The poems of William Habington Edited with introduction and commentary by Kenneth Allott |
 | 1. |
| 2. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 3. |
Versa est in luctum cythara mea. IOB.
|
|
|
|
 | The poems of William Habington |  |
Versa est in luctum cythara mea. IOB.
Love! I no orgies sing
Whereby thy mercies to invoke:
Nor from the East rich perfumes bring
To cloude thy Altars with the precious smoake.
Whereby thy mercies to invoke:
Nor from the East rich perfumes bring
To cloude thy Altars with the precious smoake.
Nor while I did frequent
Those fanes by lovers rais'd to thee:
Did I loose heathenish rites invent,
To force a blush from injur'd Chastitie.
Those fanes by lovers rais'd to thee:
Did I loose heathenish rites invent,
To force a blush from injur'd Chastitie.
119
Religious was the charme
I used affection to intice:
And though none burnt more bright or warme,
Yet chaste as winter was the Sacrifice.
I used affection to intice:
And though none burnt more bright or warme,
Yet chaste as winter was the Sacrifice.
But now I thee bequeath
To the soft silken youths at Court:
Who may their witty passions breath,
To raise their Mistresse smile, or make her sport.
To the soft silken youths at Court:
Who may their witty passions breath,
To raise their Mistresse smile, or make her sport.
They'le smooth thee into rime,
Such as shall catch the wanton eare:
And win opinion with the time,
To make them a high sayle of honour beare.
Such as shall catch the wanton eare:
And win opinion with the time,
To make them a high sayle of honour beare.
And may a powerfull smile
Cherish their flatteries of wit!
While I my life of fame beguile
And under my owne vine uncourted sit.
Cherish their flatteries of wit!
While I my life of fame beguile
And under my owne vine uncourted sit.
For I have seene the Pine
Famed for its travels ore the Sea:
Broken with stormes and age decline,
And in some creeke unpittied rot away.
Famed for its travels ore the Sea:
Broken with stormes and age decline,
And in some creeke unpittied rot away.
I have seene Cædars fall,
And in their roome a Mushrome grow:
I have seene Comets, threatning all,
Vanish themselves: I have seene Princes so.
And in their roome a Mushrome grow:
I have seene Comets, threatning all,
Vanish themselves: I have seene Princes so.
Vaine triviall dust! weake man!
Where is that vertue of thy breath,
That others save or ruine can,
When thou thy selfe art cal'd t' account by death?
Where is that vertue of thy breath,
That others save or ruine can,
When thou thy selfe art cal'd t' account by death?
When I consider thee
The scorne of Time, and sport of fate:
How can I turne to jollitie
My ill-strung Harpe, and court the delicate?
The scorne of Time, and sport of fate:
How can I turne to jollitie
My ill-strung Harpe, and court the delicate?
120
How can I but disdaine
The emptie fallacies of mirth;
And in my midnight thoughts retaine,
How high so ere I spread, my root's in earth?
The emptie fallacies of mirth;
And in my midnight thoughts retaine,
How high so ere I spread, my root's in earth?
Fond youth! too long I playd
The wanton with a false delight.
Which when I toucht, I found a shade
That onely wrought on th' error of my sight.
The wanton with a false delight.
Which when I toucht, I found a shade
That onely wrought on th' error of my sight.
Then since pride doth betray
The soule to flatter'd ignorance:
I from the World will steale away
And by humility my thoughts advance.
The soule to flatter'd ignorance:
I from the World will steale away
And by humility my thoughts advance.
| The poems of William Habington | |