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

Child of the Sun, in whom his Rays appear,
Hatch'd to that lustre, as doth make thee wear
Heav'ns livery in thy skin, What need'st thou fear
The injury of Air, and change of Clime,
When thy exalted form is so sublime,
As to transcend all power of change or time?

2

How proud are they that in their hair but show
Some part of thee, thinking therein they ow
The greatest beauty Nature can bestow?
When thou art so much fairer to the sight,
As beams each where diffused are more bright
Then their deriv'd and secondary light.

3

But thou art cordial both to sight and taste,
While each rare fruit seems in his time to haste
To ripen in thee, till at length they waste
Themselves to inward sweets, from whence again,
They, like Elixirs, passing through each vein,
An endless circulation do maintain.

4

How poor are they then, whom if we but greet,
Think that raw juyce, which in their lips we meet,
Enough, to make us hold their Kisses sweet:
When that rich odour, which in thee is smelt,
Can it self to a balmy liquor melt,
And make it to our inward senses felt.

5

Leave then thy Country, Soil, and Mothers home,
Wander a Planet this way, till thou come
To give our Lovers here their fatal doom;
While if our beauties scorn to envy thine,
It will be just they to a Jaundise pine,
And by thy Gold shew like some Copper-mine.

University of Virginia Library

La Gralletta Gallante,

OR, The Sun-burn'd Exotique Beauty.

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