University of Virginia Library

[Sweete solitarines, ioy to those hearts]

Sweete solitarines, ioy to those hearts
That feele the pleasure of Loues sporting darts,
Grudge me not, though a vassall to his might,
And a poore subiect to curst changings spite,
To rest in you, or rather restlesse moue
In your contents to sorrow for my loue.
A Loue, which liuing, liues as dead to me,
As holy reliques which in boxes be,
Plac'd in a chest, that ouerthrowes my ioy,
Shut vp in change, which more then plagues destroy.
These, O you solitarinesse, may both endure,
And be a Chirurgion to find me a cure:
For this curst corsiue eating my best rest
Memorie, sad memorie in you once blest,
But now most miserable with the weight
Of that, which onely shewes Loues strange deceit;
You are that cruell wound that inly weares
My soule, my body wasting into teares.
You keepe mine eies vnclos'd, my heart vntide,
From letting thought of my best dayes to slide.
Froward Remembrance, what delight haue you,
Ouer my miseries to take a view?
Why doe you tell me in this same-like place
Of Earths best blessing I haue seene the face?
But maskd from me, I onely see the shade
Of that, which once my brightest Sun-shine made.
You tell me, that I then was blest in Loue,
When equall passions did together moue.
O why is this alone to bring distresse
Without a salue, but torments in excesse?
A cruell Steward you are to inrole
My once-good dayes, of purpose to controle
With eyes of sorrow; yet leaue me vndone
By too much confidence my thrid so sponne:
In conscience moue not such a spleene of scorne,
Vnder whose swellings my despaires are borne.
Are you offended (choicest Memorie),
That of your perfect gift I did glorie?
If I did so offend, yet pardon me.
Since 'twas to set forth your true exclencie.
Sufficiently I thus doe punish'd stand,
While all that curst is, you bring to my hand.
Or, is it that I no way worthy was
In so rich treasure my few dayes to passe?
Alas, if so and such a treasure giuen
Must I for this to Hell-like paine bee driuen?
Fully torment me now, and what is best
Together take, and mem'ry with the rest,
Leaue not that to me, since but for my ill,
Which punish may, and millions of hearts kill.
Then may I lonely sit downe with my losse
Without vexation, for my losses crosse:
Forgetting pleasures late embrac'd with Loue,
Linck'd to a faith, the world could neuer moue;
Chain'd with affection, I hop'd could not change,
Not thinking Earth could yeeld a place to range:
But staying, cruelly you set my blisse
With deepest mourning in my sight, for misse
And thus must I imagine my curse more,
When you I lou'd add to my mischiefs store:
If not, then Memory continue still,
And vex me with your perfectest knowne skill,
While you deare solitarinesse accept
Me to your charge, whose many passions kept
In your sweet dwellings haue this profit gaind,
That in more delicacie none was paind:
Your rarenesse now receiue my rarer woe
With change, and Loue appoints my soule to know.