The Poetry of George Wither Edited by Frank Sidgwick |
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 | The Poetry of George Wither |  |
159
The ladies smiled oft when this they heard,
Because the passion strange to them appear'd.
And stranger was it, since, by his expression,
As well as by his own unfeign'd confession,
It seemed true. But, having sung it out,
And seeing scarcely manners they it thought
To urge him farther, thus to them he spake:
“Fair ladies, forasmuch as doubt you make
To re-command me, of mine own accord
Another strain I freely will afford.
Because the passion strange to them appear'd.
And stranger was it, since, by his expression,
As well as by his own unfeign'd confession,
It seemed true. But, having sung it out,
And seeing scarcely manners they it thought
To urge him farther, thus to them he spake:
“Fair ladies, forasmuch as doubt you make
To re-command me, of mine own accord
Another strain I freely will afford.
“It shall not be of love, nor any song
Which to the praise of beauty doth belong,
But that hereafter, when you hence are gone,
Your shepherd may be sometime thought upon.
To show you also what content the field
And lovely grove to honest minds may yield.
That you my humble fate may not despise
When you return unto your braveries,
And not suppose that in these homely bowers
I hug my fortune 'cause I know not yours.
Such lines I'll sing as were composed by me
When some proud courtiers, where I hapt to be,
Did, like themselves, of their own glories prate,
As in contempt of my more happy state.
And these they be.”
Which to the praise of beauty doth belong,
But that hereafter, when you hence are gone,
Your shepherd may be sometime thought upon.
To show you also what content the field
And lovely grove to honest minds may yield.
That you my humble fate may not despise
When you return unto your braveries,
And not suppose that in these homely bowers
I hug my fortune 'cause I know not yours.
Such lines I'll sing as were composed by me
When some proud courtiers, where I hapt to be,
Did, like themselves, of their own glories prate,
As in contempt of my more happy state.
And these they be.”
160
SONNET.
Lordly gallants, tell me this,
Though my safe content you weigh not,
In your greatness what one bliss
Have you gain'd that I enjoy not?
You have honours, you have wealth,
I have peace, and I have health;
All the day I merry make,
And at night no care I take.
Though my safe content you weigh not,
In your greatness what one bliss
Have you gain'd that I enjoy not?
You have honours, you have wealth,
I have peace, and I have health;
All the day I merry make,
And at night no care I take.
Bound to none my fortunes be;
This or that man's fall I fear not;
Him I love that loveth me;
For the rest a pin I care not.
You are sad when others chaff,
And grow merry as they laugh;
I, that hate it, and am free,
Laugh and weep as pleaseth me.
This or that man's fall I fear not;
Him I love that loveth me;
For the rest a pin I care not.
You are sad when others chaff,
And grow merry as they laugh;
I, that hate it, and am free,
Laugh and weep as pleaseth me.
You may boast of favours shown
Where your service is applied,
But my pleasures are mine own,
And to no man's humours tied.
You oft flatter, soothe, and feign;
I such baseness do disdain,
And to none be slave I would,
Though my fetters might be gold.
Where your service is applied,
But my pleasures are mine own,
And to no man's humours tied.
You oft flatter, soothe, and feign;
I such baseness do disdain,
And to none be slave I would,
Though my fetters might be gold.
161
By great titles some believe
Highest honours are attained;
And yet kings have power to give
To their fools what these have gained.
Where they favour, there they may
All their names of honour lay;
But I look not rais'd to be
Till mine own wing carry me.
Highest honours are attained;
And yet kings have power to give
To their fools what these have gained.
Where they favour, there they may
All their names of honour lay;
But I look not rais'd to be
Till mine own wing carry me.
Seek to raise your titles higher,
They are toys not worth my sorrow:
Those that we to-day admire
Prove the age's scorn to-morrow.
Take your honours; let me find
Virtue in a free-born mind;
This the greatest kings that be
Cannot give nor take from me.
They are toys not worth my sorrow:
Those that we to-day admire
Prove the age's scorn to-morrow.
Take your honours; let me find
Virtue in a free-born mind;
This the greatest kings that be
Cannot give nor take from me.
Though I vainly do not vaunt
Large demesnes to feed my pleasure,
I have favours where you want
That would buy respect with treasure.
You have lands lie here and there,
But my wealth is everywhere,
And this addeth to my store,
Fortune cannot make me poor.
Large demesnes to feed my pleasure,
I have favours where you want
That would buy respect with treasure.
You have lands lie here and there,
But my wealth is everywhere,
And this addeth to my store,
Fortune cannot make me poor.
162
Say you purchase with your pelf
Some respect where you importune,
Those may love me for myself
That regard you for your fortune.
Rich, or born of high degree,
Fools as well as you may be:
But that peace in which I live
No descent nor wealth can give.
Some respect where you importune,
Those may love me for myself
That regard you for your fortune.
Rich, or born of high degree,
Fools as well as you may be:
But that peace in which I live
No descent nor wealth can give.
If you boast that you may gain
The respect of high-born beauties,
Know I never wooed in vain,
Nor preferred scorned duties.
She I love hath all delight,
Rosy-red with lily-white,
And, whoe'er your mistress be,
Flesh and blood as good as she.
The respect of high-born beauties,
Know I never wooed in vain,
Nor preferred scorned duties.
She I love hath all delight,
Rosy-red with lily-white,
And, whoe'er your mistress be,
Flesh and blood as good as she.
Note of me was never took
For my woman-like perfections,
But so like a man I look,
It hath gain'd me best affections.
For my love as many showers
Have been wept as have for yours;
And yet none doth me condemn
For abuse or scorning them.
For my woman-like perfections,
But so like a man I look,
It hath gain'd me best affections.
For my love as many showers
Have been wept as have for yours;
And yet none doth me condemn
For abuse or scorning them.
163
Though of dainties you have store
To delight a choicer palate,
Yet your taste is pleas'd no more
Than is mine in one poor sallet.
You to please your senses feed,
But I eat good blood to breed,
And am most delighted than
When I spend it like a man.
To delight a choicer palate,
Yet your taste is pleas'd no more
Than is mine in one poor sallet.
You to please your senses feed,
But I eat good blood to breed,
And am most delighted than
When I spend it like a man.
Though you lord it over me,
You in vain thereof have braved,
For those lusts my servants be
Whereunto your minds are slaved.
To yourselves you wise appear,
But alas, deceiv'd you are.
You do foolish me esteem
And are that which I do seem.
You in vain thereof have braved,
For those lusts my servants be
Whereunto your minds are slaved.
To yourselves you wise appear,
But alas, deceiv'd you are.
You do foolish me esteem
And are that which I do seem.
When your faults I open lay
You are moved and mad with vexing;
But you ne'er could do or say
Ought to drive me to perplexing.
Therefore, my despised power
Greater is by far than your;
And, whate'er you think of me,
In your minds you poorer be.
You are moved and mad with vexing;
But you ne'er could do or say
Ought to drive me to perplexing.
Therefore, my despised power
Greater is by far than your;
And, whate'er you think of me,
In your minds you poorer be.
164
You are pleased more or less,
As men well or ill report you;
And show discontentedness
When the times forbear to court you.
That in which my pleasures be
No man can divide from me;
And my care it adds not to
Whatso others say or do.
As men well or ill report you;
And show discontentedness
When the times forbear to court you.
That in which my pleasures be
No man can divide from me;
And my care it adds not to
Whatso others say or do.
Be not proud because you view
You by thousands are attended,
For alas, it is not you,
But your fortune that's befriended.
Where I show of love have got
Such a danger fear I not,
Since they nought can seek of me,
But for love belov'd to be.
You by thousands are attended,
For alas, it is not you,
But your fortune that's befriended.
Where I show of love have got
Such a danger fear I not,
Since they nought can seek of me,
But for love belov'd to be.
When your hearts have everything
You are pleasantly disposed,
But I can both laugh and sing
Though my foes have me enclosed.
Yea, when dangers me do hem,
I delight in scorning them,
More than you in your renown,
Or a king can in his crown.
You are pleasantly disposed,
But I can both laugh and sing
Though my foes have me enclosed.
Yea, when dangers me do hem,
I delight in scorning them,
More than you in your renown,
Or a king can in his crown.
165
You do bravely domineer
Whilst the sun upon you shineth,
Yet if any storm appear
Basely then your mind declineth.
But or shine, or rain, or blow,
I my resolutions know;
Living, dying, thrall, or free,
At one height my mind shall be.
Whilst the sun upon you shineth,
Yet if any storm appear
Basely then your mind declineth.
But or shine, or rain, or blow,
I my resolutions know;
Living, dying, thrall, or free,
At one height my mind shall be.
When in thraldom I have lain
Me not worth your thought you prized.
But your malice was in vain,
For your favours I despised.
And, howe'er you value me,
I with praise shall thought on be,
When the world esteems you not,
And your names shall be forgot.
Me not worth your thought you prized.
But your malice was in vain,
For your favours I despised.
And, howe'er you value me,
I with praise shall thought on be,
When the world esteems you not,
And your names shall be forgot.
In these thoughts my riches are,
Now, though poor or mean you deem me,
I am pleased, and do not care
How the times or you esteem me.
For those toys that make you gay
Are but play-games for a day.
And when Nature craves her due
I as brave shall be as you.
Now, though poor or mean you deem me,
I am pleased, and do not care
How the times or you esteem me.
For those toys that make you gay
Are but play-games for a day.
And when Nature craves her due
I as brave shall be as you.
| The Poetry of George Wither | |