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 Tree.
1
I chose the flouri'shingst Tree in all the Park,With freshest Boughs, and fairest head;
I cut my Love into his gentle Bark,
And in three days, behold, 'tis dead;
My very written flames so vi'olent be
They'have burnt and wither'd up the Tree:
2
How should I live my self, whose Heart is foundDeeply graven every where
With the large History of many a wound,
Larger than thy Trunk can bear?
With art as strange, as Homer in the Nut,
Love in my Heart has Volumes put.
3
What a few words from thy rich stock did takeThe Leaves and Beauties all?
As a strong Poyson with one drop does make
The Nails and Hairs to fall:
Love (I see now) a kind of Witchcraft is,
Or Characters could ne're do this.
141
4
Pardon ye Birds and Nymphs who lov'd this Shade;And pardon me, thou gentle Tree;
I thought her name would thee have happy made,
And blessed Omens hop'd from Thee;
Notes of my Love, thrive here (said I) and grow;
And with ye let my Love do so.
5
Alas poor youth, thy love will never thrive!This blasted Tree Predestines it;
Go tye the dismal Knot (why shouldst thou live?)
And by the Lines thou there hast writ
Deform'dly hanging, the sad Picture be
To that unlucky History.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |