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The English and Latin Poems of Sir Robert Ayton

Edited by Charles B. Gullans
Ayton, Robert (1570-1638)

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THE ENGLISH POEMS
 1. 
1. Loues Lament
 2. 
2. Ane Dyor
 2a. 
2a.
 3. 
3. Craiges passionado
 4. 
4.
 5. 
5. Ane dyor
 6. 
6.
 6a. 
6a.
 7. 
7.
 8. 
8. [A Posy]
 9. 
9. Wpon the possie of her woope and his
 10. 
10. [A Declaration]
 11. 
11. [A Protestation]
 12. 
12. [An Exhortation]
 13. 
13. [Amintas]
 14. 
14. [Cloris and Amintas]
 15. 
15. [Sonnet: On Hope]
 16. 
16. [To Mrs Margaret Lesly Thereafter Lady of Madertie]
 17. 
17. [Sonnet: Love's Provocation]
 18. 
18. A Sonnet Left in A Gentlewoman's Looking Glasse
 19. 
19. [Sonnet: The Power of Love]
 20. 
20. [Sonnet: The Second Scene of Baptista Guarini his Pastor Fido, Paraphrased]
 21. 
21. [Sonnet: De Porcheres On the Eies of Madame la Marquise de Monceaux, englished]
 22. 
22. [Sonnet: Farewell to Life and Love]
 23. 
23. [Sonnet: On Loss]
 24. 
24. [Sonnet: On the River Tweed]
 25. 
25. To Queen Anne upone New-year's-day 1604
 26. 
26. To the Author of the Monarchicke Tragedies
 27. 
27. To the Author [of The Poeticall Essayes, Alexander Craig]
 28. 
28. To the most worshipfull and worthy Knight, Sir Iames Hay, Gentleman of his Maiesties Bedchamber
 29. 
29. Vpon the: 5: th of November
 30. 
30. To King James
 31. 
31. [Vpone King James]
 32. 
32. [On Devotion]
 33. 
33. [Wpone Tabacco]
 34. 
34. TO HIS DEAR FRIEND, AND fellow student Mr. Robert AEton
 34. 
34. AETHON
 35. 
35. To his coy Mistres
 36. 
36. [A Song]
 37. 
37. [A Valediction]
 38. 
38. [The Sheppherd Thirsis]
 39. 
39. [An Epigram]
 40. 
40. [A Song]
 41. 
41. Vpon a Diamond cutt in forme of an hart sett with a Crowne above and a bloody dart peirceing it sent in a Newyeares gift
 42. 
42. [Vpone a Gentlewoman That painted]
 43. 
43. Vpon Love
 44. 
44. [On Love]
 45. 
45. [A Songe: On his Mistresse]
 46. 
46. [A Song]
 47. 
47. [The Rejection]
 48. 
48. [Vpon his unconstant Mistress]
 49. 
49. [Constancy: A Song]
 50. 
50. [Neglect of Love]
 51. 
51. The Answer, by the Author [at the King's Majesty's Command]
 52. 
52. Vpon Mr Thomas Murrays fall
 53. 
53. Vpon Prince Henry his death to Prince Charles
 54. 
54. On ye Princes death, to ye King
 55. 
55. Vpon Platonick Love: To Mistress Cicely Crofts, Maide of Honor
 56. 
56. [A Song]
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DOUBTFUL POEMS

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55. Vpon Platonick Love: To Mistress Cicely Crofts, Maide of Honor

O that I were all soule that I might prove
For you as fitt a love
As you are for an Angell, for I vow,
None but pure spiritts are fitt loves for you.
You'r all Etheri'all, there is in you noe dross
Nor any part that's gross,
Your coursest part is like the curious lawne
O're Vestall Relicts for a covering drawne.
196

Your other part, part of the purest fire
That e're Heaven did inspire,
Makes every thought that is refined by it
A Quintessence of goodnes and of witt.
Thus doe your raptures reach to that degree
In loves Phylosiphy
That you can figure to your selfe a fyre,
Void of all heate, a love without desire.
Nor in divinity doe you goe less,
You thinke and yow profess
That soules may have a plenitude of joy,
Although there bodyes never meete t'Enjoy.
But I must needes confess I doe not finde
The motions of my minde
Soe purifyed as yet, but at there best
My body claims in them some interest.
I hold a perfyt Ioy makes all our parts
As joyfull as our hearts,
My senses tell me if I please not them
My love is butt a dottage or a dreame.
How shall wee then agree? you may descend,
But will not to my end.
I faine would tune my fancy to your key,
But cannot reach to that abstracted way.
197

There rests but this, that, while wee sojourne here,
Our Bodyes may draw nere,
And when our joyes they can noe more Extend,
Then lett our soules beginn where they did end.
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