University of Virginia Library

21. Her Continence.

'Tis not the force o'th' golden shower,
That once so bounteously did poure
Into Danae's lap, that can
Make my chaste Rose a Courtesan
To Jupiter; she will not stay
Her motion (like Atalanta)
For th' golden Apples that are flung
From th' Wardrobe of a flattering tongue.
No, y' are mistaken, she is none
Of that slight mettal. Shee'l not owne
Smooth Sycophanters; neither will
She slumber carelesly, until
Great Jove the thund'rer shall descend,
(There being no one to defend
Her from the furies of such fate,)
And as she sleeps, divirginate
The tender girl, as once (you know)
He did unto fair Calisto:
And then (t'augment her first despair)
Transforms the Wench into a Bear.
Nor is she like nights queen, that stept
And kist Endimion as he slept;
Leaving her dear Apollo bright,
That still reguilds her horns with light:
And leaves her own Celestial mirth
For the dull pleasures on the earth.
No, no, my Rose will never move
The steddy bias of her love
Like wav'ring Goddesses: 'tis she
Exceeds them all in constancy.
And for thy sake my constant Rose,
The crossest wind that ever blows
Shall not untwist that firm decree
That Heaven seal'd 'twixt thee and me.
If wealthy Juno should present
Her self with all th' Emolument
That e're she had, I should refuse
Her riches, and take thee to chuse.
If solid Ceres should adorn
My granaries with heaps of corn,
Upon condition, that soon after
I'de wed my self unto her daughter;
I'de heed her not: if Pallas should
A Cabinet to me unfold
Of all her gemmes, I'de not dismount
My love from Rose on this account.
In Rose there's Juno, Pallas too,
And there's a Venus fair and true;
Mistake me not, Rose is not base,
Shee's not in act there, but in face.
Therefore (dear Rose) what e're betide us,
It shall but wound us, not divide us.