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University of Virginia Library

Clarastella

Together with Poems occasional, Elegies, Epigrams, Satyrs. By Robert Heath

Heath, Robert (fl. 1636-1659)

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To my honoured friend Mr R.H. on his rich Poems and Satyrs.

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The Temple of Virtue.

On a dust got in Clarastella's eie.

On Clarastella singing to the Eccho at Aythorn Church in Kent.

On Loving at first sight.

On a black mole on Clarastella's faire check.

Bleeding at the nose at Clarastella's approach.

Seeing Her Dancing.

To her having got a great Cold.

The Invocation to Cupid.

To one blaming my high-minded Love.

On Clarastella's Picture drawn very like her.

On Mrs. E. H. having red haire on her head, and on her left side a pure white lock growing.

Amoris Somnium. To Clarastella.

On Clarastella singing.

A Love Dialogue between Damon and Stella.

Clarastella playing sweetly on the Lute.

To Clarastella. Loves enterteinment.

On Clarastella walking in the Snow that dissolved assoon as it came near her or the ground she trod on.

To Clarastella. Loves Silence.

Clarastella distrusting.

To Clarastella affrighted at the sight of a Cats fiery eies in the dark, which caused her to shreik.

On a Fleabite espied on her fair hand.

On the taking of an Amethist ring from off Clarastella's finger as she was sleeping.

Loves Expiration.

On a Christal Watch presented to Clarastella.

Of Love and Liking.

Dialogue between Sylvio and Mirtillo.

To Clarastella. Loves Constancie.

To Clarastella upon a favour received from her which she tied in my hat.

Clarastella's Indictment.

On the loss of a Gold-open-ring in which some of Clarastella's hair was enclosed.

To Clarastella saying she would commit her selfe to a Nunnerie.

The Quære. What is Love?

To Clarastella on St. Valentines day morning.

To Clarastella in a storme at Sea.

To her, the Storm ceasing.

On Clarastella walking in her Garden.

On the loss of Clarastella's black fan.

To Clarastella on a Nosegay of flowers which she wore at her bosome.

On Clarastella discovered sleeping in her bed.

To her at departure.

To Cupid. Song.

To a Lady wearing a Looking-glass at her girdle.

To Clarastella.

The Farewel to Clarastella.

On the Report of Clarastella's death.

To a Painter limning a Curtezan.

On the young and fair Mrs M.H. her hair being unfortunately burnt by chance in the candle as she was Combing her head at night.

Writ on Clarastella's Busk.

Deploring Clarastella's Inconstancie.

Loves Hæsitation.

To Clarastella admiring her black Eies and Hair.

To Clarastella complaining of my long kisses.

To Clarastella. Why Lovers walk round.

A Pastoral Protest of Love by Damon to Stella.

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Occasional POEMS

To an old Gentlewoman that would have her Picture drawn.

Epithalamium Amatorium

On the strange unfortunate breaking of a Glass in a Tavern.

Drinking on a rainy day.

To one that hearing I had some faculty in Poesie, simply requested me to write somewhat on his dear wife lately dead.

On Copernicus his opinion of the earths turning round.

To one that was so impatient with the tooth-ach that he would not rest til all his teeth were drawn forth.

On Whip the Preaching Coachman.

On the unusual cold and rainie weather in the Summer. 1648.

Farewel to passionate Love.

To a friend. Ode.

A sudden Phansie at Midnight.

On a Map of the World accidentally faln into the water and spoiled.

Upon the sight of an old but very deformed woman.

On the late Sect of the Adamites.

To a Ladie on the Death of her little Dog.

In Crumenâ Vacuum an non?

To a Friend wishing peace.

Song in a siege.

On the Creeple souldiers marching in Oxford in the Lord Thr. Cottington's Companie.

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On the Death of the young and pious Ladie Mrs C. P.

Epicedium On the beautiful Lady Mrs A. K. unfortunately drowned by chance in the Thames in passing the Bridge.

On the Death of the excellent fair Lady, the Lady A.R.

On the losse of Mr N.W. his three finggers cut off at the battel of Edgehil, he being both a Poet and a Musitian.

Nænia Upon the death of my dear friend T.S. Esquire, slain at the first fight at Newbery, 1645.

Upon the lingring death of the Virtuous Mrs L.H.

Upon the Death of the truly valiant Sir Bevil Grenvil slain.

Upon the unfortunate death of the truly gallant and noble Gent. Ed. Sackvil, Esquire.

Elegie Upon the death of that thrice valiant Lord, the Lord Bernard Stewart, slain in the fight neer VVest-Chester.

On the Death of that most famous Musician Mr VV. Lawes, slain in this unhappy Civil Warr.

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1.

The first Book.

To the Reader of my Epigrams and Satyrs.

To a lacivious Blackamoore Woman.

On Lieutenant Catch.

To one that after ten years studie, brought forth a lamentable work.

To the Printer.

On Galla her going to a Nunnerie.

On Cleombrotus.

To a Travellour.

On the Ladie Seem-pol.

On Sir Gervas Loftie.

Epitaph on a Poor Alchymist.

Why men are so unlike.

To Madam Moyle on her Picture.

Epitaph on a very fat man.

On the English Mounsieur.

On Nab and Plodwel.

On Priske and Galla.

To a fat Usurer.

On Mopsa a Chambermaide.

To fat Apicius.

On a deaf man and his blind wife.

Why Justice is painted blind.

Of Love Sonnets.

To Sir Gregorie Nonsense.

To spend-fast a Gamster.

To the Ingenious Reader.

On a fruitful Merchants wife.

To a painted Whore.

To Jeffry the Kings dwarfe.

On Mounsieur Finedress.

On Lurch the match-contriver.

To his dear friend H. N.

To Gripe and Holdclose.

Of Loving Husbands.

On the strange Death of Eschylus a Poet.

On an Inveighing Poetaster.

The Dedication to Momus.

On Braggadochio Cit.

On Childish love.

On Mr Spendall.

On Lawyer Say-much.

To Medicus on Tucca.

To Vetus an old Antiquary.

On the Drunkards lavishness.

On Poetizing Momus.

To a Tobaccoseller.

To the Physicians.

Epitaph on Bibulus.

On Nano being angry.

To one that asked me why I would write an English Epigram after B. Johnson.

Certain modest deprecations against my malevolent Detractour.

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2.

Epigrams. Lib. 2.

To the gentle Reader.

To the Lady Phanton.

Epitaph on John Newter.

A Question about Law.

To my Book-seller.

On Mr Fanning the Engastrometh.

On the Invention of Printing and Guns.

To VV.B. a smal Poet.

The Stonie Age.

To Captain Nym.

On Resolute Bat.

To Veta an old Shrew.

On Captain Sharke.

To Phydias a Painter.

On Sir Sullen Haughtie.

To his worthy friend T.S. Esquire.

The effects of Brainsick's letters.

On Mr Ap-Taffie Shentilman of Wales.

To an Irish-man.

The Wisdome of this age.

On Doctor Emperick.

To his friend and Companion Mr H.N.

Blessed Ignorance.

To a poore Begger.

On Thais her Bastard.

Epitaph on the Preaching Cobler How.

On Sir John Lackland.

On Lowsi-Patch.

On a fire in a Town.

Epitaph on Hocas Pocas.

To one that talked finely.

To Cosmo on his fair scolding wife.

To Madam Cr. wearing a lookinglass at her Girdle.

On Squire Huffe.

On Philip Soupe and Jone his wife.

On Poet Cordus a Rimer.

To an old deformed Woman.

To Lysippus a Barber.

To a corrupt Judge.

Lydia encountered.

On Mounsieur Congee.

On proud Mrs. Minx.

On three Knights without spurs.

On Copernicus his opinion who thought the earth went round.

On Doctour Love-Self.

To my smal friend with a great beard.

To Ignorant Zoile.

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4.

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To Clarastella saying she would commit her selfe to a Nunnerie.

Stay Clarastella, prithee stay!
Recal those frantick vows again!
Wilt thou thus cast thy self away
As wel as me in fond disdain?
Wilt thou be cruel to thy self? chastise
Thy harmless body, 'cause your pow'rful eies
Have charm'd my senses by a strange surprise?

Is it a sin to be belov'd?
If but the cause you could remove
Soon the effect wou'd be remov'd:
Where Beautie is, there wil be love.
Nature that wisely nothing made in vain,
Did make you lovely to be lov'd again:
And when such beauty tempts, can love refrain?

When Heav'n was prodigal to you,
And you with beauties glory stor'd,
He made you like himself for view,
To be beheld, and then ador'd:
Why should the Gold then fear to see that Sun,
That form'd it pure? why should you live a Nun,
And hide those raies Heav'n gave to you alone?

Oh do not exile Natures bliss!
Do not Eclipse so great a Sun!
Imprison not a Paradise
In a Religious dungeon!
Let the foul witch laze in her smokie cel;
Onely black toads in recluse vaults do dwel:
Fair Angels live in light, the soul in Hel.

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I know 'twas you fair thief that stole
My heart away; nor thus content
Your cruel eies then pickt a hole
In that which ne'r before was rent.
And dost thou now this heart hence think to carrie?
Or being guilty darst no longer tarry,
And so to shreive thee, fly'st to Sanctuarie?

Nor is this all; your theft was higher
Than was Prometheus, who did take
From Heav'n that quick inspiring fire,
Of clods, us, living men to make:
You to Heav'ns treasurie did find a way
Where all the Beauties and the Virtues lay,
And thence by rapine didst them all convey.

Guiltie of which high sacrilege,
Dost thou now mean to satisfie
The Gods, and give thy body pledge
To expi'ate thy souls theeverie?
Stay Votresse! enter not this Nunnerie!
For thus thou wilt but draw more guilt on thee,
By tempting others to Idolatrie:

For when thy Glory they shal see,
Either they'l all forget to pray;
Or what's as bad, they'l pray to thee,
And turn devotion to play:
Nor wil the Gods unto thy prai'rs incline,
If thou shouldst stil continue deaf to mine.
Stay then fair Saint! and make my bed thy shrine!

Thy self a holy Temple art
Where Love shal teach us both to pray,
I'l make an Altar of my heart,
And Incense on thy lips wil lay.
Thy mouth shal be my Oracle; and then
For beads we'l tel our kisses o'r agen,
Til they breath'd from our souls, shal cry Amen.