University of Virginia Library

To ------

I may revoke each Vow I made to thee,
without the guilt of wilfull Perjury.
I swore I'd Wed thee, and I meant no lesse,
had'st thou but prov'd the same thou did'st profess:
But being not what thou did'st seem to be,
it were a sin to keep my Faith with thee.
Our Fancie's oft deceived by the sight
of some far Object, some exhaled Light,
That seems a Star, but falling to the Ground,
the falsenesse of th'admired thing is found.
So though thou didst mislead my eyes, thoul't find
thy fair illusion cann't my Judgement blind.
I'd rather marry one resembles Night,
that hath an inward part can make her bright.
For Lapidaries value not alone
the make, but secret Virtue of the Stone.
I care not for the whites of Shape or Face:
a black Heart's oft hid in a Christall Case,
A Rose, whose Virgin Beauty casts a sent,
passing through many hands, is quickly spent:
So is a Picture, though as neatly Limb'd
as Art could fancy, breath'd on too much dimm'd.
Sure that man then is void of Reason quite
that binds his faith unto a stale delight,
Thus Hellen like a Cancel'd bond I leave thee,
thy Date is out, thou shalt no more deceive me:
For thou hast wasted so thy Youthfull fires
thou canst not thaw the Ice of my Desires.
Then Glow-worm know, I'le not admire that light
cann't yield me Comfort in the frostiest Night.