TO THE MOST FAIR AND LOVELY MISTRESS
ANNE SOAME, NOW LADY ABDIE.
So smell those odours that do rise
From out the wealthy spiceries;
So smells the flower of blooming clove,
Or roses smother'd in the stove;
So smells the air of spiced wine,
Or essences of jessamine;
So smells the breath about the hives,
When well the work of honey thrives,
And all the busy factors come
Laden with wax and honey home;
So smell those neat and woven bowers,
All over-arch'd with orange flowers,
And almond-blossoms that do mix
To make rich these aromatics;
So smell those bracelets, and those bands
Of amber chaf'd between the hands;
When thus enkindled, they transpire
A noble perfume from the fire.
The wine of cherries, and to these
The cooling breath of raspberries;
The smell of morning's milk and cream,
Butter of cowslips mixed with them;
Of roasted warden, or bak'd pear,
These are not to be reckon'd here;
When as the meanest part of her
Smells like the maiden-pomander.
Thus sweet she smells, or what can be
More lik'd by her, or lov'd by me.
UPON LOVE.
Love, I have broke
Thy yoke;
The neck is free:
But when I'm next
Love vex'd,
Then shackle me.
'Tis better yet
To fret
The feet or hands;
Than to enthral,
Or gall
The neck with bands,
THE BRACELET TO JULIA.
Why I tie about thy wrist,
Julia, this my silken twist;
For what other reason is 't,
But to show thee how in part
Thou my pretty captive art?
But thy bond-slave is my heart;
'Tis but silk that bindeth thee,
Knap the thread, and thou art free;
But 'tis otherwise with me;
I am bound, and fast bound so,
That from thee I cannot go;
If I could, I would not so.
Seest thou those diamonds which she wears
In that rich carcanet,
Or those on her dishevell'd hairs,
Fair pearls in order set?
Believe, young man, all those were tears
By wretched wooers sent,
In mournful hyacinths and rue,
That figure discontent;
Which, when not warmed by her view,
By cold neglect each one
Congeal'd to pearl and stone;
Which precious spoils upon her,
She wears as trophies of her honour.
Ah, then consider what all this implies;
She that will wear thy tears wou'd wear thine eyes.
UPON THE NIPPLES OF JULIA'S BREAST.
Have ye beheld, with much delight,
A red rose peeping through a white ?
Or else a cherry, double grac'd,
Within a lily, centre plac'd?
Or ever mark'd the pretty beam,
A strawberry shews half drown'd in cream?
Or seen rich rubies blushing through
A pure smooth pearl, and orient too?
So like to this, nay all the rest,
Is each neat Niplet of her breast.
Love-sick I am, and must endure
A desp❜rate grief that finds no cure.
Ah me! I try; and trying prove,
No herbs have power to cure love.
Only one sovereign salve I know,
And that is death, the end of woe.
ON JULIA'S BREATH.
Breathe, Julia, breathe, and I'll protest,
Nay more, I'll deeply swear,
That all the spices of the east
Are circumfused there.
In a dream, love bade me go
To the galleys there to row;
In the vision I ask'd why?
Love as briefly did reply;
'Twas better there to toil, than prove
The turmoils they endure that love.
I awoke, and then I knew
What love said was too too true:
Henceforth therefore, I will be
As from love, from trouble free:
None pities him that's in the snare,
And warn'd before, would not beware.
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 pleas'd with it;
Or let her tongue be still, or stir,
Graceful is ev'ry thing from her;
Or let her grant, or else deny,
My love will fit each history.
HOW SPRINGS CAME FIRST.
These springs were maidens once that lov'd,
But lost to that they most approv'd:
My story tells, by Love they were
Turn'd to these springs which we see here:
The pretty whimpering that they make,
When of the banks their leave they take,
Tells ye but this, they are the same,
In nothing chang'd but in their name.
How can I choose but love, and follow her
Whose shadow smells like milder pomander?
How can I choose but kiss her, whence does come
The storax, spikenard, myrrh, and laudanum.
|