The poems of John Wilmot: Earl of Rochester :: :: University of Virginia Library

The poems of John Wilmot: Earl of Rochester

Edited by Keith Walker

Rochester, John Wilmot (1647-1680)

JUVENILIA

LOVE POEMS

TRANSLATIONS

PROLOGUES and EPILOGUES

SATIRES and LAMPOONS

POEMS to MULGRAVE and SCROOPE

EPIGRAMS, IMPROMPTUS, JEUX D'ESPRIT, ETC.

POEMS POSSIBLY BY ROCHESTER

To His MISTRESS.

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To His MISTRESS.

[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

I

Why do'st thou shade thy lovely face? O why
Does that Eclipsing hand of thine deny
The Sun-shine of the Suns enlivening Eye.

II

Without thy light, what light remains in me
Thou art my Life, my way my Light's in Thee,
I Live I move and by thy beams I see.

III

Thou art my Life, if thou but turn away
My Life's a thousand Deaths, thou art my way
Without Thee (Love) I travel not but Stray.

IV

My Light thou art, without thy Glorious sight
My Eyes are Darkned with Eternal night
My Love Thou art my way, my Life my light.

V

Thou are my way I wander if thou fly
Thou art my Light, if hid how blind am I
Thou art my Life if thou withdraw'st I Die.

VI

My Eyes are dark and blind I cannot see
To whom or whether should my darkness flee
But to that Light, and who's that Light but Thee.

129

VII

If that be all Shine forth and draw thou nigher
Let me be bold and Dye for my desire
A Phenix likes to Perish in the Fire.

VIII

If my Puft Light be out give leave to—
My Shameless Snuff at the bright Lamp of thine
Ah! what's thy Light the less for Lighting mine.

IX

If I have lost my Path dear Lover say
Shall I still wander in a Doubtful way
Love shall a Lamb of Israel's Sheepfold Stray.

X

My Path is lost my wandring Steps does Stray
I cannot go nor safely Stay
Whom should I seek but Thee my Path my Way.

XI

And yet thou turn'st thy Face a way and flyest me
And yet I sue for Grace and thou deniest me
Speak art thou angry, Love or tryest me.

XII

Display those Heavenly Lamps, or tell me why
Thou Shad'st my Face perhaps no Eye
Can View their Flames and not drop down and Die.

XIII

Thou art the Pilgrims Path and Blind-Mans Eye
The Dead Mans Life on Thee my hopes rely
If I but them remove I e'er I Die.

130

XIV

Disolve thy Sun-Beams close thy Wings and Stay
See See how I am blind and Dead and Stray
Oh thou that art my Life my Light my way.

XV

Then work my will if Passion bid me flee
My Reason shall obey my Wings shall be
Stretched out no further then from me to thee.