Amanda A Sacrifice To an Unknown Goddesse, or, A Free-Will Offering Of a loving Heart to a Sweet-Heart. By N. H. [i.e. Nicholas Hookes] |
 |
|
|
To Amanda, on her picture drawn with a Lute in her hand
|
|
 | Amanda |  |
To Amanda, on her picture drawn with a Lute in her hand
A sweet faire draught, yet not compleatly true,
No, it must paint agen to be like you;
Niggardly Art must be at greater cost,
Else your complexion is in colours lost;
A neat resemblance, yet who e're did do't,
Envi'd my eye, and drew a curtain to't;
A whimsie limner strange, what meant the toy,
Not like your selfe to make your picture coy!
Oh it was providence, thoughts of a wife,
Had kill'd me there, had you been drawn to th' life;
But Fairest; that's beyond our modern powers,
Apelles hand ought to be seen in yours,
And Art must to that work a pupil show,
Durst cut a line with skilful Angelo;
Yet in the cast o' th' eye would like't you'd be,
And then where e're I stand, you'd look on me;
It was my chance to see't by candle-light,
Had you been there I could have stay'd all night;
I kist those hands, no lesse nor more could do,
But yet my fancie kist the substance too.
Me thoughts my lips did some impressions make,
The awful Cat'line seem'd to tremble and shake:
Had you been there to play as I did wis,
I'd have kept time with an observant kisse;
A sweeter Lute for you would I prepare,
In tune you should have found my heart-strings were;
So mingling aires and lips till break of day,
We would a sweet chaste ravishing Consort play
Without a discord, only this I'd do,
I'd keep false time, false time in kissing you.
No, it must paint agen to be like you;
Niggardly Art must be at greater cost,
Else your complexion is in colours lost;
A neat resemblance, yet who e're did do't,
Envi'd my eye, and drew a curtain to't;
A whimsie limner strange, what meant the toy,
Not like your selfe to make your picture coy!
Oh it was providence, thoughts of a wife,
Had kill'd me there, had you been drawn to th' life;
But Fairest; that's beyond our modern powers,
Apelles hand ought to be seen in yours,
And Art must to that work a pupil show,
Durst cut a line with skilful Angelo;
Yet in the cast o' th' eye would like't you'd be,
And then where e're I stand, you'd look on me;
It was my chance to see't by candle-light,
Had you been there I could have stay'd all night;
63
But yet my fancie kist the substance too.
Me thoughts my lips did some impressions make,
The awful Cat'line seem'd to tremble and shake:
Had you been there to play as I did wis,
I'd have kept time with an observant kisse;
A sweeter Lute for you would I prepare,
In tune you should have found my heart-strings were;
So mingling aires and lips till break of day,
We would a sweet chaste ravishing Consort play
Without a discord, only this I'd do,
I'd keep false time, false time in kissing you.
Oh Fairest, that thou were't but drawn on me,
Then blest should I thy happy picture be;
I stretch my armes out, and still wish the same,
Oh that you were but hanging on this frame;
Then for your beauties sake, straight should I be,
Hang'd in some princely Monarchs gallery;
Nor would I care could I but often see,
You come, and kindly look and smile on me.
Then would I draw y' agen upon my heart,
And be loves masterpiece of Love and Art.
Then blest should I thy happy picture be;
I stretch my armes out, and still wish the same,
Oh that you were but hanging on this frame;
Then for your beauties sake, straight should I be,
Hang'd in some princely Monarchs gallery;
Nor would I care could I but often see,
You come, and kindly look and smile on me.
Then would I draw y' agen upon my heart,
And be loves masterpiece of Love and Art.
| Amanda | |