As now a satyr, than a swan,
A bull but then, and now a man:
Next we will act how young men woo;
And sigh, and kiss, as lovers do;
And talk of brides, and who shall make
That wedding smock, this bridal cake,
That dress, this sprig, that leaf, this vine
That smooth and silken columbine:
This done, we'll draw lots who shall buy
And gild the bays, and rosemary;
What posies for our wedding rings,
What gloves we'll give, and ribandings;
And, smiling at ourselves, decree
Who then the joining priest shall be ;
What short sweet prayers shall be said;
And how the posset shall be made
With cream of lilies, not of kine,
And maiden's-blush, for spiced wine:
Thus having talk'd, we'll next commend
A kiss to each: and so we'll end.
UPON JULIA'S SWEAT.
Would ye oil of blossoms get?
Take it from my Julia's sweat;
Oil of lilies, and of spike?
From her moisture take the like;
Let her breathe, or let her blow,
All rich spices thence will flow.
THE PRIMROSE.
Ask me why I send you here
This sweet infanta of the year?
Ask me why I send to you
This primrose, thus bepearl'd with dew?
I will whisper to your ears,
The sweets of love are mix'd with tears.
Ask me why this flow'r does show
So yellow-green, and sickly too?
Ask me why the stalk is weak
And bending, yet it doth not break?
I will answer, these discover
What fainting hopes are in a lover.
A DIALOGUE BETWIXT HIMSELF AND MISTRESS ELIZABETH WHEELER, UNDER THE NAME OF AMARYLLIS.
My dearest love, since thou wilt go,
And leave me here behind thee;
For love or pity, let me know
The place where I may find thee.
In country meadows, pearl'd with dew,
And set about with lilies;
There filling maunds with cowslips, you
May find your Amaryllis.
What have the meads to do with thee,
Or with thy youthful hours?
Live thou at court, where thou mays't be
The queen of men, not flowers.
Let country wenches make 'em fine
With poses; since 'tis fitter
For thee with richest gems to shine,
And like the stars to glitter.
You set too high a rate upon
A shepherdess so homely.
HER. Believe it, dearest, there's not one
I' the court that's half so comely.
I prithee stay.-Aм. I must away.
HER. Let's kiss first, then we'll sever;
BOTH. And, though we bid adieu to-day,
We shall not part for ever.
Bianca, let
Me pay the debt
I owe thee for a kiss
Thou lend'st to me;
And I to thee
Will render ten for this:
If thou wilt say,
Ten will not pay
For that so rich a one;
I'll clear the sum,
If it will come
Unto a million.
By this I guess,
Of happiness
Who has a little measure,
He must of right
To th' utmost mite
Make payment for his pleasure.
Stay while ye will, or go,
And leave no scent behind ye:
Yet, trust me, I shall know
The place where I may find ve.
Within my Lucia's cheek,
(Whose livery ye wear,)
Play ye at hide and seek,
I'm sure to find ye there.
Sweet Oenone, do but say
Love thou dost, though Love says nay:
Speak my fair; for lovers be
Gently kill'd by flattery.
Sweet, be not proud of those two eyes,
Which star-like sparkle in their skies;
Nor be you proud, that you can see
All hearts your captives, your's yet free:
Be you not proud of that rich hair,
Which wantons with the love-sick air;
When as that ruby which you wear,
Sunk from the tip of your soft ear,
Will last to be a precious stone,
When all your world of beauty's gone.
THE WEEPING CHERRY,
I saw a cherry weep, and why?
Why wept it? but for shame;
Because my Julia's lip was by,
And did out-red the same?
But, pretty fondling, let not fall
A tear at all for that,
Which rubies, corals, scarlets, all,
For tincture, wonder at.
Some salve to every sore we may apply;
Only for my wound there's no remedy:
Yet if my Julia kiss me, there will be
A sovereign balm found out to cure me.
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