Love's Dialect :: :: University of Virginia Library

Love is my honest character; I am
The child of a faire mother, and I came
From yon' celestiall Pallace, to surround
This universe, I did so, and have found
My deity ador'd by all, I was
Their onely Genius; brought all acts to passe;
I enter'd a great Citty where I spy'd
A fourescore Bridegroome and a sixteene Bride,
Going to Hymens Temple, though her eye
Look'd but disdainefull of his Gravity
(Shee was compeld) I pittying the wrong
Shot a sharpe shaft, shee lov'd, and he grew young;
This was my first effectuall worke and then
I met a venerable Cittizen,
A Vsurer, well troubled with the strife
Of worldly cares, and yet without a wife;

I made him wed his maide, and breake his store
For pious uses, to maintaine the poore.
I interrupted (next) the serious Muse
Of a sad Student, busy to peruse
The hearts of mineralls, who let gold flye
To purchase glasse, and practise Alchimy;
I did infuse a Quintessence that made
My wise Philosopher mistake his trade,
Dazeld his fancy so, that he did spie
Faces and lips in his Philosophie;
Sweete Roseat blushes, smiles, choyse locks of hayre,
Soft fingers, and such eyes as women weare;
When all was perfected in every part
A Lady was th'Elixir of his Art.
Love is a Courtier (too) I went to Court,
There did I see a generall resort
Of royall persons, Dukes, Earles, Lords and Knights,
Each one his Lady, and most choyce delights
Vshering their pompe; the Virgin Ladies (too)
Frequent that Senat, who prepare to doe
Their amrous rites to love; the youthfull squires
Neglect no office that may keepe the fyers
Of Cupid ever burning; yet mongst these
Diana had a vestall did displease
My angry soule; shee was a virgin faire
As lovely Psyche; in her trameld haire
Hung pretious Diamonds, yet might you spie
No lustre in them, cause her eyes were by,
And to reveale her fully, I durst sweare
I had beheld another Venus there.
This Lady was belov'd ador'd and sought
By a rich heyre, (that as much vertue brought

As shee had beauty) in whose soule did move
The divine graces, yet he was in love
With this coy peece of Ladyship; but shee
Contemn'd as much, now note the destinie,
I could not brooke her humour, but did burne
With hot vexation; which did suddaine turne
To royall madnesse, and in zealous rage
I made him wed a Countesse, shee a Page.
Thus did I traverse earth, and now am come
To rest my tyr'd limbs in Elizium.