The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
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The Dying Lover.
1
Dear Love let me this Evening dy!O Smile not to prevent it.
Dead with my Rivals let me ly;
Or we shall both repent it.
Frown quickly then, and break my heart;
That so my way of dying
May, though my life was full of smart,
Be worth the Worlds envying.
2
Some, striving knowledge to refineConsume themselves with thinking;
And some, who Friendship Seal in Wine,
Are kindly kill'd with drinking.
And some are Wrackt on th'Indian Coast;
Thither by Gain invited:
Some are in smoak of Battels lost;
Whom Drums, not Lutes delighted.
318
3
Alass, how poorly these depart,Their Graves still unattended?
Who dies not of a broken heart,
Is not of death commended.
His memory is only sweet,
All praise and pitty moving,
Who kindly at his Mistress feet
Does die with over-loving.
4
And now thou frown'st, and now I die;My Corps by Lovers follow'd;
Which straite shall by dead Lovers ly;
That Ground is only hallow'd.
If Priests are griev'd, I have a Grave,
My death not well approving,
The Poets my Estate shall have
To teach them the Art of Loving.
5
And now let Lovers ring their Bells,For me poor Youth departed,
Who kindly in his love excells
By dying broken hearted.
My Grave with Flowers let Virgins strow;
Which, if thy Teares fall near them,
May so transcend in Scent and Show,
As thou wilt shortly weare them.
6
Such Flowers how much will Florists prize,Which on a Lover growing,
Are water'd with his Mistress eyes,
With pitty ever flowing.
A Grave so deckt, will, though thou art
Yet fearful to come nie me,
Provoke thee straite to break thy heart,
And lie down boldly by me.
7
Then ev'ry where all Bells shall ring,All Light to Darkness turning,
Whilst ev'ry Quire shall sadly sing,
And Natures self weare mourning.
Yet we hereafter may be found,
By Destinies right placing,
Making, like Flowers, Love under Ground,
Whose Rootes are still embracing.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |