But who brings him to his mother, He hath marks about him plenty: And his breath a flame entire, That, being shot like lightning in, At his sight, the sun hath turned, Wings he hath, which though ye clip, He doth bear a golden bow, Any head more sharp than other, With that first he strikes his mother. Still the fairest are his fuel. When his days are to be crucl, Lovers' hearts are all his food, And his baths their warmest blood: Naught but wounds his hands doth season, And he hates none like to Reason. Trust him not; his words, though sweet, Seldom with his heart do meet. What is Love? All his practice is deceit; Not a kiss but poison bears; And most treason in his tears. Idle minutes are his reign; Then, the straggler makes his gain To have all childish as himself. If by these ye please to know him, And that he's Venus' runaway. 465 Ben Jonson [1573?-1637] WHAT IS LOVE? From "The Captain " TELL me, dearest, what is love? 'Tis a lightning from above; 'Tis an arrow, 'tis a fire, 'Tis a boy they call Desire. 'Tis a grave, Gapes to have Those poor fools that long to prove. Tell me more, are women true? Yes, some are, and some as you. Be in both, All shall love, to love anew. Tell me more yet, can they grieve? When you men are wise as they. Then I see, Faith will be Never till they both believe. John Fletcher [1579–1625] LOVE'S EMBLEMS From "Valentinian " Now the lusty spring is seen; All love's emblems, and all cry, Every woman, every maid: And inviting men to taste, All love's emblems, and all cry, THE POWER OF LOVE From "Valentinian " HEAR, ye ladies that despise What the mighty Love has done; Fear examples and be wise: Fair Callisto was a nun; Advice to a Lover Leda, sailing on the stream To deceive the hopes of man, Love accounting but a dream, Doted on a silver swan; Danaë, in a brazen tower, Where no love was, loved a shower. Hear, ye ladies that are coy, What the mighty Love can do; Fear the fierceness of the boy: The chaste Moon he makes to woo; Vesta, kindling holy fires, Circled round about with spies, Never dreaming loose desires, Doting at the altar dies; Ilion, in a short hour, higher He can build, and once more fire. 467 John Fletcher [1579-1625] ADVICE TO A LOVER THE sea hath many thousand sands, The sky is full of stars, and Love As full of woes as any: Believe me, that do know the elf, It is in truth a pretty toy But O, the honies of our youth Are oft our age's gall: Self-proof in time will make thee know He was a prophet told thee so: A prophet that, Cassandra-like, Tells truth without belief; For headstrong Youth will run his race, Love's Martyr, when his heat is past, Unknown LOVE'S HOROSCOPE LOVE, brave Virtue's younger brother, Ah, my heart! is that the way? Are these the beams that rule thy day? The obsequious motions of Love's fate. If those sharp rays, putting on Cast amorous glances on its birth, But if her milder influence move, |