The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed: And Those which he Design'd for the Press, Now Published out of the Authors Original Copies ... The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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 | The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley |  |
The Bargain.
1
Take heed, take heed, thou lovely Maid,Nor be by glittering ills betraid;
Thy self for Money? oh, let no man know
The Price of Beauty faln so low!
What dangers ought'st thou not to dread,
When Love that's Blind is by blind Fortune led?
2
The foolish Indian that sellsHis precious Gold for Beads and Bells,
Does a more wise and gainful traffick hold,
Then thou who sell'st thy self for Gold.
What gains in such a bargain are?
Hee'l in thy Mines dig better Treasures far.
93
3
Can Gold, alas, with Thee compare?The Sun, that makes it 's not so fair;
The Sun which can nor make, nor ever see
A thing so beautiful as Thee,
In all the journeys he does pass,
Though the Sea serv'ed him for a Looking-glass.
4
Bold was the wretch that cheapned Thee,Since Magus, none so bold as he:
Thou'rt so divine a thing that Thee to buy,
Is to be counted Simony;
Too dear he'l find his sordid price,
H'as forfeited that, and the Benefice.
5
If it be lawful Thee to buy,There's none can pay that rate but I;
Nothing on earth a fitting price can be,
But what on earth's most like to Thee.
And that my Heart does only bear;
For there Thy self, Thy very self is there.
6
So much thy self does in me live,That when it for thy self I give,
'Tis but to change that piece of Gold for this,
Whose stamp and value equal is.
And that full Weight too may be had,
My Soul and Body; two Grains more, I'll add.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |