University of Virginia Library

Ostella commanding my absence for a time.

Revoke that Doom, Ostella, call it back,
it is so heavie that my Heart doth Crack
Under its weight; thou maiest as well Command
my Soul to leave its Mansion: 't shall not stand.
How can I live, Ostella, when that I
do want the vertual Influ'nce of thine eye?
Suppose Ostella, that that glorious light
thou now enjoy'st by th'virtue of thy sight
Should be hid from thee, would not th' sudden Change
depose thy Comfort: and thy hopes estrange?
The Memory of what you once possest,
Would Tyrantslike strike Daggers to your Brest a
Danger once past bring to our Memory,
a kind of a delight when we are free:
When safely we may tell what shelves or Rocks
compos'd for Ruine we have scap'd, what Shocks
Our Barks received by some rude Waves, and how,
we cousen'd Ruine of of its sport: this now
Might reassume content, But when we think
On our lost happinesse, our souls doth sinck
Beneath the hope of Remedy, or Relief.
nothing is then so powerfull as our Grief.
Mans Misery doth so much more distroy.
by how much more he was depriv'd his Ioy.
And were I blind (not absent) and coul'd hear
thy voice 'twould send Loves harmony through my Ear
Unto my Heart, and so restore that Sense
that was defective: thus thy Excellence
Would so unite my thoughts that discontent
durst not approrch ne'r my Hearts Continent.
But so exil'd the very sum of Blisse
enthron'd my soul would prove my Extasis.
But 'tis your wise Apologie to say,
'tis but a fortnight you enjoin my stay:
When know each minute is an Age to one
whose Love in all transcends comparison.
How is his heart afflicted with the shape
of jealous fears when they commit a Rape,
Upon his Reason, and what he admir'd,
he now suspects; his faith almost expir'd
Thinks on his former and his present State;
examines to his own by others Fate,
Concludes his Mistresse glorious, then dispairs
with th' thought of his own Indigence, and in's Prayers
He weeps to think that other men may be
deserving of her favours more then he.
Minuts produce this, what will hours do then
and days, and weeks, oh call that back again
That cruell imposition and set free
my exil'd Heart to's ancient liberty
And I'le confess to me thou life do'st give
since without thee it is a death to live.