University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The poems of William Habington

Edited with introduction and commentary by Kenneth Allott
Habington, William (1605-1654)

collapse section1. 
CASTARA:
  
To his best friend and Kinsman William Habington, Esquire.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To Roses in the bosome of CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To my honoured Friend, Mr. E. P.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To a Wanton.
  
To the Honourable my much honoured friend, R. B. Esquire.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To the right honourable the Countesse of Ar.
  
Vpon CASTARA'S frowne or smile.
  
In CASTARA,
  
Vpon thought CASTARA may dye.
  
Time to the moments, on sight of CASTARA.
  
To a friend inquiring her name, whom he loved.
  
A Dialogue betweene HOPE and FEARE.
  
To CVPID,
  
Vpon CVPID'S death and buriall in CASTARA'S cheeke.
  
To Fame.
  
A Dialogue betweene ARAPHILL and CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
Vpon CASTARA'S departure.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
Vpon CASTARA'S absence.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To THAMES.
  
To the right honourable the Earle of SHREWES.
  
To CVPID.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To the Spring,
  
To Reason,
  
An answere to CASTARA'S question.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To the honourable my honoured kinsman Mr. G. T.
  
Eccho to Narcissus.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To Seymors,
  
To the Dew,
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
Vpon CASTARA'S departure.
  
A Dialogue betweene NIGHT and ARAPHIL.
  
To the Right Honourable, the Lady, E. P.
  
To CASTARA,
  
An Apparition.
  
To the Honourable Mr. Wm. E.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To my honoured Friend and Kinsman, R. St. Esquire
  
To the World.
  
To the Winter.
  
Vpon a visit to CASTARA in the Night.
  
To CASTARA. Of the chastity of his Love.
  
The Description Of CASTARA.
collapse section2. 
CASTARA
collapse section 
[section]
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To Zephirus.
  
To CASTARA
  
To DEATH,
  
To CASTARA
  
Upon CASTARA'S recoverie.
  
To a Friend,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA,
  
To the Right Honourable the Lady F.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
A Dialogue betweene ARAPHILL and CASTARA.
  
To the Right Honourable HENRY Lord M.
  
To a Tombe.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To the Right Honourable, the Lord P.
  
His Muse speakes to him.
  
To Vaine hope.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To CASTARA.
  
On the death of the Right Honourable, GEORGE Earle of S.
  
To my worthy Cousin Mr. E. C.
  
Loves Aniversarie
  
Against them who lay unchastity to the sex of Women.
  
To the Right Honourable and excellently learned, William Earle of St.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To the Honourable, G. T.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To my noblest Friend, Sir I. P. Knight.
  
To The Right Honourable Archibald Earle of Ar.
  
An Elegy upon The Honourable Henry Cambell, sonne to the Earle of Ar.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA,
  
To the Moment last past
  
To CASTARA.
  
To the Right Honourable the Countesse of C.
  
The harmony of Love.
  
To my honoured friend Sir Ed. P. Knight.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To my noblest Friend, I. C. Esquire.
  
To CASTARA.
  
To his Muse.
collapse section 
The Funerals of the Honourable, my best friend and Kinsman, GEORGE TALBOT, Esquire.
 1. 
Elegie, 1.
 2. 
Elegie, 2.
 3. 
Elegie, 3.
 4. 
Elegie, 4.
 5. 
Elegie, 5.
 6. 
Elegie, 6.
 7. 
Elegie, 7.
 8. 
Elegie, 8.
collapse section3. 
CASTARA:
  
Domine labia mea aperies. DAVID.
  
Versa est in luctum cythara mea. IOB.
  
Perdam Sapientiam Sapientum.
  
Paucitatem dierum meorum nuncia mihi. DAVID.
  
Non nobis Domine. DAVID.
  
Solum mihi superest sepulchrum. IOB.
  
Et fugit velut umbra. IOB.
  
Nox nocti indicat Scientiam. DAVID.
  
Et alta a longè cognoscit. DAVID.
  
Universum stratum ejus versasti in infirmitate ejus. DAVID.
  
Laudate Dominum de cælis. DAVID.
  
Qui quasi flos egreditur.
  
Quid gloriaris in malicia? DAVID.
  
Deus Deus Meus. DAVID.
  
Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum. DAVID.
  
Militia est vita hominis.
  
Vias tuas Domine demonstra mihi.
  
Et Exaltavit Humiles.
  
Dominus Dominantium.
  
Cogitabo pro peccato meo.
  
Recogitabo tibi omnes annos meos. ISAY.
  
Cupio dissolvi. Paule.
collapse section 
PROLOGUES, EPILOGUES AND SONGS FROM THE QUEENE OF ARRAGON 1640
  
The Prologue at Court.
  
The Prologue at the Fryers.
  
The Song in the second Act.
  
The Song in the fourth Act.
  
The Epilogue at Court.
  
The Epilogue at the Fryers.
collapse section 
OTHER POEMS FROM PRINTED BOOKS
  
[Spread faire thou growing Tree, with which in vaine]
  
To his noble Friend, th' Author on his Tragedy of Albouine.
  
To my friend the author.
  
An ELEGIE UPON THE Death of Ben. Johnson, the most Excellent of English Poets
  
To MY FRIEND, Will. Davenant.
  
On Master JOHN FLETCHERS Dramaticall Poems.
collapse section 
DOUBTFUL POEMS
  
on Castaraes sittinge on Primrose banks
  
upon Castaries and her sisters goinge Afoote in the Snow

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The poems of William Habington
next section

Elegie, 5.

[Chast as the Nuns first vow, as fairely bright]

Chast as the Nuns first vow, as fairely bright
As when by death her Soule shines in full light
Freed from th' eclipse of Earth, each word that came
From thee (deare Talbot) did beget a flame
106

T' enkindle vertue: which so faire by thee
Became, man, that blind mole, her face did see.
But now to' our eye she's lost, and if she dwell
Yet on the earth; she's coffin'd in the cell
Of some cold Hermit; who so keepes her there,
As if of her the old man jealous were.
Nor ever showes her beauty, but to some
Carthusian, who even by his vow, is dumbe!
So 'mid the yce of the farre Northren sea,
A starre about the Articke Circle, may
Then ours yeeld clearer light; yet that but shall
Serve at the frozen Pilots funerall.
Thou (brightest constellation) to this maine
Which all we sinners traffique on, didst daigne
The bounty of thy fire, which with so cleare
And constant beames did our frayle vessels steere,
That safely we, what storme so ere bore sway,
Past ore the rugged Alpes of th' angry Sea.
But now we sayle at randome. Every rocke
The folly doth of our ambition mocke
And splits our hopes: To every Sirens breath
We listen and even court the face of death,
If painted ore by pleasure: Every wave
Ift hath delight w' embrace though 't prove a grave.
So ruinous is the defect of thee,
To th' undone world in gen'rall. But to me
Who liv'd one life with thine, drew but one breath,
Possest with th' same mind & thoughts, 'twas death.
And now by fate: I but my selfe survive,
To keepe his mem'ry, and my griefes alive.
Where shall I then begin to weepe? No grove
Silent and darke, but is prophan'd by Love:
With his warme whispers, and faint idle feares,
His busie hopes, loud sighes, and causelesse teares
Each eare is so enchanted; that no breath
Is listned to, which makes report of death.
107

Ile turne my griefe then inward and deplore
My ruine to my selfe, repeating ore
The story of his vertues; untill I
Not write, but am my selfe his Elegie.
previous section The poems of William Habington
next section