I beg nor ribbon wrought with thine own hands,
To knit our loves in the fantastic strain
Of new-touch'd youth; nor ring to show the stands
Of our affection, that, as that's round and plain,
So should our loves meet in simplicity;

No, nor the corals, which thy wrist enfold,
Laced up together in congruity,

To show our thoughts should rest in the same hold; No, nor thy picture, though most gracious,

And most desired, 'cause 'tis like the best Nor witty lines, which are most copious,

Within the writings which thou hast address'd. Send me nor this nor that, to increase my score, But swear thou think'st I love thee, and no more.

SELF-LOVE.

HE that cannot choose but love,

And strives against it still,
Never shall my fancy move,
For he loves against his will;
Nor he which is all his own,

And cannot pleasure choose;

When I am caught he can be gone,

And when he list refuse;

Nor he that loves none but fair,
For such by all are sought;

VOL. I.

1. 14. So 1669; 1650, like thee best
6

10

Nor he that can for foul ones care,
For his judgment then is nought ;
Nor he that hath wit, for he
Will make me his jest or slave;
Nor a fool when others
He can neither

Nor he that still his mistress prays,
For she is thrall'd therefore;
Nor he that pays, not, for he says
Within, she's worth no more.
Is there then no kind of men
Whom I may freely prove?
I will vent that humour then
In mine own self-love.

20

EPITHALAMIONS,

OR,

MARRIAGE SONGS.

AN EPITHALAMION, OR MARRIAGE SONG ON THE LADY ELIZABETH AND COUNT PALATINE BEING MARRIED ON ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.

I.

HAIL Bishop Valentine, whose day this is;
All the air is thy diocese,

And all the chirping choristers

And other birds are thy parishioners ;
Thou marriest every year

The lyric lark, and the grave whispering dove,
The sparrow that neglects his life for love,
The household bird with the red stomacher;

Thou makest the blackbird speed as soon,

As doth the goldfinch, or the halcyon ;
The husband cock looks out, and straight is sped,
And meets his wife, which brings her feather-bed.
This day more cheerfully than ever shine;

ΙΟ

This day, which might inflame thyself, old Valentine.

II.

Till now, thou warm'd'st with multiplying loves
Two larks, two sparrows, or two doves;
All that is nothing unto this;

For thou this day couplest two phoenixes;
Thou makst a taper see

What the sun never saw, and what the ark

20

-Which was of fowls and beasts the cage and park-Did not contain, one bed contains, through thee; Two phoenixes, whose joined breasts

Are unto one another mutual nests,

Where motion kindles such fires as shall give
Young phoenixes, and yet the old shall live;

Whose love and courage never shall decline,

But make the whole year through, thy day, O Valentine.

III.

Up then, fair phoenix bride, frustrate the sun;

Thyself from thine affection

Takest warmth enough, and from thine eye

All lesser birds will take their jollity.

Up, up, fair bride, and call

Thy stars from out their several boxes, take

Thy rubies, pearls, and diamonds forth, and make

Thyself a constellation of them all;

And by their blazing signify

That a great princess falls, but doth not die.

Be thou a new star, that to us portends

• Ends of much wonder; and be thou those ends.

1. 21. 1650, fow!

30

49

Since thou dost this day in new glory shine,
May all men date records from this day, Valentine.

IV.

Come forth, come forth, and as one glorious flame Meeting another grows the same,

So meet thy Frederick, and so

To an inseparable union go,

Since separation

Falls not on such things as are infinite,
Nor things, which are but one, can disunite.
You're twice inseparable, great, and one;

Go then to where the bishop stays,

To make you one, his way, which divers ways
Must be effected; and when all is past,

50

And that you're one, by hearts and hands made fast, You two have one way left, yourselves to entwine, Besides this bishop's knot, of Bishop Valentine.

V.

But O, what ails the sun, that here he stays,
Longer to-day than other days?

Stays he new light from these to get?
And finding here such stars, is loth to set?
And why do you two walk,

So slowly paced in this procession?
Is all your care but to be look'd upon,
And be to others spectacle and talk?

1. 42. So 1669; 1633, from this thy
1. 56. So 1669; 1633, O Bishop Valentine
L. 60. So 1635; 1633, such store

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