 | The Poetry of George Wither |  |
SONNET 1.
What is the cause, when elsewhere I resort,I have my gestures and discourse more free?
And, if I please, can any beauty court,
Yet stand so dull and so demure by thee?
Why are my speeches broken whilst I talk?
Why do I fear almost thy hand to touch?
Why dare I not embrace thee as we walk,
Since with the greatest nymphs I've dared as much?
Ah! know that none of those I e'er affected,
And therefore used a careless courtship there,
Because I neither their disdain respected,
Nor reckoned them or their embraces dear.
But, loving thee, my love hath found content
And rich delights in things indifferent.
SONNET 2.
Why covet I thy blessed eyes to see,Whose sweet aspect may cheer the saddest mind?
Why, when our bodies must divided be,
Can I no hour of rest or pleasure find?
Why do I sleeping start, and waking moan,
To find that of my dreamed hopes I miss?
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Of such a thing as thy perfection is?
And wherefore, when we meet, doth passion stop
My speechless tongue, and leave me in a panting?
Why doth my heart, o'ercharged with fear and hope,
In spite of reason, almost droop to fainting?
Because in me thy excellences moving
Have drawn me to an excellence in loving.
SONNET 3.
Fair, since thy virtues my affections move,And I have vow'd my purpose is to join
In an eternal band of chastest love
Our souls, to make a marriage most divine.
Why, thou may'st think, then seemeth he to prize
An outward beauty's fading hue so much?
Why doth he read such lectures in mine eyes?
And often strive my tender palm to touch?
Oh, pardon my presuming; for I swear
My love is soiled with no lustful spot:
Thy soul's perfections through those veils appear,
And I half faint that I embrace them not.
No foul desires doth make thy touches sweet:
But my soul striveth with thy soul to meet.
SONNET 4.
Shall I wasting in despair
Die because a woman's fair?
Or make pale my cheeks with care
'Cause another's rosy are?
Be she fairer than the day,
Or the flowery meads in May,
If she be not so to me
What care I how fair she be?
Die because a woman's fair?
Or make pale my cheeks with care
'Cause another's rosy are?
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Or the flowery meads in May,
If she be not so to me
What care I how fair she be?
Should my heart be griev'd or pin'd
'Cause I see a woman kind?
Or a well-disposed nature
Joined with a lovely feature?
Be she meeker, kinder than
Turtle-dove or pelican,
If she be not so [to] me
What care I how kind she be?
'Cause I see a woman kind?
Or a well-disposed nature
Joined with a lovely feature?
Be she meeker, kinder than
Turtle-dove or pelican,
If she be not so [to] me
What care I how kind she be?
Shall a woman's virtues move
Me to perish for her love?
Or her well-deserving known,
Make me quite forget mine own?
Be she with that goodness blest
Which may gain her name of best,
If she be not such to me
What care I how good she be?
Me to perish for her love?
Or her well-deserving known,
Make me quite forget mine own?
Be she with that goodness blest
Which may gain her name of best,
If she be not such to me
What care I how good she be?
'Cause her fortune seems too high,
Shall I play the fool and die?
Those that bear a noble mind,
Where they want of riches find
Think what with them they would do
That without them dare to woo.
And unless that mind I see
What care I though great she be?
Shall I play the fool and die?
Those that bear a noble mind,
Where they want of riches find
Think what with them they would do
That without them dare to woo.
And unless that mind I see
What care I though great she be?
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Great, or good, or kind, or fair,
I will ne'er the more despair;
If she love me, this believe,
I will die ere she shall grieve.
If she slight me when I woo
I can scorn and let her go,
For if she be not for me
What care I for whom she be?
I will ne'er the more despair;
If she love me, this believe,
I will die ere she shall grieve.
If she slight me when I woo
I can scorn and let her go,
For if she be not for me
What care I for whom she be?
SONNET 5.
I wandered out a while agone,
And went I know not whither:
But there do beauties many a one
Resort and meet together.
And Cupid's power will there be shown
If ever you come thither.
And went I know not whither:
But there do beauties many a one
Resort and meet together.
And Cupid's power will there be shown
If ever you come thither.
For like two suns, two beauties bright
I shining saw together,
And tempted by their double light
My eyes I fix'd on either;
Till both at once so thrall'd my sight,
I lov'd, and knew not whether.
I shining saw together,
And tempted by their double light
My eyes I fix'd on either;
Till both at once so thrall'd my sight,
I lov'd, and knew not whether.
Such equal sweet Venus gave,
That I preferr'd not either,
And when for love I thought to crave
I knew not well of whether.
For one while this I wish'd to have,
And then I that had liefer.
That I preferr'd not either,
And when for love I thought to crave
I knew not well of whether.
For one while this I wish'd to have,
And then I that had liefer.
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A lover of the curious't eye
Might have been pleas'd in either,
And so, I must confess, might I,
Had they not been together.
Now both must love or both deny,
In one enjoy I neither.
Might have been pleas'd in either,
And so, I must confess, might I,
Had they not been together.
Now both must love or both deny,
In one enjoy I neither.
But yet at last I 'scap'd the smart
I fear'd at coming hither;
For seeing my divided heart,
I choosing, knew not whether,
Love angry grew, and did depart,
And now I care for neither.
I fear'd at coming hither;
For seeing my divided heart,
I choosing, knew not whether,
Love angry grew, and did depart,
And now I care for neither.
| The Poetry of George Wither | |