CIII WISHES FOR THE SUPPOSED MISTRESS Whoe'er she be, That not impossible She That shall command my heart and me; Where'er she lie, Lock'd up from mortal eye In shady leaves of destiny: Till that ripe birth Of studied Fate stand forth, And teach her fair steps tread our earth; Till that divine Idea take a shrine Of crystal flesh, through which to shine: -- Meet you her, my Wishes, Bespeak her to my blisses, And be ye call'd, my absent kisses. I wish her beauty That owes not all its duty To gaudy tire, or glist'ring shoe-tie : Something more than Taffata or tissue can, Or rampant feather, or rich fan. A face that's best By its own beauty drest, And can alone commend the rest : A face made up Out of no other shop Than what Nature's white hand sets ope. Sidneian showers Of sweet discourse, whose powers Can crown old Winter's head with flowers. Whate'er delight Can make day's forehead bright Soft silken hours, Open suns, shady bowers; 'Bove all, nothing within that lowers. Days, that need borrow No part of their good morrow Days, that in spite Of darkness, by the light Of a clear mind are day all night. Life, that dares send A challenge to his end, And when it comes, say, 'Welcome, friend.' I wish her store Of worth may leave her poor Of wishes; and I wish Now, if Time knows -no more. That Her, whose radiant brows Weave them a garland of my vows; Her that dares be What these lines wish to see : I seek no further, it is She. 'Tis She, and here Lo! I unclothe and clear My wishes' cloudy character. Such worth as this is Shall fix my flying wishes, And determine them to kisses. Let her full glory, My fancies, fly before ye; Be ye my fictions:-but her story. R. Crashaw CIV THE GREAT ADVENTURER Over the mountains And over the waves, Under the fountains And under the graves; Under floods that are deepest, Which Neptune obey; Over rocks that are steepest Love will find out the way. Where there is no place For receipt of a fly; Where the midge dares not venture If love come, he will enter You may esteem him But if she whom love doth honour Be conceal'd from the day, Set a thousand guards upon her, Love will find out the way. Some think to lose him But if ne'er so close ye wall him, You may train the eagle But you'll ne'er stop a lover: He will find out his way. Anon. CV THE PICTURE OF LITTLE T.C. IN A PROSPECT OF FLOWERS See with what simplicity This nymph begins her golden days! The wilder flowers, and gives them names: And them does tell What colours best become them, and what smell. Who can foretell for what high cause O then let me in time compound Where I may see the glories from some shade. Mean time, whilst every verdant thing That violets may a longer age endure. But O young beauty of the woods, Whom Nature courts with fruits and flowers, Should quickly make th' example yours; Nip in the blossom-all our hopes and thee. A. Marvell CVI CHILD AND MAIDEN Ah, Chloris! could I now but sit When I the dawn used to admire, And praised the coming day, Your charms in harmless childhood lay Age from no face takes more away |