The Golden Treasury. Various

      TO AURORA

       Table of Contents

      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 controul,

       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,

       And if that aught mischanced thou should'st not moan

       Nor bear the burthen 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, Earl of Sterline

XXX

      IN LACRIMAS

       Table of Contents

      I saw my Lady weep,

       And Sorrow proud to be advancéd 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.

      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.

      Anon.

XXXI

      TRUE LOVE

       Table of Contents

      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

XXXII

      A DITTY

       Table of Contents

      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.

      His heart in me keeps him and me in one,

       My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:

       He loves my heart, for once it was his own,

       I cherish his because in me it bides:

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

      Sir P. Sidney

XXXIII

      LOVE'S INSIGHT

       Table of Contents

      Though others may Her brow adore

       Yet more must I, that therein see far more

       Than any other's eyes have power to see:

       She is to me

       More than to any others she can be!

       I can discern more secret notes

       That in the margin of her cheeks Love quotes,

       Than any else besides have art to read:

       No looks proceed

       From those fair eyes but to me wonder breed.

      Anon.

XXXIV

      LOVE'S OMNIPRESENCE

       Table of Contents

      Were I as base as is the lowly plain,

       And you, my Love, as high as heaven above,

       Yet should the thoughts of me your humble swain

       Ascend to heaven, in honour of my Love.

      Were I as high as heaven above the plain,

       And you, my Love, as humble and as low

       As are the deepest bottoms of the main,

       Whereso'er you were, with you my love should go.

      Were you the earth, dear Love, and I the skies,

       My love should shine on you like to the sun,

       And look upon you with ten thousand eyes

       Till heaven wax'd blind, and till the world were done.

      Whereso'er I am, below, or else above you,

       Whereso'er you are, my heart shall truly love you.

      J. Sylvester

XXXV

      CARPE DIEM

       Table of Contents

      O Mistress mine, where are you roaming?

       O stay and hear! your true-love's coming

       That can sing both high and low;