Though constant and consistent now it be, It melts, and glides apace into the sea, So the sun's amorous play Kisses the ice away. You may in vulgar loves find always this; Of a more firm and perfect nature is; ENJOYMENT. THEN like some wealthy island thou shalt lie, And like the sea about it, I; Thou, like fair Albion to the sailors' sight, Spreading her beauteous bosom all in white; Like the kind Ocean I will be, With loving arms for ever clasping thee. But I'll embrace thee gentlier far than so; my love. Such heat and vigour shall our kisses bear, Nought shall my hands or lips control; I'll kiss thee through, I'll kiss thy very soul. Yet nothing but the night our sports shall know; Men, out of wisdom; women, out of pride, That may secure thee; but thou 'ast yet from me For there's no danger I should tell The joys which are to me unspeakable. SLEEP. In vain, thou drowsy God! I thee invoke; Yet how do tears but from some vapours rise? The fate of Egypt I sustain, And never feel the dew of rain, But all my too much moisture owe To overflowings of the heart below, Thou, who dost men (as nights to colours do) Bring all to an equality! Come, thou just God! and equal me Awhile to my disdainful She: Till Love does the favour show: Love equals all a better way than you. Then never more shalt thou be' invoked by me; Thou scorn'st the' unhappy, and the happy, thee! BEAUTY. BEAUTY! thou wild fantastic ape, Who dost in every country change thy shape! Here black, there brown, here tawny, and there white; Thou flatterer! which comply'st with every sight! Who hast no certain What, nor Where; Beauty! Love's scene and masquerade, So gay by well-placed lights and distance made! False coin, with which the' impostor cheats us still; The stamp and colour good, but metal ill! Which light or base we find, when we Weigh by enjoyment, and examine thee! For, though thy being be but show, 'Tis chiefly night which men to thee allow : And choose to enjoy thee, when thou least art Thou. Beauty! thou active, passive ill ! Which diest thyself as fast as thou dost kill! Beauty! whose conquests still are made THE PARTING. As men in Greenland left beheld the sun And thought upon the sad half-year Of cold and darkness they must suffer there: So on my parting mistress did I look ; With such swoln eyes my farewell took ; fair star! said I; Ah, my [fly! Ah, those bless'd lands to which bright Thou dost In vain the men of learning comfort me, Say what they please, I say and swear And know that I the day have lost; And those wild things which men they call, Return, return, gay planet of mine East, Thou, who in many a propriety, So truly art the sun to me, Add one more likeness (which I'm sure you can) And let me and my sun beget a man! MY PICTURE, HERE, take my likeness with you, For, when from hence you go, The next sun's rising will behold whilst 'tis so; The man who did this picture draw, Will swear next day my face he never saw. I really believe, within a while, If you upon this shadow smile, Your presence will such vigour give (Your presence, which makes all things live!) And absence so much alter me, This will the substance, I the shadow, be. |