I'll tell no more, and yet I love, And so exempt from blame As it would be to each a flame If love or fear would let me tell his name. BEN JONSON TO ALTHEA, FROM PRISON. WHEN Love with unconfined wings, Hovers within my gates; And my divine Althea brings To whisper at the grates; When I lie tangled in her hair, And fetter'd to her eye; The birds, that wanton in the air, Know no such liberty. When flowing cups run swiftly round, With no allaying Thames, Our careless heads with roses bound, When (like committed linnets) I Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage; That for an hermitage. If I have freedom in my love, LOVELACE. A belt of straw and ivy buds, The shepherd swains shall dance and sing MARLOWE. THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD'S INVITATION. Ir all the world and Love were young, Time drives the flock from field to fold, When rivers rage and rocks grow cold; And Philomel becometh dumb, And Age complains of cares to come. The flowers do fade, and wanton fields Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses, Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies, Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten, In folly ripe-in reason rotten. Thy belt of straw and ivy buds, But could youth last, and love still breed; Had joys no date, nor age no need ; Then these delights my mind might move, To live with thee, and be thy love. RALEIGH. LOVE. THEY sin who tell us love can die, They perish where they have their birth; Its holy flame for ever burneth, From heaven it came, to heaven returneth; The babe she lost in infancy, An over-payment of delight. SOUTHEY. |