 | Poems, Songs and Love-Verses |  |
On Clelia's severe Command.
To thee, O Wood, I make my moan,
And sing the Accents of my groan,
Which else I durst intrust to none.
And sing the Accents of my groan,
Which else I durst intrust to none.
For since that she who I adore
Has gave Command, that I no more
Shou'd blaze her Fame, as heretofore,
Has gave Command, that I no more
Shou'd blaze her Fame, as heretofore,
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Silence it self shall louder be
Than any voice which comes from me,
Where any Auditor shall be.
Than any voice which comes from me,
Where any Auditor shall be.
Yet every whist'ling Wind shall bear
My sad Complaint unto her Ear,
That her Commands were too severe.
My sad Complaint unto her Ear,
That her Commands were too severe.
And on each Tree I'll carve her Fame,
Which still shall flourish by the same.
Th' Immortal Grove shall be its Name.
Which still shall flourish by the same.
Th' Immortal Grove shall be its Name.
In which each chirping Bird shall raise
Encomiums on my Clelia's praise,
Whilst I in sorrow spend my Days.
Encomiums on my Clelia's praise,
Whilst I in sorrow spend my Days.
I'l search the Ætnean Caverns, where
The fiery Sallamanders are,
To me those Flames cannot compare.
The fiery Sallamanders are,
To me those Flames cannot compare.
Though Mulciber does there display
His flaming Ensignes Night and Day;
In time those Flames may yet decay.
His flaming Ensignes Night and Day;
In time those Flames may yet decay.
But mine's Eternal, and will stay,
The substance ne're consumes away,
The more it burns, the more it may.
The substance ne're consumes away,
The more it burns, the more it may.
They are no Lovers that can tell
What caus'd, how strong they love, how well;
Love does ad Infinitum dwell.
What caus'd, how strong they love, how well;
Love does ad Infinitum dwell.
78
I live on air of endless love,
And as a shadow only move,
By that which does the substance prove.
And as a shadow only move,
By that which does the substance prove.
I'le search where the Chamelions are,
And unto them I will declare,
That Love's as bad a Food as Air.
And unto them I will declare,
That Love's as bad a Food as Air.
Nay, worse, for though their Food's but Breath,
Air is their Life, Love is my Death,
Hunger more Comfort wou'd bequeath.
Air is their Life, Love is my Death,
Hunger more Comfort wou'd bequeath.
But now I nearer come, I see
There can but little difference be,
I am a Shadow, so is he.
There can but little difference be,
I am a Shadow, so is he.
I'le dig the Earth, that I may know
What Nature has deny'd to show,
To Moles that in her Bowels grow.
What Nature has deny'd to show,
To Moles that in her Bowels grow.
And there I'le whisper Clelia's Name,
That Mines and Stones may hear the same,
And tell from whence their knowledge came.
That Mines and Stones may hear the same,
And tell from whence their knowledge came.
But now I nearer come, I find
That Moles and I are nigh of Kind;
For they as well as Love are blind.
That Moles and I are nigh of Kind;
For they as well as Love are blind.
For what they dig they do not know,
And labouring pain do undergo;
I love, my case is even so.
And labouring pain do undergo;
I love, my case is even so.
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Their pain is pleasure, so is mine;
Bur here we differ, mine's Divine;
Their aim is Earth, mine too sublime.
Bur here we differ, mine's Divine;
Their aim is Earth, mine too sublime.
I'le dive into the Watery-deep,
And see the Bodies that do sleep,
For whom the Waves themselves do weep.
And see the Bodies that do sleep,
For whom the Waves themselves do weep.
And there together with the throng
Of num'rous Fish I'll swim along,
Who are like me depriv'd of Tongue.
Of num'rous Fish I'll swim along,
Who are like me depriv'd of Tongue.
Yet cou'd I like Arion play,
I'd make those Mutes stand at a bay,
Whilst I my Clelia's praise display.
I'd make those Mutes stand at a bay,
Whilst I my Clelia's praise display.
That so, when ever I shou'd dye,
Each Element might then supply
The praises of her memory.
Each Element might then supply
The praises of her memory.
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