 | Poems |  |
12
My mistris commanding me to returne her letters.
So grieves th'adventrous Merchant, when he throwesAll the long toyld for treasure his ship stowes,
Into the angry maine, to save from wrack
Himselfe and men, as I grieve to give backe
These letters, yet so powerfull is your sway,
As if you bid me die I must obey.
Goe then blest papers, you shall kisse those hands
That gave you freedome, but hold me in bands,
Which with a touch did give you life, but I
Because I may not touch those hands, must die.
Me thinkes, as if they knew they should be sent
Home to their native soile from banishment,
I see them smile, like dying Saints, that know
They are to leave the earth, and tow'rd heaven goe.
When you returne, pray tell your Soveraigne
And mine, I gave you courteous entertaine;
Each line receiv'd a teare, and then a kisse,
First bath'd in that, it scap'd vnscorcht from this:
I kist it because your hand had been there
But 'cause it was not now, I shed a teare.
13
No crueltie, disdaine, absence, dispaire;
No nor her stedfast constancie can deterre,
My vastall heart from ever hon'ring her.
Though these he powerfull arguments to prove
I love in vaine; yet I must ever love;
Say, if she frowne when you that word rehearse,
Service in prose, is oft call'd love in verse:
Then pray her, since I send back on my part
Her papers, she will send me back my heart.
If she refuse, warne her to come before
The God of Love, whom thus I will implore.
Trav'ling thy Countries road (great God) I spide
By chance this Lady, and walkt by her side
From place, to place, fearing no violence,
For I was well arm'd, and had made defence
In former fights, 'gainst fiercer foes, then shee
Did at our first incounter seeme to bee.
But going farther, every step reveal'd
Some hidden weapon, till that time conceal'd,
Seeing those outward armes, I did begin
To feare, some greater strength was lodg'd within,
Looking into her mind, I might survay
An hoast of beauties that in ambush lay;
14
For I unable to resist, did yeild.
But the insulting tyrant so destroyes
My conquer'd mind, my ease, my peace, my joyes,
Breaks my sweete sleepes, invades my harmelesse rest,
Robs me of all the treasure of my brest,
Spares not my heart, nor yet a greater wrong;
For having stolne my heart, she binds my tongue.
But at the last her melting eyes vnseal'd,
My lips, enlarg'd, my tongue, then I reveal'd
To her owne eares the story of my harmes
Wrought by her vertues, and her beauties charmes;
Now heare (Iust judge) an act of savagenesse,
When I complaine in hope to find redresse,
Shee bends her angry brow, and from her eye,
Shootes thousand darts, I then well hop'd to die,
But in such soveraigne balme, love dips his shot
That though they wound a heart, they kill it not;
Shee saw the bloud gush forth from many a wound,
Yet fled, and left me bleeding on the ground,
Nor sought my cure, nor saw me since: 'tis true
Absence, and time, (two cunning Leaches) drew
The flesh together, yet sure though the skin
Be clos'd without, the wound festers within.
15
Servant, and subject to her selfe, and you,
Nor know I (great Love,) if my life be lent
To shew thy mercy or my punishment;
Since by the onely Magick of thy Art
A lover still may live that wants his heart.
If this enditement fright her, so as shee
Seeme willing to returne my heart to mee,
But cannot find it, (for perhaps it may;
Mong'st other trifeling hearts be out oth' way.)
If she repent and would make me amends
Bid her but send me hers, and we are friends.
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