The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont ... Edited from the autograph manuscript with introduction and notes by Eloise Robinson |
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The Winter-Spring
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 | The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont |  |
399
The Winter-Spring
May 18.
1
O how the Worlds Amazement now doth stareUpon this contradiction of the Year;
Whilst frowning Januaries frost
Doth smileing Maja's beauties blast;
Whilst Winter his chaste bounds forgets
And on the virgin Spring a rape committs.
2
Poor ravishd Spring! how every Leaf confessesThe violence done to her goodly tresses!
Her woefull head how sadly She
Hangs down in every floure! No tree,
No feild, no gardin, where she went
But doth her piteous injury lament.
3
Mark well, my Heart, too plainly painted heerAn embleme of thy self in this sad Year:
The raies of Righteousnesses Sun
By gracious neerness had begun.
With vernal beauties thee to grace,
And heavns sweet dew had washd & cheerd thy face.
400
4
But blasted now by Indevotions coldThy yeauthfull Spring turns withered & old;
The bedds where thy fair floures did grow,
Alas are but their death-bedds now:
Nipp'd in their budd thy firstfruits are;
And thou canst onely say, Such Sweets grew heer.
5
And has some sudden anger snatchd awayMy courteous Sun? O no, thyself didst stray
From thine own Bliss: He, constant He
Desires not retrograde to be.
It is not this, but th' other Sunn
Who of himself doth back to Winter run.
| The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont | |