Lucasta Posthume Poems of Richard Lovelace |
 |
|
On the Best, last, and only remaining Comedy of Mr. Fletcher.
|
|
|
|
 | Lucasta |  |
On the Best, last, and only remaining Comedy of Mr. Fletcher.
The Wild Goose Chase.
I'm un-ore-clowded too! free from the mist!
The Blind and late Heavens-eyes great Occulist,
Obscured with the false sires of His Sceme,
Not half those Souls are lightned by this Theme.
The Blind and late Heavens-eyes great Occulist,
Obscured with the false sires of His Sceme,
Not half those Souls are lightned by this Theme.
Unhappy Murmurers, that still repine,
(After th'Eclipse our Sun doth brighter shine)
Recant your false grief and your true joys know,
Your blisse is endlesse, as you fear'd your Woe!
What fort'nate Flood is this? what Storm of Wit?
Oh who would live and not ore-whelm'd in it?
No more a fatal Deluge shall be hurl'd,
This inundation hath sav'd the world.
Once more the mighty Fletcher doth arise
Roab'd in a vest, studded with Stars and Eyes
Of all his former Glories; His last worth
Imbroidered with what yet light ere brought forth.
See! in this glad farewel he doth appear
Stuck with the Constellations of his Sphere,
Fearing we Numm'd fear'd no Flagration,
Hath curled all his Fires in this one One;
Which (as they guard his hallowed chast Urn)
The dull aproaching Hereticks do burn.
(After th'Eclipse our Sun doth brighter shine)
Recant your false grief and your true joys know,
Your blisse is endlesse, as you fear'd your Woe!
What fort'nate Flood is this? what Storm of Wit?
Oh who would live and not ore-whelm'd in it?
No more a fatal Deluge shall be hurl'd,
This inundation hath sav'd the world.
Once more the mighty Fletcher doth arise
Roab'd in a vest, studded with Stars and Eyes
72
Imbroidered with what yet light ere brought forth.
See! in this glad farewel he doth appear
Stuck with the Constellations of his Sphere,
Fearing we Numm'd fear'd no Flagration,
Hath curled all his Fires in this one One;
Which (as they guard his hallowed chast Urn)
The dull aproaching Hereticks do burn.
Fletcher at his adieu carouses thus,
To the Luxurious Ingenious.
As Cleopatra did of old out-vie,
Th'unn-umbred dishes of her Anthony,
When he (at th'empty board a wonderer)
Smilings he calls for Pearl and Vineger;
First pledges him in's Breath, then at one Draught
Swallows Three Kingdomes off To his best Thought.
To the Luxurious Ingenious.
As Cleopatra did of old out-vie,
Th'unn-umbred dishes of her Anthony,
When he (at th'empty board a wonderer)
Smilings he calls for Pearl and Vineger;
First pledges him in's Breath, then at one Draught
Swallows Three Kingdomes off To his best Thought.
Hear oh ye valiant Writers, and subscribe;
(His force set by) y'are conquer'd by this Bribe.
Though you hold out your selves, He doth commit
In this a sacred Treason in your wit:
Although in Poems desperately stout,
Give up; This Overture must Buy you out.
(His force set by) y'are conquer'd by this Bribe.
Though you hold out your selves, He doth commit
In this a sacred Treason in your wit:
Although in Poems desperately stout,
Give up; This Overture must Buy you out.
Thus with some prodigal Us'rer 't doth fare
That keeps his gold still Vayl'd, his Steel-breast bare;
That doth exceed his Coffers all but's Eye,
And his eyes Idol the wing'd Deity:
That cannot lock his Mines with half the Art
As some rich Beauty doth his wretched Heart;
Wild at his real Poverty, and so wise
To win her, turns himself into a prise.
First startles her with th' Emerald Mad-lover
The Ruby Arcas, least she should recover
Her daz'led Thought a Diamond he throws,
Splendid in all the bright Aspatia's woes;
Then to sum-up the Abstract of his store,
He flings a rope of Pearl of forty more.
Ah see! the stagg'ring Uirtue faints! which he
Beholding, darts his Wealths Epitome;
And now, to consummate her wished fall,
Shews this one Carbuncle that Darkens all.
That keeps his gold still Vayl'd, his Steel-breast bare;
That doth exceed his Coffers all but's Eye,
And his eyes Idol the wing'd Deity:
That cannot lock his Mines with half the Art
As some rich Beauty doth his wretched Heart;
Wild at his real Poverty, and so wise
73
First startles her with th' Emerald Mad-lover
The Ruby Arcas, least she should recover
Her daz'led Thought a Diamond he throws,
Splendid in all the bright Aspatia's woes;
Then to sum-up the Abstract of his store,
He flings a rope of Pearl of forty more.
Ah see! the stagg'ring Uirtue faints! which he
Beholding, darts his Wealths Epitome;
And now, to consummate her wished fall,
Shews this one Carbuncle that Darkens all.
| Lucasta | |