University of Virginia Library

XX. OPINION.

The heavens rejoice in motion; why should I
Abjure my so beloued varyety,
And not with many, youth and loue deuide?
Pleasure is none, if not diversifide.
The sun, that sitting in the chaire of light,
Sheds flame into what else soe'er seemes bright,
Is not contented att one Sign to inn,
But ends his yeare, and att a new begins.
All things doe willingly in chang delight,
The fruitfull mother of our appetite:
Riuers the clerer and more pleasing are,
Wheere their faire-spreading streams run wide and clear;
And a dead lake, that no strange barque doth greete,
Corrupts itself and what doth liue in itt.
Let no man tell me such a one is faire
And worthy all alone my loue to sheire.
Nature hath done in her the liberall part
Of a kind mistress, and emploide her art
To make her loueable; and I auerr
Him not humane, that would return from her;
I loue her well; and could, if need weer, dye
To doe her seruice. But followes itt that I
Must serue her only, when I may haue choice?
The lawe is hard, and shall not haue my voice.
The last I saw in all extreames is faire,
And houlds me in the sunnbeams of her haire;
Her nymphlike features such agreements haue,
That I could venture with her to the graue:
Another's broune, I like her not the worse;
Her toungue is soft, and takes me with discourse;
Others, for that they well descended are,
Doe in my loue obteine as larg a share;
And though they be not faire, 'tis much with me
To winn their loue only for their degree;
And though I faile of my requirèd ends,
The attempt is glorious, and ittself comends.
How happy weer our sires in ancient time,
Who held plurality of loues no crime!
With them it was accounted charrety
To stirr up race of all indifferently;
Kindred were not exempted from the bands,
Which with the Persians still in usage stands.
Women were then no sooner askt then won;
And what they did was honest, and well done.
But since this title honnour hath been used,
Ower weake credulety hath been abusde;
The goulden lawes of nature are repeald,
Which our first fathers in such reuerence held;
Our libertye's reverst, and chartar's gone,
And we made servants to Opinion;
A monster in no certeine shape attird,
And whose originall is much desired;
Formless at first, butt growing on, itt fashions,
And doth prescribe manners and laws to nations.
Here Loue received immedicinable harmes,
And was despoilèd of his daring armes;
A greater want then is his dareing eyes,
He lost those awfull wings with which he flyes;
His sinewy bow, and those imortal darts,
Wherewith hee's wont to bruise resisting harts.
Only some few, strong in themselues, and free,
Retaine the seeds of ancient liberty;
Following that part of loue, although deprest,
And make a throne for him within their brest;
In spite of modern censures, him avouing
Their soveraigne, all seruice him allowing.
Amongst which troope, although I am the least,
Yet equall in affections with the best,
I glory in subjection of his hand,
Nor neuer did decline his least comaund;
For in whateuer form the message came,
My heart did open, and receaue the flame.
But time will in its course a point descrye,
When I this lovèd seruice must denye;
For our allegience temporary is;
With firmer age returne ower libertyes.
What time, in grauer judgement, wee repos'd,
Shall not soe easily be to change disposed;
Nor to the art of several eyes obeying,
But beauty with true worth soe rarely weying;
Which being found assembled in some one,
Wee'll loue her euer, and loue her alone.