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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.

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25

Taking leave when his Mistris was to ride.

How is it my ungentle fate,
When Love commanded me to wait
Upon my Saint, by break of day,
I brought a heart, but carried none away?

When we joyn'd ceremonious breath,
And lips, that took a leave like death,
With a sad parting thought opprest,
Did it leave mine, to glide into her brest?

Or was it when like Pallas she
Was mounted, and I gaz'd to see,
My heart then looking through mine eye,
Did after her out at that window flie?

'Twas so, and cause I did not ride,
My heart would Lackey by her side,
Or some more careful Angel be,
To see my Mistris safe convey'd for me.

Nay then attend thy charge, nor fear
Storms in the way, and if a tear
By chance, at looking back on thee
Bedew her eye, drink that a health to me.

26

But smile at night, and be her guest,
At once her musick and her feast,
And if at any mention made
Of me, she sigh, say all thy travell's paid.

But when shee's gently laid to rest,
Oh listen softly to her brest,
And thou shalt hear her soul, but see
Thou wake her not, for she may dream of me.

But what's all this, when I am here,
If fancie bid thee welcom there?
Heart, this last dutie I implore,
Or bring her back, or see thy Cell no more.