Lucasta [52]
still or smile, or shine, Or, like th' offended sky, Frowne death immediately.
<57.1> Original reads AU.
<57.2> In his poem entitled "Mediocrity in Love rejected," Carew has a similar sentiment:--
"Give me more Love, or more Disdain, The Torrid, or the Frozen Zone, Bring equall ease unto my paine; The Temperate affords me none: Either extreme, of Love, or Hate, Is sweeter than a calme estate." Carew's POEMS, ed. 1651, p. 14.
And so also Stanley (AYRES AND DIALOGUES, set by J. Gamble, 1656, p. 20):--
"So much of absence and delay, That thus afflicts my memorie. Why dost thou kill me every day, Yet will not give me leave to die?"
THE FAIRE BEGGER.
I. Comanding asker, if it be Pity that you faine would have, Then I turne begger unto thee, And aske the thing that thou dost crave. I will suffice thy hungry need, So thou wilt but my fancy feed.
II. In all ill yeares, was<58.1> ever knowne On so much beauty such a dearth? Which, in that thrice-bequeathed gowne, Lookes like the Sun eclipst with Earth, Like gold in canvas, or with dirt Unsoyled Ermins close begirt.
III. Yet happy he, that can but tast This whiter skin, who thirsty is! Fooles dote on sattin<58.2> motions lac'd: The gods go naked in their blisse. At<58.3> th' barrell's head there shines the vine, There only relishes the wine.
IV. There quench my heat, and thou shalt sup Worthy the lips that it must touch, Nectar from out the starry cup: I beg thy breath not halfe so much. So both our wants supplied shall be, You'l give for love, I, charity.
V. Cheape then are pearle-imbroderies, That not adorne, but cloud<58.4> thy wast; Thou shalt be cloath'd above all prise, If thou wilt promise me imbrac't.<58.5> Wee'l ransack neither chest nor shelfe: Ill cover thee with mine owne selfe.
VI. But, cruel, if thou dost deny This necessary almes to me, What soft-soul'd man but with his eye And hand will hence be shut to thee? Since all must judge you more unkinde: I starve your body, you, my minde.
<58.1> Original reads WA'ST.
<58.2> Satin seems to have been much in vogue about this time as a material for female dress. "Their glory springs from sattin, Their vanity from feather." A DESCRIPTION OF WOMAN in WITS INTERPRETER, 1662, p. 115.
<58.3> Original has AND.
<58.4> Original reads CLOUDS.
<58.5> i.e. TO BE embraced.
[A DIALOGUE BETWIXT CORDANUS AND AMORET, ON A LOST HEART.
Cord. Distressed pilgrim, whose dark clouded eyes Speak thee a martyr to love's cruelties, Whither away? Amor. What pitying voice I hear, Calls back my flying steps? Cord. Pr'ythee, draw near. Amor. I shall but say, kind swain, what doth become Of a lost heart, ere to Elysium It wounded walks? Cord. First, it does freely flye Into the pleasures of a lover's eye; But, once condemn'd to scorn, it fetter'd lies, An ever-bowing slave to tyrannies. Amor. I pity its sad fate, since its offence Was but for love. Can<59.1> tears recall it thence? Cord. O no, such tears, as do for pity call, She proudly scorns, and glories at their fall. Amor. Since neither sighs nor tears, kind shepherd, tell, Will not a kiss prevail? Cord. Thou may'st as well Court Eccho with a kiss. Amor. Can no art move A sacred violence to make her love? Cord. O no! 'tis only Destiny or<59.2> Fate Fashions our wills either to love or hate. Amor. Then, captive heart, since that no humane spell Hath power to graspe thee his, farewell. Cord.<59.3> Farewell. Cho. Lost hearts, like lambs drove from their folds by fears, May back return by chance, but
<57.1> Original reads AU.
<57.2> In his poem entitled "Mediocrity in Love rejected," Carew has a similar sentiment:--
"Give me more Love, or more Disdain, The Torrid, or the Frozen Zone, Bring equall ease unto my paine; The Temperate affords me none: Either extreme, of Love, or Hate, Is sweeter than a calme estate." Carew's POEMS, ed. 1651, p. 14.
And so also Stanley (AYRES AND DIALOGUES, set by J. Gamble, 1656, p. 20):--
"So much of absence and delay, That thus afflicts my memorie. Why dost thou kill me every day, Yet will not give me leave to die?"
THE FAIRE BEGGER.
I. Comanding asker, if it be Pity that you faine would have, Then I turne begger unto thee, And aske the thing that thou dost crave. I will suffice thy hungry need, So thou wilt but my fancy feed.
II. In all ill yeares, was<58.1> ever knowne On so much beauty such a dearth? Which, in that thrice-bequeathed gowne, Lookes like the Sun eclipst with Earth, Like gold in canvas, or with dirt Unsoyled Ermins close begirt.
III. Yet happy he, that can but tast This whiter skin, who thirsty is! Fooles dote on sattin<58.2> motions lac'd: The gods go naked in their blisse. At<58.3> th' barrell's head there shines the vine, There only relishes the wine.
IV. There quench my heat, and thou shalt sup Worthy the lips that it must touch, Nectar from out the starry cup: I beg thy breath not halfe so much. So both our wants supplied shall be, You'l give for love, I, charity.
V. Cheape then are pearle-imbroderies, That not adorne, but cloud<58.4> thy wast; Thou shalt be cloath'd above all prise, If thou wilt promise me imbrac't.<58.5> Wee'l ransack neither chest nor shelfe: Ill cover thee with mine owne selfe.
VI. But, cruel, if thou dost deny This necessary almes to me, What soft-soul'd man but with his eye And hand will hence be shut to thee? Since all must judge you more unkinde: I starve your body, you, my minde.
<58.1> Original reads WA'ST.
<58.2> Satin seems to have been much in vogue about this time as a material for female dress. "Their glory springs from sattin, Their vanity from feather." A DESCRIPTION OF WOMAN in WITS INTERPRETER, 1662, p. 115.
<58.3> Original has AND.
<58.4> Original reads CLOUDS.
<58.5> i.e. TO BE embraced.
[A DIALOGUE BETWIXT CORDANUS AND AMORET, ON A LOST HEART.
Cord. Distressed pilgrim, whose dark clouded eyes Speak thee a martyr to love's cruelties, Whither away? Amor. What pitying voice I hear, Calls back my flying steps? Cord. Pr'ythee, draw near. Amor. I shall but say, kind swain, what doth become Of a lost heart, ere to Elysium It wounded walks? Cord. First, it does freely flye Into the pleasures of a lover's eye; But, once condemn'd to scorn, it fetter'd lies, An ever-bowing slave to tyrannies. Amor. I pity its sad fate, since its offence Was but for love. Can<59.1> tears recall it thence? Cord. O no, such tears, as do for pity call, She proudly scorns, and glories at their fall. Amor. Since neither sighs nor tears, kind shepherd, tell, Will not a kiss prevail? Cord. Thou may'st as well Court Eccho with a kiss. Amor. Can no art move A sacred violence to make her love? Cord. O no! 'tis only Destiny or<59.2> Fate Fashions our wills either to love or hate. Amor. Then, captive heart, since that no humane spell Hath power to graspe thee his, farewell. Cord.<59.3> Farewell. Cho. Lost hearts, like lambs drove from their folds by fears, May back return by chance, but