Occasional Verses of Edward Lord Herbert, Baron of Cherbery and Castle-Island ::

Why dost thou hate return instead of love?
And with such merciless despite,
My faith and hope requite?
Oh! if th' affection cannot move,
Learn Innocence yet of the Dove,
And thy disdain to juster bounds confine;
Or if t'wards Man thou equally decline
The rules of Justice and of Mercy too,
Thou may'st thy love to such a point refine,
As it will kill more then thy hate can do.

2

Love, love, Melaina, then, though death insue,
Yet it is a greater fate,
To dye through love then hate,
Rather a victory persue,
To Beauties lawful conquest due,
Then tyrant eyes invenom with disdain:
Or if thy power thou would'st so maintain,
As equally to be both lov'd and dread,
Let timely Kisses call to life again,
Him whom thy eves have Planet-strucken dead.

3

Kiss, kiss, Melaina, then, and do not stay
Until these sad effects appear,
Which now draw on so near,
That did'st thou longer help delay,
My soul must fly so fast away,

As would at once both life and love divorce:
Or if I needs must dye without remorse,
Kiss and embalm me so with that sweet breath,
That while thou triumph'st o'r Love and his force,
I may triumph yet over Fate and Death.

University of Virginia Library

Ditty.

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