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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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Impossibilities.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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Impossibilities.

1

Impossibilities ? oh no, there's none;
Could mine bring thy Heart Captive home;
As easi'ly other dangers were o'rethrown,
As Cæsar after vanquisht Rome,
His little Asian foes did overcome.

2

True Lovers oft by Fortune are envy'd,
Oft Earth and Hell against them strive;
But Providence engages on their side,
And a good end at last does give;
At last Just Men and Lovers always thrive.

3

As stars (not powerful else) when they conjoin,
Change, as they please, the Worlds estate;
So thy Heart in Conjunction with mine,
Shall our own fortunes regulate;
And to our Stars themselves prescribe a Fate.

4

'Twould grieve me much to find some bold Romance,
That should two kind examples shew,
Which before us in wonders did advance;
Not, that I thought that story true,
But none should Fancy more, then I would Do.

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5

Through spight of our worst Enemies, thy Friends,
Through Local Banishment from Thee;
Through the loud thoughts of less-concerning Ends,
As easie shall my passage be,
As was the Amo'rous Youth's o're Helles Sea.

6

In vain the Winds, in vain the Billows rore;
In vain the Stars their aid deny'd:
He saw the Sestian Tower on th'other shore;
Shall th' Hellespont our Loves divide?
No, not th' Atlantick Oceans boundless Tide.

7

Such Seas betwixt us eas'ly conquer'd are;
But, gentle Maid, do not deny
To let thy Beams shine on me from afar;
And still the Taper let me 'espy:
For when thy Light goes out, I sink and dye.