyes with voice and hand, Which first he could not understand. Transfixed VENUS stood amas'd, Full of the Boy and Love, she gaz'd, And in imbraces seemed more Senceless and colde then he before. Uselesse Childe! In vaine (said she) You beare that fond artillerie; See heere a pow'r above the slow Weake execution of thy bow. So said, she riv'd the wood in two, Unedged all his arrowes too, And
<37.9> This and the next eleven lines are not in MS.
<37.10> The MS. reads SHE.
<37.11> The MS. reads for BUT TH' "the."
<37.12> In the houses of such as could afford the expense, the walls of rooms were formerly lined with tapestry instead of paper.
<37.13> So MS.; original has A.
<37.14> An allusion to the fable of Jupiter and Ganymede.
<37.15> MIX'D WITH DROPPINGE SNOW--MS.
<37.16> This and the succeeding line are not in MS.
<37.17> This and the six following lines are not in MS.
<37.18> Here we have a figure, which reminds us of Jonson's famous lines on the Countess of Pembroke; but certainly in this instance the palm of superiority is due to Lovelace, whose conception of Time having his scythe snatched from him is bolder and finer than that of the earlier and greater poet.
THE SCRUTINIE. SONG. SET BY MR. THOMAS CHARLES.<38.1>
I. Why shouldst thou<38.2> sweare I am forsworn, Since thine I vow'd to be? Lady, it is already Morn, And 'twas last night I swore to thee That fond impossibility.
II. Have I not lov'd thee much and long, A tedious twelve moneths<38.3> space? I should<38.4> all other beauties wrong, And rob thee of a new imbrace; Should<38.5> I still dote upon thy face.
III. Not but all joy in thy browne haire In<38.6> others may be found; But I must search the black and faire, Like skilfulle minerallists that sound For treasure in un-plow'd-up<38.7> ground.
IV. Then if, when I have lov'd my<38.8> round, Thou prov'st the pleasant she; With spoyles<38.9> of meaner beauties crown'd, I laden will returne to thee, Ev'n sated with varietie.
<38.1> This poem appears in WITS INTERPRETER, by John Cotgrave, ed. 1662, p. 214, under the title of "On his Mistresse, who unjustly taxed him of leaving her off."
<38.2> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads SHOULD YOU.
<38.3> So Cotgrave. This is preferable to HOURS, the reading in LUCASTA.
<38.4> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads MUST.
<38.5> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA has COULD.
<38.6> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads BY.
<38.7> UNBIDDEN--Cotgrave.
<38.8> THEE--Cotgrave.
<38.9> IN SPOIL--Cotgrave.
PRINCESSE LOYSA<39.1> DRAWING.
I saw a little Diety, MINERVA in epitomy, Whom VENUS, at first blush, surpris'd, Tooke for her winged wagge disguis'd. But viewing then, whereas she made Not a distrest, but lively shade Of ECCHO whom he had betrayd, Now wanton, and ith' coole oth' Sunne With her delight a hunting gone, And thousands more, whom he had slaine; To live and love, belov'd againe: Ah! this is true divinity! I will un-God that toye! cri'd she; Then markt she SYRINX running fast To Pan's imbraces, with the haste Shee fled him once, whose reede-pipe rent He finds now a new Instrument. THESEUS return'd invokes the Ayre And windes, then wafts his faire; Whilst ARIADNE ravish't stood Half in his armes, halfe in the flood. Proud ANAXERETE doth fall At IPHIS feete, who smiles at<39.2> all: And he (whilst she his curles doth deck) Hangs no where now, but on her neck. Here PHOEBUS with a beame untombes Long-hid LEUCOTHOE, and doomes Her father there; DAPHNE the faire Knowes now no bayes but round her haire; And to APOLLO and his Sons, Who pay him their due Orisons, Bequeaths her lawrell-robe, that flame Contemnes, Thunder and evill Fame. There kneel'd ADONIS fresh as spring, Gay as his youth, now offering Herself those joyes with voice and hand, Which first he could not understand. Transfixed VENUS stood amas'd, Full of the Boy and Love, she gaz'd, And in imbraces seemed more Senceless and colde then he before. Uselesse Childe! In vaine (said she) You beare that fond artillerie; See heere a pow'r above the slow Weake execution of thy bow. So said, she riv'd the wood in two, Unedged all his arrowes too, And