LORD BROOK.
Born 1554, died 1628.
I, with whose colours Myra drest her head,
I, that wore posies of her own hand-making;
I, that mine own name in the chimnies read,
By Myra finely wrought e'er I was waking;
Must I look on-in hope time-coming may,
With change, bring back my turn again to play?
I, that on Sunday at the church-style found
A garland sweet, with true-love knots in flowers;
Which I to wear about mine arm was bound,
That each of us might know that all was our's:
Must I now lead an idle life in wishes,
And follow Cupid for his loaves and fishes?
I, that did wear the ring her Mother left;
I, for whose love she gloried to be blamed;
I, with whose eyes her eyes committed theft;
I, who did make her blush when I was named;
Must I lose ring, flowers, blush, theft, and go naked,
Watching with sighs till dead love be awaked?
I, that when drowsy Argus fell asleep,
Like Jealousy o'erwatched with Desire,
Was even warned modesty to keep,
While her breath, speaking, kindled nature's fire;
Must I look on a-cold, while others warm them?
Do Vulcan's brothers in such fine nets arm them?
Was it for this, that I might Myra see
Washing the water with her beauties white?
Yet could she never write her love to me!
Thinks wit of change, while thoughts are in delight
Mad girls may safely love, as they may leave :
No man can print a kiss, lines may deccive.
Born about 1554, died 1592.
Like to Diana in her summer weed,
Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dye,
Goes fair Samela.
Whiter than be flocks that straggling feed,
When washed by Arethusa faint they lie,
Is fair Samela.
As fair Aurora, in her morning gray,
Decked with the ruddy glitter of her love,
Is fair Samela.
Like lovely Thetis on a calmed day,
When as her brightness Neptune's fancies move,
Shines fair Samela,
Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassy streams.
Born about 1555, died about 1624.
Doth Love live in Beauty's eyes? Why, then, are they so unloving? Patience in her passion proving There his sorrow chiefly lies.
Lives belief in lovers' hearts?
Why, then, are they unbelieving?
Hourly so the spirit grieving
With a thousand jealous smarts.
Is there pleasure in love's passion? Why, then, is it so unpleasing, Heart and spirit both discasing, Where the wits are out of fashion?
No: Love sees in Beauty's cycs
IIe hath only lost his sceing,
Where, in Sorrow's only being
All his comfort wholly dics:
Fain within the heart of love,
Fearful of the thing it hath,
Treading of a trembling path,
Doth but jealousy approve.
In Love's passion, then, what pleasure,
Which is but a lunacy,
Where grief, fear, and jealousy,
Plague the senses out of measure?
Farewell, then, unkindly fancy,
In thy courses all too cruel:
Woe the price of such a jewcl
As turns reason to a frenzy!
'Tis nature's second sun,
Causing a spring of virtues where he shines.
And as without the Sun, the world's Great Eyc,
All colours, beauties, both of art and nature,
Are given in vain to man; so without Love,
All beautics bred in women are in vain,
All virtues born in men lie buried:
For love informs them as the sun doth colours,
And as the Sun, reflecting his warm beams
Against the carth, begets all fruit and flowers,
So Love, fair shining in the inward man,
Brings forth in him the honourable fruits
Of valour, wit, virtue, and haughty thoughts,
Brave resolution, and divine discourse.
Bright Panthaa borne to Pan,
Of the noblest race of man,
Her white hand to Eros giving
With a kiss, join'd heaven to earth,
And begot so fair a birth
As yet never grac'd the living:
A twin that all worlds did adorn,
For so were Love and Beauty born.
Both so lov'd they did contend
Which the other should transcend
Doing either grace and kindness:
Love from Beauty did remove
Lightness, call'd her stain in love,
Beauty took from Love his blindness.
Love sparks made flames in Beauty's eye,
And Beauty blew up Love as high.
Virtue then commixt her fire,
To which Beauty did aspire;
Innocence a crown conferring;
Mine and thine were then unused,
All things common, nought abused,
Freely carth her fruitage bearing.
Nought then was car'd for that could fade-
And thus the golden world was made.
|