But if ne'er so close you wall him,
Do the best that you may,
Blind Love, if so you call him,
Will find out his way.
You may train the eagle
To stoop to your fist;
Or you may inveigle
The phoenix of the east ;
The lioness, you may move her
To give o'er her prey ;
But you'll ne'er stop a lover,
He will find out his way.
If the earth should part him,
He would gallop it o'er;
If the seas should o'erthwart him,
He would swim to the shore.
Should his love become a swallow,
Through the air to stray,
Love will lend wings to follow,
And find out the way.
There is no striving
To cross his intent;
There is no contriving
His plots to prevent ;
But if once the message greet him,
That his true-love doth stay;
If death should come and meet him,
Love will find out the way.
Among thy fancies, tell me this,
What is the thing we call a kiss?
I shall resolve you what it is.
It is a creature born and bred
Between the lips all cherry red.
Has it a speaking virtue ?—Yes,
How speaks it, say?—Do you but this,
Part your joined lips, then speaks your kiss.
And this Love's sweetest language is.
Has it a body? Aye, and wings,
With thousand rare encolourings;
And as it flies, it gently sings,
Love-honey yields, but never stings.
NIGHT PIECE TO JULIA.
Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee,
The shooting stars attend thee;
And the elves also-
Whose little eyes glow,
Like the sparks of fire-befriend thee.
Let not the dark thee cumber;
What though the moon does slumber,
The stars of the night
Will lend thee their light,
Like tapers clear without number.
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old 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 higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
For things that will not come.
And if they do, they prove but cumbersome;
Wealth brings much woe,
And, since it fortunes so,
'Tis better to be poor
Than so to abound,
As to be drowned
Or overwhelmed with store.
Pale Care avaunt!
I'll learn to be content
With that small stock, thy bounty gave or lent;
What may conduce
To my most healthful use,
Almighty God! me grant;
But that, or this,
That hurtful is,
Deny thy suppliant.
SIR JOHN SUCKLING.
[In Percy's Reliques.]
Why so pale and wan, fond lover?
Prythee, why so pale?
Will, if looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail?
Why so dull and mute, young sinner?
Prythee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do 't?
Quit, quit, for shame! this will not move,
This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
Nothing can make her.
Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind,
That from the nunnery
Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind
To war and arms I fly.
True, a new mistress now I chase,
The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith embrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.
Yet this inconstancy is such
As you too shall adore ;
I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more.
TO ALTHEA, FROM PRISON.
[In Percy's Reliques.]
When Love with unconfin-ed wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at the grates ;
When I lie tangled in her hair,
And fettered to her eye,
The birds that wanton in the air
Know no such liberty.
When like committed linnets, I,
With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetness, mercy, majesty,
And glories of my King;
When I shall voice aloud how good
He is, how great should be,
Enlarg-ed winds that curl the flood
Know no such liberty.
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for a hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty.
SIR JOHN DENHAM. [1615-1668
From COOPER'S HILL. Line 162.
Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea,
Like mortal life to meet eternity. .
O, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example as it is my theme!
Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull;
Strong without rage; without o'erflowing full.
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