Occasional Verses of Edward Lord Herbert, Baron of Cherbery and Castle-Island Deceased in August, 1648 |
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Madrigal.
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 | Occasional Verses of Edward Lord Herbert, Baron of Cherbery and Castle-Island |  |
18
Madrigal.
How should I love my best?
What though my love unto that height be grown,
That taking joy in you alone
I utterly this world detest,
Should I not love it yet as th' only place
Where Beauty hath his perfect grace,
And is possest?
What though my love unto that height be grown,
That taking joy in you alone
I utterly this world detest,
Should I not love it yet as th' only place
Where Beauty hath his perfect grace,
And is possest?
But I beauties despise,
You, universal beauty seem to me,
Giving and shewing form and degree
To all the rest, in your fair eyes,
Yet should I not love them as parts whereon
Your beauty, their perfection
And top, doth rise.
You, universal beauty seem to me,
Giving and shewing form and degree
To all the rest, in your fair eyes,
Yet should I not love them as parts whereon
Your beauty, their perfection
And top, doth rise.
But ev'n my self I hate
So far my love is from the least delight
That at my very self I spite,
Sensless of any happy state,
Yet may I not with justest reason fear
How hating hers, I truly her
Can celebrate?
So far my love is from the least delight
That at my very self I spite,
Sensless of any happy state,
Yet may I not with justest reason fear
How hating hers, I truly her
Can celebrate?
19
Thus unresolved still
Although world, life, nay what is fair beside
I cannot for your sake abide,
Methinks I love not to my fill,
Yet if a greater love you can devise,
In loving you some otherwise,
Believe't, I will.
Although world, life, nay what is fair beside
I cannot for your sake abide,
Methinks I love not to my fill,
Yet if a greater love you can devise,
In loving you some otherwise,
Believe't, I will.
| Occasional Verses of Edward Lord Herbert, Baron of Cherbery and Castle-Island | |