THE COMPUTATION

FOR my

first twenty years, since yesterday,

I scarce believed thou couldst be gone away;

For forty more I fed on favours past,

And forty on hopes, that thou wouldst they might

last;

Tears drown'd one hundred, and sighs blew out two;
A thousand, I did neither think nor do,
Or not divide, all being one thought of you;
Or in a thousand more, forgot that too.
Yet call not this long life; but think that I

Am, by being dead, immortal; can ghosts die?

THE LEGACY

WHEN last I died, and, dear, I die

As often as from thee I go,

Though it be but an hour ago

(And lovers' hours be full eternity)

I can remember yet, that I

Something did say, and something did bestow,

Though I be dead, which meant me I should be
Mine own executor and legacy.

I heard me say, "Tell her anon, That myself," that is you, not I, "Did kill me;

" and when I felt me die,

I bid me send my heart, when I was gone;

But I alas! could there find none,

When I had ripp'd, and search'd where hearts should

lie;

It kill'd me again, that I who still was true

In life, in my last will should cozen you.

Yet I found something like a heart,
But colours it, and corners had ;

It was not good, it was not bad,

It was entire to none, and few had part;

prellen

As good as could be made by art

It seem'd, and therefore for our loss be sad.
I meant to send that heart instead of mine,
But O! no man could hold it, for 't was thine.

A VALEDICTION OF MY NAME

IN THE WINDOW 17

I

My name engraved herein

Doth contribute my firmness to this glass, Which ever since that charm hath been As hard as that which graved it was ; Thine eye will give it price enough, to mock The diamonds of either rock. 18

II

'Tis much that glass should be

As all-confessing, and through-shine as I ;
'Tis more that it shows thee to thee,
And clear reflects thee to thine eye.
But all such rules love's magic can undo;
Here you see me, and I am you.

III

As no one point nor dash,

Which are but accessòries to this name,

The showers and tempests can outwash,
So shall all times find me the same;

You this entireness better may fulfill,
Who have the pattern with you still.

IV

Or if too hard and deep

This learning be, for a scratch'd name to teach,
It as a given death's-head keep,19

Lovers' mortality to preach;
Or think this ragged bony name to be
My ruinous anatomy.

Being still with you, the muscle, sinew, and vein Which tile this house, will come again,

VI

Till my return repair

And recompact my scatter'd body so,
As all the virtuous powers which are
Fix'd in the stars are said to flow

Into such characters as gravèd be

When these stars have supremacy.