Then in the blazon of sweet beauty's best So all their praises are but prophecies For we, which now behold these present days, Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise. W. Shakespeare XX LOVE'S PERJURIES N a day, alack the day! ON Love, whose month is ever May, Spied a blossom passing fair Playing in the wanton air : Through the velvet leaves the wind That the lover, sick to death, Wish'd himself the heaven's breath. Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn : That I am forsworn for thee: Thou for whom e'en Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiope were, And deny himself for Jove, Turning mortal for thy love. W. Shakespeare Fo XXI A SUPPLICATION ORGET not yet the tried intent Of such a truth as I have meant ; My great travail so gladly spent, Forget not yet! Forget not yet when first began Forget not yet! Forget not yet the great assays, Forget not yet! Forget not! O, forget not this, Forget not yet! Forget not then thine own approved Whose steadfast faith yet never moved — Forget not this! Sir T. Wyat XXII TO AURORA IF thou knew'st how thou thyself dost harm, And dost prejudge thy bliss, and spoil my rest; Then thou wouldst melt the ice out of thy breast And thy relenting heart would kindly warm. O if thy pride did not our joys controul, Then all my thoughts should in thy visage shine, And whilst we thus should make our sorrows one, W. Alexander, Earl of Sterline XXIII TRUE LOVE ET me not to the marriage of true minds Which alters when it alteration finds, O no! it is an ever-fixéd mark That looks on tempests, and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, If this be error, and upon me proved, W. Shakespeare M XXIV A DITTY Y true-love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange one to the other given : I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss, There never was a better bargain driven : My true-love hath my heart, and I have his. His heart in me keeps him and me in one, I cherish his because in me it bides : My true-love hath my heart, and I have his. Sir P. Sidney XXV LOVE'S OMNIPRESENCE ERE I as base as is the lowly plain, And you, my Love, as high as heaven above, WE Yet should the thoughts of me your humble swain Were I as high as heaven above the plain, Were you the earth, dear Love, and I the skies, Whereso'er I am, below, or else above you, XXVI 7. Sylvester O CARPE DIEM MISTRESS mine, where are you roaming? O stay and hear! your true-love 's coming That can sing both high and low; Trip no further, pretty sweeting, Journeys end in lovers' meeting Every wise man's son doth know. What is love? 't is not hereafter ; In delay there lies no plenty, Then come kiss me, Sweet-and-twenty, Youth's a stuff will not endure. W. Shakespeare |