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University of Virginia Library

Poems &c. By James Shirley

Shirley, James (1596-1666)

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[VVhen th'Age groan'd out Thou and thy Muse were gone]

To his unkind M.

To his Mistris.

To his Mistris confined.

Loves Hue and Cry.

[Would you know what's soft? I dare]

To L. for a wreath of Bayes sent.

To the Painter preparing to draw M. M. H.

To a L. who had courted a Lady of much perfection, and after offered his Service to another of an inferiour Beauty and Parts; in confidence that the first would re-accept him.

A Lover that durst not speak to his M.

To one that said his Mistris was old.

Upon his M. Dancing.

Upon his Mistris sad.

A Gentleman in Love with two Ladies.

Melancholy converted.

To a Mistris in whose Letter some Tears were dropt.

Presenting his Mistris with a Bird.

Upon Scarlet and blush coloured Ribbands given by two Ladies.

To his Mistris upon the Bayes withered.

Strephon, Daphne.

Taking leave when his Mistris was to ride.

Love for Enjoying.

Upon the Princes Birth.

To his honoured friend Tho. Stanley Esquire, upon his elegant Poems.

To the E. of S. upon his recovery.

One that loved none but deformed Women.

The Common-Wealth of Birds.

To the Excellent Pattern of Beauty and Vertue, L. El. Co. of Or.

To the H. Lady, D. C. at his departure.

A Letter to the Lady D. S. sent with a New Comedy.

To the never enough Honoured E. of St. on New-yeares day at night, after other entertainment.

To M. Phil. Massenger on his Renegado.

To a L. upon a Looking-Glasse sent.

A Song in a Play called Hide-Parke.

A Mother hearing her child was sick of the Small-Poxe.

Epithalamium. To his Noble Friend, Mr. I. W.

On a black Ribband.

To Gent. that broke their promise of a meeting, made when they drank Claret.

Upon a Gentlewoman that died of a Fever.

Upon the death of G. M.

Upon the death of K. James.

Vpon the death of Sr. Th. Nevill.

An Elegie upon the honourable, fair, and vertuous M. Borlase.

Upon the Death of C. D. Engineere, who died upon service to which he had no command.

Epitaph On the Duke of BUCKINGHAM.

An Elegie upon the truly Honourable Tho. Viscount Savage

Vpon Mr. Charles Beaumont who died of a Consumption.

The Passing Bell.

To the proud M.

Cupid ungodded.

To a Beautiful Lady.

Dialogue.

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77

Dialogue.

1.
I prethee tell me what prodigious fate
Hath discomplexion'd thee of late?

2.
Love that doth change all minds and men,
Hath thus transformed me, and when
Thou seest her heavenly face.

1.
Describe her then.

2.

Her Hairs are Cupids nets which when she spreads,
She catches hearts and maidenheads;
Her Forehead the white Alpes doth show,
Or rather 'tis a shrine of snow,
To which with fear approaching Pilgrims bow.

Her Eye-browes are loves bowes, from which her eyes
Do never shoot, but some man dies:
Her cheeks like two fair gardens rise,
With the choise flowers of Paradise.
Her lips disclose where Musicks Temple is.

Her Tongue I call Loves Lightning, but the Throne
Of Graces is her Neck alone,
Or Poets may inspired say
There the wanton Doves do play,
When Venus means to make it Holyday.

78

1.

No more for shame? how hath thy fancy straid;
What a Chimera hast thou made
To dote upon? what would I give
Old Michael Angelo to revive?
Make Titian, Vandike, or bold Ruben live?

But suppose one of them, or all their Art
Should paint this darling of thy heart
A net, a rock, a shrine of snow,
A Church, a garden, and a bow,
Is't not a pretty face compounded so?

Or if a Pencil, and their hand should make
A flame of Lightning, who will take
This for a tongue? Or if men see
A Throne, Doves billing two or three,
Who will commend this for a neck but thee?

Collect thy scatter'd sence (poor man) be wise,
Love, but first give thy reason eyes;
Thy fancie bears all like a flood;
Reduce them to their flesh and blood,
And Women then are hardly understood.