Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

The Poetry of George Wither

Edited by Frank Sidgwick

Wither, George (1588-1667)

collapse section

I.

collapse section

THE SHEPHERD'S HUNTING

1.

THE FIRST ECLOGUE. Willy leaves his flock awhile

collapse section

2.

THE SECOND ECLOGUE. Cuddy here relates

collapse section

3.

THE THIRD ECLOGUE. Philaret with his three friends

4.

THE FOURTH ECLOGUE. Philaret on Willy calls

5.

THE FIFTH ECLOGUE. Philaret Alexis moves

collapse section

An Elegiacal Epistle of FIDELIA to her unconstant friend.

THE AUTHOR'S RESOLUTION IN A SONNET.

INTER EQUITAND: PALINOD

MASTER JOHNSON'S ANSWER TO MASTER WITHERS.

collapse section

EPITHALAMIA: OR NVPTIALL POEMS

collapse section

CERTAIN EPIGRAMS CONCERNING MARRIAGE.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

collapse section

II.

collapse section

FAIRE-VIRTUE, THE MISTRESSE OF PHIL'ARETE.

PHILARETE TO HIS MISTRESS.

collapse section

FAIR VIRTUE OR THE MISTRESS OF PHILARETE.

collapse section

1.

2.

THE NYMPH'S SONG.

collapse section

A Miscellany of Epigrams, Sonnets, Epitaphs, and such other Verses as were found written with the Poem aforegoing.

1.

1. OF THE INVENTION OF THE NINE MUSES.

2.

2. OF THE LABOURS OF HERCULES.

3.

3. BEING LEFT BY A GENTLEMAN IN HIS DINING-ROOM, WHERE WAS NOTHING BUT A MAP OF ENGLAND TO ENTERTAIN HIM, HE THUS TURNED IT INTO VERSE.

4.

4. AN EPITAPH UPON THE RIGHT VIRTUOUS LADY, THE LADY SCOTT.

5.

5. AN EPITAPH UPON A WOMAN AND HER CHILD, BURIED TOGETHER IN THE SAME GRAVE.

6.

6. A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

7.

7. AN EPITAPH UPON THE PORTER OF A PRISON.

8.

8. A SONNET UPON A STOLEN KISS.

9.

9. AN EPITAPH UPON ABRAM GOODFELLOW, A COMMON ALEHOUSE-HUNTER.

10.

10. AN EPITAPH UPON A GENTLEWOMAN WHO HAD FORETOLD THE TIME OF HER DEATH.

11.

11. AN EPITAPH ON A CHILD, SON TO SIR W. H. KNIGHT.

12.

13.

14.

14. CERTAIN VERSES WRITTEN TO HIS LOVING FRIEND, UPON HIS DEPARTURE.

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

8. A SONNET UPON A STOLEN KISS.

Now gentle sleep hath closed up those eyes
Which waking kept my boldest thoughts in awe,
And free access unto that sweet lip lies,
From whence I long the rosy breath to draw;
Methinks no wrong it were if I should steal
From those two melting rubies one poor kiss;
None sees the theft that would the thief reveal,
Nor rob I her of ought which she can miss;
Nay, should I twenty kisses take away,
There would be little sign I had done so;
Why then should I this robbery delay?
Oh! she may wake, and therewith angry grow.
Well, if she do, I'll back restore that one,
And twenty hundred thousand more for loan.