To nothing fitter can I thee compare, Then to the sonne of some rich penyfather, Who hauing now brought on his end with care, Leaues to his son all he had heap'd together;...
You not alone, when you are still alone, O God from you that I could priuate be, Since you one were, I neuer since was one, Since you in me, my selfe since out of me...
That learned Father which so firmly proues The soule of man immortall and diuine, And doth the seuerall offices define, Anima. Giues her that name as shee the body moues,...
You cannot loue my pretty hart, and why? There was a time, you told me that you would, But now againe you will the same deny, If it might please you, would to God you could;...
An euill spirit your beauty haunts me still, Where-with (alas) I haue been long possest, Which ceaseth not to tempt me vnto ill, Nor giues me once but one pore minutes rest....
Thou which do'st guide this little world of loue, Thy planets mansions heere thou mayst behold, My brow the spheare where Saturne still doth moue, Wrinkled with cares: and withered, dry, and cold;...
Love banish'd heauen, in earth was held in scorne, Wandring abroad in neede and beggery, And wanting friends though of a Goddesse borne, Yet crau'd the almes of such as passed by....
O why should nature nigardly restraine, The Sotherne Nations relish not our tongue, Else should my lines glide on the waues of Rhene, And crowne the Pirens with my liuing song;...
I gaue my faith to Loue, Loue his to mee, That hee and I, sworne brothers should remaine, Thus fayth receiu'd, fayth giuen back againe, Who would imagine bond more sure could be?...
When conquering loue did first my hart assaile, Vnto mine ayde I summond euery sence, Doubting if that proude tyrant should preuaile, My hart should suffer for mine eyes offence;...
Into these loues who but for passion lookes, At this first sight, here let him lay them by, And seeke elsewhere in turning other bookes, Which better may his labour satisfie....
Many there be excelling in this kind, Whose well trick'd rimes with all inuention swell, Let each commend as best shall like his minde, Some Sidney, Constable, some Daniell....
Those Priests, which first the Vestall fire begun, Which might be borrowed from no earthly flame, Deuisd a vessell to receiue the sunne, Beeing stedfastly opposed to the same;...
Me thinks I see some crooked Mimick ieere And taxe my Muse with this fantastick grace, Turning my papers, asks what haue we heere? Making withall, some filthy anticke face;...
Maruaile not Loue, though I thy power admire, Rauish'd a world beyond the farthest thought, That knowing more then euer hath beene taught, That I am onely staru'd in my desire;...
Whilst thus my pen striues to eternize thee, Age rules my lines with wrincles in my face, Where in the Map of all my misery, Is modeld out the world of my disgrace, Whilst in despight of tyrannizing times,...
Muses which sadly sit about my chayre, Drownd in the teares extorted by my lines, With heauy sighs whilst thus I breake the ayre, Paynting my passions in these sad dissignes,...
Thou leaden braine, which censur'st what I write, And say'st my lines be dull and doe not moue, I meruaile not thou feelst not my delight, Which neuer felt my fiery tuch of loue....
My hart was slaine, and none but you and I, Who should I thinke the murder should commit? Since but your selfe, there was no creature by But onely I, guiltlesse of murth'ring it....
Truce gentle loue, a parly now I craue, Me thinks, 'tis long since first these wars begun, Nor thou nor I, the better yet can haue: Bad is the match where neither party wone....