those little drops of light:
then at Aurora, whose fair hand remov'd them from the skies,
he gazing tow❜rd the east did stand, she entertain'd his eyes.
But when the bright sun did appear, all those he 'gan despise;
his wonder was determin'd there, and could no higher rise.
He neither might, nor wish'd to know a more refulgent light:
for that (as mine your beauties now) employ'd his utmost sight.
Oh! how I long my careless limbs to lay under the plantain's shade, and all the day with amorous airs my fancy entertain, invoke the Muses, and improve my vein! no passion there in my free breast should move, none but the sweet and best of passions, Love. There while I sing, if gentle Love be by,
that tunes my lute, and winds the string so high, with the sweet sound of Sacharissa's name, I'll make the list ning savages grow tame.But while I do these pleasing dreams endite, I am diverted from the promis'd sight.
TO MY YOUNG LADY LUCY SIDNEY, Why came I so untimely forth
into a world which, wanting thee, could entertain us with no worth
or shadow of felicity?
that time should me so far remove from that which I was born to love! Yet, fairest Blossom! do not slight that age which you may know so soon : the rosy Morn resigns her light and milder glory to the Noon: and then what wonders shall you do, whose dawning beauty warms us so ! Hope waits upon the flow'ry prime; and summer, tho' it be less gay, yet is not look'd on as a time of declination or decay :
for with a full hand that does bring all that was promis'd by the spring.
Fair! that you may truly know what you unto Thyrsis owe, I will tell you how I do Sacharissa love and you.
Joy salutes me when I set filmy blest eyes on Amoret ;
but with wonder I am struck
while I on the other look.
If sweet Amoret complains, ÁO N
I have sense of all her pains;
but for Sacharissa I
do not only grieve, but die. All that of myself is mine, lovely Amorêt is thine! Sacharissa's captive, fain would untiehis iron chain,
and those scorching beams to shun, to thy gentle shadow run.
If the soul had free election to dispose of her affection
I would not thus long have borne haughty Sacharissa's scorn: but 't is sure some pow'r above, which controls our wills in love! If not a love, a strong desire to create and spread that fire in my breast, solicits me, beauteous Amoret! for thee.
'T is amazement more than love which her radiant eyes do move: if less splendour wait on thine, yet they so benignly shine, I would turn my dazzled sight to behold their milder light; but as hard 'tis to destroy that high flame as to enjoy ; which how eas❜ly I may do, heav'n (as eas❜ly scal'd) does know!. Amoret! as sweet and good
as the most delicious food, which but tasted does impart life and gladness to the heart.. Sacharissa's beauty's wine, which to madness doth incline; such a liquor as no brain
that is mortal can sustain.
Scarce can I to Heav'n excuse
the devotion which I use unto that adored dame; for 't is not unlike the same
which I thither ought to send; so that if it could take end, 'twould to Heav'n itself be due, to succeed her and not you; who already have of me all that's not idolatry; which, tho' not so fierce a flame, is longer like to be the same.
Then smile on me, and I will prove wonder is shorter-liv'd than love.
Phyllis ! why should we delay pleasures shorter than the day? Could we (which we never can) stretch our lives beyond their span, beauty like a shadow flies, and our youth before us dies. Or would youth and beauty stay, Love hath wings, and will away. Love hath swifter wings than Time, change in love to Heav'n does climb. Gods, that never change their state, vary oft' their love and hate.
Phyllis to this truth, we owe all the Love betwixt us two.
Let not you and I enquire
what has been our past desire; on what shepherds you have sm ild: or what nymphs I have beguil'd: leave it to the planets too
what we shall hereafter do; for the joys we now may prove, take advice of present love.
TO THE MUTABLE FAIR.
Here, Cælia! for thy sake I part with all that grew so near my heart: the passion that I had for thee, the faith, the love, the constancy! and, that I may successful prove, transform myself to what you love.
Fool that I was! so much to prize those simple virtues you despise:' fool! that with such dull arrows strove, or hop'd to reach a flying dove: for you, that are in motion still, decline our force, and mock our skilf; who, like Don Quixote, do advance against a windmill our vain lance.
Now will I wander through the air, mount, make a stoop at ev'ry fair; and, with a fancy unconfin'd, (as lawless as the sea or wind,) pursue you wheresoe'er you fly, and with your various thoughts comply. The formal stars do travel so,
as we their names and courses know; and he that on their changes looks would think them govern'd by our books; but never were the clouds reduc'd to any art: the motion us'd
by those free vapours are so light, so frequent, that the conquer'd sight despairs to find the rules that guide those gilded shadows as they slide; and therefore of the spacious air Jove's royal consort had the care; and by that pow'r did once escape,
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