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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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Upon a Gentlewoman that died of a Fever.

Death, time, and sicknes, had been many a day
Conspiring this sweet Virgin to betray;
At last impatient, vow'd e're the next Sun,
To finish what their malice had begun.
Sicknes went slowly on, but time, apace,
Death lag'd behind, by night all reacht the place.
But when resolv'd of a surprize, they came,
They found her guarded by a holy flame
Her waking Fever kept, this did affright
The theeves, who are still fearful of the light.
Time stayes without; but sicknes, by the sin
Of bribing a false servant, was let in:
Death follow'd the advantage, and did creep
Into her chamber, where though in her sleep,
Sicknes faint-hearted could not stop her breath,
But she soon found the Icie hand of death.

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Her grone awak'd some friends, and the maid kild,
With sighes, and clamors all the ayre was fill'd
Fearing a swift pursuite, Time ran away,
Sicknes no longer had the heart to stay,
Death with his prey soon hid him under ground,
Not since by any living creature found.