ULYSSES

But natures of the noblest frame These toils and dangers please; And they take comfort in the same As much as you in ease;

And with the thought of actions past Are recreated still :

When Pleasure leaves a touch at last

To show that it was ill.

SIREN

That doth Opinion only cause
That's out of Custom bred,
Which makes us many other laws
Than ever Nature did.

No widows wail for our delights,
Our sports are without blood;
The world we see by warlike wights
Receives more hurt than good.

ULYSSES

But yet the state of things require
These motions of unrest:

And these great spirits of high desire
Seem born to turn them best:
To purge the mischiefs that increase
And all good order mar,

For oft we see a wicked peace

To be well changed for war.

35

95

WISHES TO HIS SUPPOSED MISTRESS

SIREN

Well, well, Ulysses, then I see

I shall not have thee here:
And therefore I will come to thee,
And take my fortune there.
I must be won, that cannot win,
Yet lost were I not won,

For beauty hath created been
T'undo, or be undone.

S. Daniel.

XCIX

WISHES TO HIS SUPPOSED MISTRESS

WHOE'ER She be

That not impossible She

That shall command my heart and me ;

In shady leaves of destiny;

Till that ripe birth

Of studied Fate step forth

And teach her fair steps to our earth ;

Till that divine

Idea take a shrine

Of crystal flesh, through which to shine;

Meet you her, my Wishes,
Bespeak her to my blisses,

And be ye call'd my absent kisses.

I wish her Beauty,

That owes not all its duty

To gaudy tire, or glist'ring shoe-tie :

Something more than

Taffata or tissue can,

Or rampant feather, or rich fan.

A Face, that's best

By its own beauty drest,

And can alone command the rest:

A Face made up

Out of no other shop

Than what Nature's white hand sets ope.

A Cheek, where youth

And blood, with pen of truth,

Write what the reader sweetly rueth.

A Cheek where grows

More than a morning rose,

Which to no box his being owes.

Lips, where all day

A lover's kiss may play,

Yet carry nothing thence away.

Eyes, that displace

The neighbour diamond, and outface

That sunshine by their own sweet grace.

WISHES TO HIS SUPPOSED MISTRESS 97

Tresses, that wear

Jewels but to declare

How much themselves more precious are:

Whose native ray

Can tame the wanton day

Of gems that in their bright shades play.

Each ruby there,

Or pearl that dare appear,

Be its own blush, be its own tear.

A well tamed Heart,

For whose more noble smart

Love may be long choosing a dart.

Sydneian showers

Of sweet discourse, whose powers

Can crown old Winter's head with flowers.

Soft silken hours,

Open suns, shady bowers,

'Bove all, nothing within that lowers.

Whate'er delight

Can make Day's forehead bright,

Or give down to the wings of night.

Days that need borrow

No part of their good morrow,

From a fore-spent night of sorrow :

Days that, in spite

Of darkness, by the light

Of a clear mind are day all night.

G

Life that dares send

A challenge to his end,

And when it comes, say Welcome, friend!

Let her full glory,

My fancies fly before ye,

Be ye my fictions-but her story.

Rich, Crashaw.