CLV

2

WHEN to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
And weep afresh love's long-since cancell'd woe,
And moan th' expense of many a vanish'd sight:

Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
The sad account of fore-bemoanèd moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.

But if the while I think on thee, dear Friend,
All losses are restored and sorrows end.

Shakespeare.

CLVI

3

THY bosom is endeared with all hearts

Which I, by lacking, have supposed dead :
And there reigns Love,and all Love's loving parts,
And all those friends which I thought buried.

How many a holy and obsequious tear
Hath dear religious love stol'n from mine eye,
As interest for the dead!-which now appear
But things removed that hidden in thee lie.

THE UNFADING BEAUTY

Thou art the grave where buried love doth live,
Hung with the trophies of my lovers gone,
Who all their parts of me to thee did give:
—That due of many now is thine alone:

Their images I loved I view in thee,
And thou, all they, hast all the all of me.

145

Shakespeare.

CLVII

THE INTERPRETER

THOUGH Others may her brow adore

Yet more must I, that therein see far more
Than any other's eyes have power to see:
She is to me

More than to any others she can be!

I can discern more secret notes

That in the margin of her cheek Love quotes,
Than any else beside have art to read :

No looks proceed

From those fair eyes but to me wonder breed.

CLVIII

THE UNFADING BEAUTY

He that loves a rosy cheek,

Or a coral lip admires,

Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires:

K

Anon.

As old Time makes these decay,
So his flames must waste away.

But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts and calm desires,
Hearts with equal love combined,
Kindle never-dying fires :-
Where these are not, I despise

Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes.

CLIX

T. Carew.

YEA OR NAY

1

MADAM, withouten many words
Once I am sure you will or no;
And if you will, then leave your boards,1
And use your wit and show it so.

For with a beck you shall me call;
And if of one that burns alway
You have pitie or ruth at all,
Answer him fair with yea or nay.

If it be yea, I shall be fain;

If it be nay, friends as before;

You shall another man obtain,

And I mine own, and yours no more.

Sir Thomas Wyat.

1 Tackings to and fro. A vessel tacking is still said to 'make boards.'

YEA OR NAY

147

CLX

2

MAID, will ye love me, yea or no?
Tell me the truth, and let me go.
It can be no less than a sinful deed,
Trust me truly,

To linger a lover that looks to speed
In due time duly.

You maids, that think yourselves as fine
As Venus and all the Muses nine,

The Father himself when He first made man,
Trust me truly,

Made you for his help, when the world began,
In due time duly.

Then sith God's will was even so,
Why should you disdain your lover tho? 1
But rather with a willing heart

Love him truly:

For in so doing you do but your part ;
Let reason rule ye.

Consider, Sweet, what sighs and sobs.
Do nip my heart with cruel throbs,
And all, my Dear, for love of you,
Trust me truly ;

But I hope that you will some mercy show
In due time duly.

1 Then.

Anon.

CLXI

THE PRIMROSE

Ask me why I send you here
This firstling of the infant year?
Ask me why I send to you

This Primrose, all bepearl'd with dew?
I straight whisper to your ears:

The sweets of love are wash'd with tears.

Ask me why this flower does show

So yellow-green and sickly too?
Ask me why the stalk is weak

And bending, yet it doth not break?

I will answer: These discover

What doubts and fears are in a lover.

T. Carew or R. Herrick.

CLXII

LOVE'S CASUISTRY

1

Ir love make me forsworn, how shall I swear to love? Ah, never faith could hold, if not to beauty vow'd! Though to myself forsworn, to thee I'll faithful prove; Those thoughts to me were oaks, to thee like osiers bow'd.