I see their antique pen would have exprest
Ev'n such a beauty as you master now.

So all their praises are but prophecies

Of this our time, all, you prefiguring
And for they look'd but with divining eyes,

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They had not skill enough your worth to sing:

For we, which now behold these present days,
Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.

W. Shakespeare

XXV

BASIA

Turn back, you wanton flyer,

And answer my desire

With mutual greeting.

Yet bend a little nearer,

True beauty still shines clearer

In closer meeting!

Hearts with hearts delighted

Should strive to be united,

Each other's arms with arms enchaining, -
Hearts with a thought,

Rosy lips with a kiss still entertaining.

What harvest half so sweet is

As still to reap the kisses

Grown ripe in sowing?

And straight to be receiver
Of that which thou art giver,

Rich in bestowing?

There is no strict observing
Of times' or seasons' swerving,
There is ever one fresh spring abiding;
Then what we sow with our lips
Let us reap, love's gains dividing.

T. Campion

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XXVI

ADVICE TO A GIRL

Never love unless you can
Bear with all the faults of man!
Men sometimes will jealous be
Though but little cause they see,
And hang the head as discontent,

And speak what straight they will repent.

Men, that but one Saint adore,

Make a show of love to more;

Beauty must be scorn'd in none,

Though but truly served in one :
For what is courtship but disguise?
True hearts may have dissembling eyes.

Men, when their affairs require,
Must awhile themselves retire;
Sometimes hunt, and sometimes hawk,
And not ever sit and talk:

If these and such-like you can bear,

Then like, and love, and never fear!

T. Campion

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IO

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Forget not then thine own approved
The which so long hath thee so loved,
Whose steadfast faith yet never moved -

Forget not this!

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Sir T. Wyat

XXIX

TO AURORA

O if thou knew'st how thou thyself dost harm,
And dost prejudge thy bliss, and spoil my rest;
Then thou would'st melt the ice out of thy breast
And thy relenting heart would kindly warm.

O if thy pride did not our joys control,

What world of loving wonders should'st thou see!
For if I saw thee once transform'd in me,
Then in thy bosom I would pour my soul;

Then all my thoughts should in thy visage shine,

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And if that aught mischanced thou should'st not moan ΙΟ Nor bear the burden of thy griefs alone;

No, I would have my share in what were thine:

And whilst we thus should make our sorrows one,

This happy harmony would make them none.
W. Alexander,

XXX

Earl of Sterline

IN LACRIMAS 1

I saw my Lady weep,

And Sorrow proud to be advanced so

In those fair eyes where all perfections keep.
Her face was full of woe,

But such a woe (believe me) as wins more hearts
Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts.

Sorrow was there made fair,

And Passion, wise; Tears, a delightful thing;
Silence, beyond all speech, a wisdom rare :

She made her sighs to sing,

And all things with so sweet a sadness move
As made my heart at once both grieve and love.

1 From John Dowland's "Second Book of Songs or Airs," 1600.

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O fairer than aught else

The world can show, leave off in time to grieve!
Enough, enough: your joyful look excels:

Tears kill the heart, believe.

O strive not to be excellent in woe,

Which only breeds your beauty's overthrow.

XXXI

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Anon.

TRUE LOVE

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no! it is an ever-fixéd mark

That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out ev'n to the edge of doom:

If this be error, and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

W. Shakespeare

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XXXII

A DITTY

My true-love hath my heart, and I have his,
By just exchange one for another given:
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,
There never was a better bargain driven:

My true-love hath my heart, and I have his.

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