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University of Virginia Library

Poems &c. By James Shirley

Shirley, James (1596-1666)

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[VVhen th'Age groan'd out Thou and thy Muse were gone]

To his unkind M.

To his Mistris.

To his Mistris confined.

Loves Hue and Cry.

[Would you know what's soft? I dare]

To L. for a wreath of Bayes sent.

To the Painter preparing to draw M. M. H.

To a L. who had courted a Lady of much perfection, and after offered his Service to another of an inferiour Beauty and Parts; in confidence that the first would re-accept him.

A Lover that durst not speak to his M.

To one that said his Mistris was old.

Upon his M. Dancing.

Upon his Mistris sad.

A Gentleman in Love with two Ladies.

Melancholy converted.

To a Mistris in whose Letter some Tears were dropt.

Presenting his Mistris with a Bird.

Upon Scarlet and blush coloured Ribbands given by two Ladies.

To his Mistris upon the Bayes withered.

Strephon, Daphne.

Taking leave when his Mistris was to ride.

Love for Enjoying.

Upon the Princes Birth.

To his honoured friend Tho. Stanley Esquire, upon his elegant Poems.

To the E. of S. upon his recovery.

One that loved none but deformed Women.

The Common-Wealth of Birds.

To the Excellent Pattern of Beauty and Vertue, L. El. Co. of Or.

To the H. Lady, D. C. at his departure.

A Letter to the Lady D. S. sent with a New Comedy.

To the never enough Honoured E. of St. on New-yeares day at night, after other entertainment.

To M. Phil. Massenger on his Renegado.

To a L. upon a Looking-Glasse sent.

A Song in a Play called Hide-Parke.

A Mother hearing her child was sick of the Small-Poxe.

Epithalamium. To his Noble Friend, Mr. I. W.

On a black Ribband.

To Gent. that broke their promise of a meeting, made when they drank Claret.

Upon a Gentlewoman that died of a Fever.

Upon the death of G. M.

Upon the death of K. James.

Vpon the death of Sr. Th. Nevill.

An Elegie upon the honourable, fair, and vertuous M. Borlase.

Upon the Death of C. D. Engineere, who died upon service to which he had no command.

Epitaph On the Duke of BUCKINGHAM.

An Elegie upon the truly Honourable Tho. Viscount Savage

Vpon Mr. Charles Beaumont who died of a Consumption.

The Passing Bell.

To the proud M.

Cupid ungodded.

To a Beautiful Lady.

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To his honoured friend Tho. Stanley Esquire, upon his elegant Poems.

A palsie shakes my pen, while I intend
A votive to thy Muse; since to commend
With my best skill, will be as short of thee,
As thou above all future poesie.

31

Thou early miracle of Wit and Art,
That hath prodigiously so got the start
Of Ages in thy study; Time must be
Old once agen in overtaking thee.
I know not where I am, when I peruse
Thy learned loves, how willingly I lose
My self in every grove? and wish to be
(Might it contribute to thy wreath) a Tree,
Carew, whose numerous language did before
Steer every genial soul, must be no more
The Oracle of Love, and might he come
But from his own to thy Elizium,
He would repent his immortality
Given by loose Idolaters, and die
A Tenant to these shades, and by thy ray
He need not blush to court his Celia.
Thy numbers carry height, yet cleer, and terse,
And innocent, as becomes the soul of verse:
Poets from hence may add to their great name,
And learn to strike from Chastity a flame.

But I expect some murmuring Critick here
Should say, no Poems ever did appear
Without some fault, this I must grant a truth,
And Sir, let me deal plainly with your youth,
Not error-proof yet, somthing may admit
A censure, if you will secure your wit,
I know the onely way to bring't about,
Accept my love, and leave this coppy out.