The Poems of James VI. of Scotland :: :: University of Virginia Library

the Cheuiott hills doe with my state agree
In euerie point excepting onelie one
For as there toppes in cloudes are mounted hie
So all my thoughts in skies be higher gone

There foote is fast, my faithe a stedfast stone
From them discends the christall fontains cleare
And from mine eyes butt fained force and mone
Hoppes trickling teares with sadd and murnefull cheare
From them great windes doe hurle with hiddeous beir
From me deepe sighs, greate flocks of sheepe they feede
I flockes of loue, no fruicts on them appeare
My houpe to me no grace can bring or breede
In these alike, in this we disagree
That snowe on them, and flames remaines in me.

As man, a man am I composed all
Of brethren foure which did this worlde compone
Yett vnto me doth suche a chance befall
As I of mankinde all am he alone
Who of the foure possesseth onelie one
My flames of loue to firie heauen be past
My aire in sighs euanish'd is and gone
My moysture into teares distilling fast
Now onelie earthe remaines with me at last
That am denuded of the other three
Then crewell Dame since unto suche a cast
Your onelie beautie thus compelleth me
Send als my earth, with earth for to remaine
Or els restore me to my selfe againe.

If he that lackes the light may iustlie mone
And eke lament his miserable cace
As he to whome all wordlie ioye is gone
When drearie darknes cumes in Phœbus place
How muche the more may I lament allace
The absence of my onelie lampe of light
Since Lezardlike I feede vpon her face
And suckes my satisfaction from her sight
No more may I, then marigolde by night
Beare blossomes when no sighte of Sunne I haue
For yow Madame haue by your beauties might
Bereft, and brookes my hart your humble slaue

How may a man, a floure, a corps in smart
See, blossome, breathe; but eyes, but Sunne, but hart.

come fruictfull thoughts that fertill euer flowes
And showe what sicknes smites my heauie hart
The more I muse my greefe the greater growes
And painefull pangues of passions playe there parte
My euill it is incurable by art
And keepis a contrare course to nature cleene
My minde delights to pance vpon his smart
And feede on flames though secrete and vnseene
Bot as my brest a butt full long hath bene
to sightles shotts, so on the other side
O ye my harts allurer by my eyen
Respect with ruthe the bale I daylie bide
Then since we bothe like sorrowe doe sustaine
Bothe preasse to turne in pleasure all our paine.

Although that crooked crawling Vulcan lie
An-vnder ashes colde as oft we see
As senseles deade whill by his heate he drie
The greene and fizzing faggots made of tree
Then will that litle sponke and flaming eye
Bleaze brauelie forth and sparkling all abreed
With wandling wp a wondrous sight to see
Kithe clearlie then and on the faggots feede
So am I forced for to confesse indeede
My sponke of loue smor'd vnder coales of shame
By beauties force the fosterer of that seede
Now budds and bursts in an appearing flame
Bot since your beautie hath this wonder wroght
I houpe Madame it shall not be for noght.

O womans witt that wauers with the winde
When none so well may warie now as I
As weathercocke thy stablenes I finde
And as the sea that still can neuer lie

Bot since that tyme the trueth hath made me trie
That in inconstance thou art constant still
My courage sayes on Cupide ceasse to crie
That are rewarded thus for thy goodwill
For thogh Madame I failde not to fullfill
All sort of seruice to a Mistres dewe
Yett absence thogh bot for a space did spill
The thankes deserued of all my seruice trewe
What shall I saye, I neuer thought to see
That out of sight, shoulde out of langour be.