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 command the rest: A face made up Out of no other shop Than what Nature's white hand sets ope. Sydneian showers Of sweet discourse, whose powers Can crown old Winter's head with flowers. Whate'er delight Can make day's forehead bright Or give down to the wings of night. Soft silken hours, Open suns, shady bowers; 'Bove all, nothing within that lowers. Days, that need borrow No part of their good morrow From a fore-spent night of sorrow: 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 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 LXXX THE GREAT ADVENTURER Ο VER the mountains And over the waves, Under the fountains And under the graves; Under floods that are deepest, Over rocks that are steepest Where there is no place Where the midge dares not venture If love come, he will enter You may esteem him Or you may deem him A coward from his flight; 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 By having him confined ; But if ne'er so close ye wall him, Do the best that you may, Blind love, if so ye call him, Will find out his way. You may train the eagle Or you may inveigle The lioness, ye may move her To give o'er her prey ; But you'll ne'er stop a lover: He will find out his way. Anon. A LXXXI CHILD AND MAIDEN H, Chloris! could I now but sit Your infant beauty could beget No happiness or pain! Your charms in harmless childhood lay Like metals in a mine; Age from no face takes more away Than youth conceal'd in thine. But as your charms insensibly My passion with your beauty grew, Threw a new flaming dart : Each gloried in their wanton part; Employ'd the utmost of his art — To make a beauty, she. Sir C. Sedley LXXXII COUNSEL TO GIRLS ATHER ye rose-buds while ye may, Gold Time is still a-flying : And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow will be dying. The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun, The sooner will his race be run, That age is best which is the first, Then be not coy, but use your time; You may for ever tarry. R. Herrick |