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The poems of William Habington

Edited with introduction and commentary by Kenneth Allott

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Domine labia mea aperies. DAVID.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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117

Domine labia mea aperies. DAVID.

Noe monument of me remaine,
My mem'orie rust
In the same marble with my dust:
Ere I the spreadingst Laurell gaine,
By writing wanton or profane.
Ye glorious wonders of the skies,
Shine still bright starres,
Th' Almighties mystick Characters!
Ile not your beautious lights surprize
T' illuminate a womans eyes.
Nor to perfume her veines, will I
In each one set
The purple of the violet.
The untoucht flowre may grow and dye
Safe from my fancies injurie.
Open my lippes, great God! and then
Ile soare above
The humble flight of carnall love.
Vpward to thee Ile force my pen,
And trace no path of vulgar men.
For what can our unbounded soules
Worthy to be
Their object finde, excepting thee?
Where can I fixe? since time controules
Our pride, whose motion all things roules.
Should I my selfe ingratiate
T' a Princes smile;
How soone may death my hopes beguile?
And should I farme the proudest state,
I'me Tennant to uncertaine fate

118

If I court gold; will it not rust?
And if my love
Toward a female beauty move;
How will that surfet of our lust
Distast us, when resolv'd to dust?
But thou Æternall banquet! where
For ever we
May feede without satietie!
Who harmonie art to the eare,
Who art, while all things else appeare!
While up to thee I shoote my flame
Thou dost dispence
A holy death, that murders sence,
And makes me scorne all pompes, that ayme
At other triumphes than thy name.
It crownes me with a victory
So heavenly, all
That's earth from me away doth fall.
And I, from my corruption free,
Grow in my vowes even part of thee.