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Aurelian Townshend's Poem and Masks

Edited by E. K. Chambers

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VI. In praise of his Mistress.
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9

VI. In praise of his Mistress.

Thou Shepheard, whose intentive eye
On ev'ry Lamb is such a spy,
No wily Fox can make them lesse,
Where may I find my Shepheardess?
A little pausing then sayd hee,
How can that Jewell stray from thee?
In Summers heat, in Winters cold,
I thought thy brest had been her fold?
That is indeed the constant place
Wherein my thoughts still see her face,
And print her Image in my heart,
But yet my fond eyes crave a part.
With that he smiling sayd, I might
Of Chloris partly have a sight,
And some of her perfections meet
In ev'ry flow'r was fresh and sweet.

10

The growing Lilly bears her skin,
The Violet her blew veins within,
The blushing Rose, new blown and spread,
Her sweeter cheek, her lips, the red.
The Winds that wanton with the Spring
Such Odours as her breathing bring,
But the resemblance of her eyes
Was never found beneath the skies.
Her charming voyce who strives to hit,
His Object must be higher yet;
For Heav'n and Earth, and all we see
Dispersed, collected, is but shee.
Amaz'd at this discourse, me thought
Love both Ambition in me wrought,
And made me covet to engrosse
A Wealth would prove a Publick losse.
With that I sigh'd ashamed to see
Such worth in her, such want in mee;
And closing both mine eyes, forbid
The World my sight since she was hid.