Lyrical Poems [30]
chuse my burial room: My fates are ended; when thy Herrick dies, Clasp thou his book, then close thou up his eyes.
*101*
THE TRANSFIGURATION
Immortal clothing I put on So soon as, Julia, I am gone To mine eternal mansion.
Thou, thou art here, to human sight Clothed all with incorrupted light; --But yet how more admir'dly bright
Wilt thou appear, when thou art set In thy refulgent thronelet, That shin'st thus in thy counterfeit!
*102*
LOVE DISLIKES NOTHING
Whatsoever thing I see, Rich or poor although it be, --'Tis a mistress unto me.
Be my girl or fair or brown, Does she smile, or does she frown; Still I write a sweet-heart down.
Be she rough, or smooth of skin; When I touch, I then begin For to let affection in.
Be she bald, or does she wear Locks incurl'd of other hair; I shall find enchantment there.
Be she whole, or be she rent, So my fancy be content, She's to me most excellent.
Be she fat, or be she lean; Be she sluttish, be she clean; I'm a man for every scene.
*103*
UPON LOVE
I held Love's head while it did ache; But so it chanced to be, The cruel pain did his forsake, And forthwith came to me.
Ai me! how shall my grief be still'd? Or where else shall we find One like to me, who must be kill'd For being too-too-kind?
*104*
TO DIANEME
I could but see thee yesterday Stung by a fretful bee; And I the javelin suck'd away, And heal'd the wound in thee.
A thousand thorns, and briars, and stings I have in my poor breast; Yet ne'er can see that salve which brings My passions any rest.
As Love shall help me, I admire How thou canst sit and smile To see me bleed, and not desire To staunch the blood the while.
If thou, composed of gentle mould, Art so unkind to me; What dismal stories will be told Of those that cruel be!
*105*
TO PERENNA
When I thy parts run o'er, I can't espy In any one, the least indecency; But every line and limb diffused thence A fair and unfamiliar excellence; So that the more I look, the more I prove There's still more cause why I the more should love.
*106*
TO OENONE.
What conscience, say, is it in thee, When I a heart had one, [won] To take away that heart from me, And to retain thy own?
For shame or pity, now incline To play a loving part; Either to send me kindly thine, Or give me back my heart.
Covet not both; but if thou dost Resolve to part with neither; Why! yet to shew that thou art just, Take me and mine together.
*107*
TO ELECTRA
I dare not ask a kiss, I dare not beg a smile; Lest having that, or this, I might grow proud the while.
No, no, the utmost share Of my desire shall be, Only to kiss that air That lately kissed thee,
*108*
TO ANTHEA, WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANY THING
Bid me to live, and I will live Thy Protestant to be; Or bid me love, and I will give A loving heart to thee.
A heart as soft, a heart as kind, A heart as sound and free As in the whole world thou canst find, That heart I'll give to thee.
Bid that heart stay, and it will stay To honour thy decree; Or bid it languish quite away, And't shall do so for thee.
Bid me to weep, and I will weep, While I have eyes to see; And having none, yet I will keep A heart to weep for thee.
Bid me despair, and I'll despair, Under that cypress tree; Or bid me die, and I will dare E'en death, to die for thee.
--Thou art my life, my love, my heart, The very eyes of me; And hast command of every part, To live and die for thee.
*109*
ANTHEA'S RETRACTATION
Anthea laugh'd, and, fearing lest excess Might stretch the cords of civil comeliness She with a dainty blush rebuked her face, And call'd each line back to his rule and space.
*110*
LOVE LIGHTLY PLEASED
Let fair or foul my mistress be, Or low, or tall, she pleaseth me; Or let her walk, or stand, or sit, The posture her's, I'm pleased with it; Or let her tongue be still, or stir Graceful is every thing from her; Or let her grant, or else deny, My love will fit each history.
*111*
TO DIANEME
Give me one kiss, And no more:
*101*
THE TRANSFIGURATION
Immortal clothing I put on So soon as, Julia, I am gone To mine eternal mansion.
Thou, thou art here, to human sight Clothed all with incorrupted light; --But yet how more admir'dly bright
Wilt thou appear, when thou art set In thy refulgent thronelet, That shin'st thus in thy counterfeit!
*102*
LOVE DISLIKES NOTHING
Whatsoever thing I see, Rich or poor although it be, --'Tis a mistress unto me.
Be my girl or fair or brown, Does she smile, or does she frown; Still I write a sweet-heart down.
Be she rough, or smooth of skin; When I touch, I then begin For to let affection in.
Be she bald, or does she wear Locks incurl'd of other hair; I shall find enchantment there.
Be she whole, or be she rent, So my fancy be content, She's to me most excellent.
Be she fat, or be she lean; Be she sluttish, be she clean; I'm a man for every scene.
*103*
UPON LOVE
I held Love's head while it did ache; But so it chanced to be, The cruel pain did his forsake, And forthwith came to me.
Ai me! how shall my grief be still'd? Or where else shall we find One like to me, who must be kill'd For being too-too-kind?
*104*
TO DIANEME
I could but see thee yesterday Stung by a fretful bee; And I the javelin suck'd away, And heal'd the wound in thee.
A thousand thorns, and briars, and stings I have in my poor breast; Yet ne'er can see that salve which brings My passions any rest.
As Love shall help me, I admire How thou canst sit and smile To see me bleed, and not desire To staunch the blood the while.
If thou, composed of gentle mould, Art so unkind to me; What dismal stories will be told Of those that cruel be!
*105*
TO PERENNA
When I thy parts run o'er, I can't espy In any one, the least indecency; But every line and limb diffused thence A fair and unfamiliar excellence; So that the more I look, the more I prove There's still more cause why I the more should love.
*106*
TO OENONE.
What conscience, say, is it in thee, When I a heart had one, [won] To take away that heart from me, And to retain thy own?
For shame or pity, now incline To play a loving part; Either to send me kindly thine, Or give me back my heart.
Covet not both; but if thou dost Resolve to part with neither; Why! yet to shew that thou art just, Take me and mine together.
*107*
TO ELECTRA
I dare not ask a kiss, I dare not beg a smile; Lest having that, or this, I might grow proud the while.
No, no, the utmost share Of my desire shall be, Only to kiss that air That lately kissed thee,
*108*
TO ANTHEA, WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANY THING
Bid me to live, and I will live Thy Protestant to be; Or bid me love, and I will give A loving heart to thee.
A heart as soft, a heart as kind, A heart as sound and free As in the whole world thou canst find, That heart I'll give to thee.
Bid that heart stay, and it will stay To honour thy decree; Or bid it languish quite away, And't shall do so for thee.
Bid me to weep, and I will weep, While I have eyes to see; And having none, yet I will keep A heart to weep for thee.
Bid me despair, and I'll despair, Under that cypress tree; Or bid me die, and I will dare E'en death, to die for thee.
--Thou art my life, my love, my heart, The very eyes of me; And hast command of every part, To live and die for thee.
*109*
ANTHEA'S RETRACTATION
Anthea laugh'd, and, fearing lest excess Might stretch the cords of civil comeliness She with a dainty blush rebuked her face, And call'd each line back to his rule and space.
*110*
LOVE LIGHTLY PLEASED
Let fair or foul my mistress be, Or low, or tall, she pleaseth me; Or let her walk, or stand, or sit, The posture her's, I'm pleased with it; Or let her tongue be still, or stir Graceful is every thing from her; Or let her grant, or else deny, My love will fit each history.
*111*
TO DIANEME
Give me one kiss, And no more: