ELEGIE IV.
The Perfume.
ONCE, and but once found in thy company,
All thy suppos'd escapes are laid on mee;
And as a thiefe at barre, is question'd there
By all the men, that have beene rob'd that yeare,
5So am I, (by this traiterous meanes surpriz'd)
By thy Hydroptique father catechiz'd.
Though he had wont to search with glazed eyes,
As though he came to kill a Cockatrice,
Though hee hath oft sworne, that hee would remove
10Thy beauties beautie, and food of our love,
Hope of his goods, if I with thee were seene,
Yet close and secret, as our soules, we'have beene.
Though thy immortall mother which doth lye
Still buried in her bed, yet will not dye,
15Takes this advantage to sleepe out day-light,
And watch thy entries, and returnes all night,
And, when she takes thy hand, and would seeme kind,
Doth search what rings, and armelets she can finde,
And kissing notes the colour of thy face,
20And fearing least thou'art swolne, doth thee embrace;
To trie if thou long, doth name strange meates,
And notes thy palenesse, blushing, sighs, and sweats;
And politiquely will to thee confesse
The sinnes of her owne youths ranke lustinesse;
25Yet love these Sorceries did remove, and move
Thee to gull thine owne mother for my love.
Thy little brethren, which like Faiery Sprights
Oft skipt into our chamber, those sweet nights,
And kist, and ingled on thy fathers knee,
30Were brib'd next day, to tell what they did see:
The grim eight-foot-high iron-bound serving-man,
That oft names God in oathes, and onely than,
He that to barre the first gate, doth as wide
As the great Rhodian Colossus stride,
35Which, if in hell no other paines there were,
Makes mee feare hell, because he must be there:
Though by thy father he were hir'd to this,
Could never witnesse any touch or kisse.
But Oh, too common ill, I brought with mee
40That, which betray'd mee to my enemie:
A loud perfume, which at my entrance cryed
Even at thy fathers nose, so were wee spied.
When, like a tyran King, that in his bed
Smelt gunpowder, the pale wretch shivered.
45Had it beene some bad smell, he would have thought
That his owne feet, or breath, that smell had wrought.
But as wee in our Ile emprisoned,
Where cattell onely,'and diverse dogs are bred,
The pretious Vnicornes, strange monsters call,
50So thought he good, strange, that had none at all.
I taught my silkes, their whistling to forbeare,
Even my opprest shoes, dumbe and speechlesse were,
Onely, thou bitter sweet, whom I had laid
Next mee, mee traiterously hast betraid,
55And unsuspected hast invisibly
At once fled unto him, and staid with mee.
Base excrement of earth, which dost confound
Sense, from distinguishing the sicke from sound;
By thee the seely Amorous sucks his death
60By drawing in a leprous harlots breath;
By thee, the greatest staine to mans estate
Falls on us, to be call'd effeminate;
Though you be much lov'd in the Princes hall,
There, things that seeme, exceed substantiall;
65Gods, when yee fum'd on altars, were pleas'd well
Because you'were burnt, not that they lik'd your smell;
You'are loathsome all, being taken simply alone,
Shall wee love ill things joyn'd, and hate each one?
If you were good, your good doth soone decay;
70And you are rare, that takes the good away.
All my perfumes, I give most willingly
To'embalme thy fathers corse; What? will hee die?
Eleg. IV. The Perfume. 1635-54: Elegie IV. 1633, 1669: Elegie. (numbered variously) A18, A25, C, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC, TCD, W: Discovered by a Perfume. B: no title, Cy, HN
2 suppos'd escapes] supposed scapes 1669, P
4 By] For P
7-8 1635-69 and MSS. generally: om. 1633, D, H49, Lec
9 hath] have A18, A25, L74, N, P, TC, W
15 Takes] Take A18, A25, N, P, TC, W
21 To trie &c. 1633, D, H49, S (dost long): And to trie &c. 1635-69, A18, A25, L74, N, O'F, S96 (longest), TC
meates, 1635-69: meates. 1633
22 blushing 1633-54, A18, A25, JC, N, TC: blushes 1669: blushings B, D, H49, HN, L74, Lec, O'F, P, W
29 ingled] dandled 1669
30 see: 1635-69: see. 1633
31 grim eight-foot-high iron-bound Ed: grim-eight-foot-high-iron-bound 1633-69
37 to 1633-69: for MSS.
38 kisse.] kisse; 1633
40 my 1633: mine 1635-69
44 Smelt] Smells 1669 shivered. A18, D, H49, L74, N, TC, W: shivered; 1633-69: shivered, Chambers and Grolier. See note
46 that smell] the smell 1669
49 monsters Ed: monsters, 1633-69
50 good,] sweet 1669
53 bitter sweet, 1633-39: bitter-sweet, 1650-69
60 breath; 1650-69: breath, 1633-39
64 substantiall; Ed: substantiall. 1633-69
66 you'were] you'er 1669
smell; 1635-39: smell, 1633, 1669: smel 1650-54
71 All] And Chambers
ELEGIE V.
His Picture.
H ERE take my Picture; though I bid farewell,
Thine, in my heart, where my soule dwels, shall dwell.
'Tis like me now, but I dead, 'twill be more
When wee are shadowes both, then'twas before.
5When weather-beaten I come backe; my hand,
Perhaps with rude oares torne, or Sun beams tann'd,
My face and brest of hairecloth, and my head
With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread,
My body'a sack of bones, broken within,
10And powders blew staines scatter'd on my skinne;
If rivall fooles taxe thee to'have lov'd a man,
So foule, and course, as, Oh, I may seeme than,
This shall say what I was: and thou shalt say,
Doe his hurts reach mee? doth my worth decay?
15Or doe they reach his judging minde, that hee
Should now love lesse, what hee did love to see?
That which in him was faire and delicate,
Was but the milke, which in loves childish state
Did nurse it: who now is growne strong enough
20To feed on that, which to disused tasts seemes tough.
Eleg. V. His Picture. 1635-54: Elegie V. 1633, 1669: Elegye. (numbered variously) A18, A25, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F, S, S96, TCC, TCD, W: The Picture. P: Travelling he leaves his Picture with his mystris. B
1 Picture; ... farewell, Ed: Picture, ... farewell; 1633: rest semicolon or colon after each
8 With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread, 1633, A18, N, TC: With cares rash, cruel, sudden storms o'erspread P: With cares rash-sudden cruel-storms o'erprest B: With cares rash sudden storms o'erpressed S, S96: With cares rash sudden storms o'erspread Cy, D, H49, Lec: With cares rash sodaine horiness o'erspread A25, JC, W: With cares harsh sodaine horinesse o'rspread, 1635-69, O'F
16 now love lesse, 1633-69, A18, N, TC: like and love less A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, O'F, P, S, S96, W
19 nurse] nourish A18, N, P, S, TC
strong] tough P
20 disused Ed: disus'd 1633-39, A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC, W: weake 1650-69
tough.] rough. P
ELEGIE VI.
OH, let mee not serve so, as those men serve
Whom honours smoakes at once fatten and sterve;
Poorely enrich't with great mens words or lookes;
Nor so write my name in thy loving bookes
5As those Idolatrous flatterers, which still
Their Princes stiles, with many Realmes fulfill
Whence they no tribute have, and where no sway.
Such services I offer as shall pay
Themselves, I hate dead names: Oh then let mee
10Favorite in Ordinary, or no favorite bee.
When my Soule was in her owne body sheath'd,
Nor yet by oathes betroth'd, nor kisses breath'd
Into my Purgatory, faithlesse thee,
Thy heart seem'd waxe, and steele thy constancie:
15So, carelesse flowers strow'd on the waters face,
The curled whirlepooles suck, smack, and embrace,
Yet drowne them; so, the tapers beamie eye
Amorously twinkling, beckens the giddie flie,
Yet burnes his wings; and such the devill is,
20Scarce visiting them, who are intirely his.
When I behold a streame, which, from the spring,
Doth with doubtfull melodious murmuring,
Or in a speechlesse slumber, calmely ride
Her wedded channels bosome, and then chide
25And bend her browes, and swell if any bough
Do but stoop downe, or kisse her upmost brow;
Yet, if her often gnawing kisses winne
The traiterous banke to gape, and let her in,
She rusheth violently, and doth divorce
30Her from her native, and her long-kept course,
And rores, and braves it, and in gallant scorne,
In flattering eddies promising retorne,
She flouts the channell, who thenceforth is drie;
Then say I; that is shee, and this am I.
35Yet let not thy deepe bitternesse beget
Carelesse despaire in mee, for that will whet
My minde to scorne; and Oh, love dull'd with paine
Was ne'r so wise, nor well arm'd as disdaine.
Then with new eyes I shall survay thee,'and spie
40Death in thy cheekes, and darknesse in thine eye.
Though hope bred faith and love; thus taught, I shall
As nations do from Rome, from thy love fall.
My hate shall outgrow thine, and utterly
I will renounce thy dalliance: and when I
45Am the Recusant, in that resolute state,
What hurts it mee to be'excommunicate?
Eleg. VI. 1635-69: Elegie VII. 1633 (Elegie VI. being Sorrow who to this house &c. See Epicedes &c., p. 287): Elegie. (numbered variously) A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC, TCD, W
2 fatten] flatter 1669, A18, B, Cy, L74, N, TC
3 or] and A18, Cy, L74, N, P, TC
6 stiles, 1633-69, A18, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, P, S96, TC, W: style A25, O'F, S, Chambers and Grosart
with all MSS., Chambers and Grosart: which (probably by confusion of wch and wth) 1633-69
Realmes] names 1669
7 where] bear 1669
14 constancie: 1635-69: constancie. 1633
24 then 1633, B, D, H49, Lec, S, S96, W: there 1635-69, A18, A25, Cy, JC, N, O'F, P, TC, Chambers
26 upmost 1633 and most MSS: utmost 1635-69, O'F, Chambers brow; Ed: brow: 1633-39: brow. 1650-69
28 banke A18, D, H49, JC, N, S, TC, W: banks 1633-69, Lec, O'F
33 the 1633, D, H49, Lec: her 1635-69, A18, N, TC
who 1633, A18, A25, B, Cy, D, JC, H49, L74, Lec, N, P, S, S96, TC: which 1635-69, O'F
37 Oh,] Ah, 1669
39 thee,'] om. 1669
40 eye. Ed: eye; 1633-54: eye: 1669: eye, Chambers
41 Though ... love; 1633: Though ... breed ... love: 1635-39: Though ... breed ... love 1650-69 (Through ... 1669)
42 fall. 1633-35: fall 1639-69
43 outgrow] o'ergrow Cy, P
ELEGIE VII.
NATURES lay Ideot, I taught thee to love,
And in that sophistrie, Oh, thou dost prove
Too subtile: Foole, thou didst not understand
The mystique language of the eye nor hand:
5Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the aire
Of sighes, and say, this lies, this sounds despaire:
Nor by the'eyes water call a maladie
Desperately hot, or changing feaverously.
I had not taught thee then, the Alphabet
10Of flowers, how they devisefully being set
And bound up, might with speechlesse secrecie
Deliver arrands mutely, and mutually.
Remember since all thy words us'd to bee
To every suitor; I, if my friends agree;
15Since, household charmes, thy husbands name to teach,
Were all the love trickes, that thy wit could reach;
And since, an houres discourse could scarce have made
One answer in thee, and that ill arraid
In broken proverbs, and torne sentences.
20Thou art not by so many duties his,
That from the worlds Common having sever'd thee,
Inlaid thee, neither to be seene, nor see,
As mine: who have with amorous delicacies
Refin'd thee'into a blis-full Paradise.
25Thy graces and good words my creatures bee;
I planted knowledge and lifes tree in thee,
Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alas
Frame and enamell Plate, and drinke in Glasse?
Chafe waxe for others seales? breake a colts force
30And leave him then, beeing made a ready horse?
Elegie VII. 1635-69: Elegie VIII. 1633: Elegye. (numbered variously) A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, M, N, O'F, P, S, TCC, TCD, W
2 Oh, ... prove] Oh, how ... prove 1669
6 despaire: 1635-69: despaire. 1633
7 call 1633, A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, M, N, O'F (corrected from know), P, TC, W: know 1635-69: cast S, Chambers and Grosart
10 they devisefully being set] their devise in being set Cy, P
12 arrands 1633: errands 1635-69: meet errands B
14 agree; Ed: agree. 1633-69
21-2 That ... nor see,] in brackets 1669
24 Paradise] paradise 1633
25 words 1633-54, A25, B, Cy, JC, N, O'F, P, W: works 1669, A18, D, H49, Lec, TC
bee; Ed: bee, 1633-69
26 thee, 1633: thee: 1635-69
28 Glasse? Ed: glasse. 1633-69
ELEGIE VIII.
The Comparison.
A S the sweet sweat of Roses in a Still,
As that which from chaf'd muskats pores doth trill,
As the Almighty Balme of th'early East,
Such are the sweat drops of my Mistris breast,
5And on her 〈brow〉 her skin such lustre sets,
They seeme no sweat drops, but pearle coronets.
Ranke sweaty froth thy Mistresse's brow defiles,
Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles,
Or like the skumme, which, by needs lawlesse law
10Enforc'd, Sanserra's starved men did draw
From parboild shooes, and bootes, and all the rest
Which were with any soveraigne fatnes blest,
And like vile lying stones in saffrond tinne,
Or warts, or wheales, they hang upon her skinne.
15Round as the world's her head, on every side,
Like to the fatall Ball which fell on Ide,
Or that whereof God had such jealousie,
As, for the ravishing thereof we die.
Thy head is like a rough-hewne statue of jeat,
20Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set;
Like the first Chaos, or flat seeming face
Of Cynthia, when th'earths shadowes her embrace.
Like Proserpines white beauty-keeping chest,
Or Joues best fortunes urne, is her faire brest.
25Thine's like worme eaten trunkes, cloth'd in seals skin,
Or grave, that's dust without, and stinke within.
And like that slender stalke, at whose end stands
The wood-bine quivering, are her armes and hands.
Like rough bark'd elmboughes, or the russet skin
30Of men late scurg'd for madnes, or for sinne,
Like Sun-parch'd quarters on the citie gate,
Such is thy tann'd skins lamentable state.
And like a bunch of ragged carrets stand
The short swolne fingers of thy gouty hand.
35Then like the Chymicks masculine equall fire,
Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire
Into th'earths worthlesse durt a soule of gold,
Such cherishing heat her best lov'd part doth hold.
Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gunne,
40Or like hot liquid metalls newly runne
Into clay moulds, or like to that Ætna
Where round about the grasse is burnt away.
Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,
As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore?
45Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake,
As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake?
Is not your last act harsh, and violent,
As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent?
So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice
50Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice,
And such in searching wounds the Surgeon is
As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.
Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,
She, and comparisons are odious.
Eleg. VIII. The Comparison. 1635-54: Elegie VIII. 1669: Elegie. 1633: Elegie. (numbered variously) A18, A25, B, C, Cy, JC, L74, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC, TCD, W
2 muskats] muskets 1669
4 breast, 1635-69: breast. 1633
5 〈brow〉 Ed: necke 1633-69 and MSS. See note
6 coronets. 1633-69, A18, B, Cy, L74, M, N, O'F, S96, TC: carcanets. A25, C, JC, S, W: carolettes. P
8 boiles, Ed: boiles. 1633-69: in MSS. generally spelt as pronounced, biles or byles
13 vile lying stones 1635-54 and MSS.: vile stones lying 1633, 1669
14 they hang A18, B, JC, L74, M, N, O'F (altered to it), S, TC, W: it hangs 1633-69
19 a] om. 1635-39
26 grave] grav'd 1669
dust 1633-69, W: durt A18, A25, JC, M, N, O'F, P, S, TC
28 hands. W: hands, 1633-69
34 thy gouty hand. 1635-69, A18, A25, B, L74, N, O'F, P, S96, TC, W (hand; 1635-69): her gouty hand; 1633, JC, S: thy mistress hand; 1669
37 durt 1635-69: part 1633, from next line
46 feares] fear'd A18, L74, N, O'F, TC, W
48 when 1635-69 and MSS.: where 1633
50 Are Priests ... sacrifice,] A Priest is in his handling Sacrifice, 1669
51 such A18, A25, B, JC, L74, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC, W: nice 1633-69
ELEGIE IX.
The Autumnall
NO Spring, nor Summer Beauty hath such grace,
As I have seen in one Autumnall face.
Yong Beauties force our love, and that's a Rape,
This doth but counsaile, yet you cannot scape.
5If t'were a shame to love, here t'were no shame,
Affection here takes Reverences name.
Were her first yeares the Golden Age; That's true,
But now shee's gold oft tried, and ever new.
That was her torrid and inflaming time,
10This is her tolerable Tropique clyme.
Faire eyes, who askes more heate then comes from hence,
He in a fever wishes pestilence.
Call not these wrinkles, graves; If graves they were,
They were Loves graves; for else he is no where.
15Yet lies not Love dead here, but here doth sit
Vow'd to this trench, like an Anachorit.
And here, till hers, which must be his death, come,
He doth not digge a Grave, but build a Tombe.
Here dwells he, though he sojourne ev'ry where,
20In Progresse, yet his standing house is here.
Here, where still Evening is; not noone, nor night;
Where no voluptuousnesse, yet all delight.
In all her words, unto all hearers fit,
You may at Revels, you at Counsaile, sit.
25This is loves timber, youth his under-wood;
There he, as wine in Iune, enrages blood,
Which then comes seasonabliest, when our tast
And appetite to other things, is past.
Xerxes strange Lydian love, the Platane tree,
30Was lov'd for age, none being so large as shee,
Or else because, being yong, nature did blesse
Her youth with ages glory, Barrennesse.
If we love things long sought, Age is a thing
Which we are fifty yeares in compassing.
35If transitory things, which soone decay,
Age must be lovelyest at the latest day.
But name not Winter-faces, whose skin's slacke;
Lanke, as an unthrifts purse; but a soules sacke;
Whose Eyes seeke light within, for all here's shade;
40Whose mouthes are holes, rather worne out, then made;
Whose every tooth to a severall place is gone,
To vexe their soules at Resurrection;
Name not these living Deaths-heads unto mee,
For these, not Ancient, but Antique be.
45I hate extreames; yet I had rather stay
With Tombs, then Cradles, to weare out a day.
Since such loves naturall lation is, may still
My love descend, and journey downe the hill,
Not panting after growing beauties, so,
50I shall ebbe out with them, who home-ward goe.
Eleg. IX. The Autumnall. 1635-54: Elegie. The Autumnall. 1633: Elegie IX. 1669: Elegie. A18, N, TCC, TCD: Elegie Autumnall. D, H40, H49, JC, Lec: An autumnall face: On the Ladie Sr Edward Herbart mothers Ladie Danvers. B: On the Lady Herbert afterwards Danvers. O'F: Widdow. M, P: A Paradox of an ould Woman. S: Elegie Autumnall on the Lady Shandoys. S96: no title, L74
1 Summer 1633: Summers 1635-69
2 face. Ed: face, 1633-69
3 our love, 1633, D, H49, Lec, S: our Loves, 1669: your love, 1635-54, A18, A25, B, H40, L74, M, N, O'F, P, S96, TC
6 Affection ... takes A18, A25, B, D, H40, H49, L74, Lec, M, N, P, S, S96, TC: Affections ... take 1633-69, JC, O'F
8 shee's 1635-69, A18, A25, B, D, H40, H49, JC, L74, Lec, M, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC: they'are 1633
10 tolerable 1633, D, H40, H49, Lec, S: habitable 1635-69, A18, A25, L74, M, N, O'F, P, TC
14 for 1633: or 1635-69
15 Love] love 1633
22 Where] Where's O'F, S
23 unto all] to all her P
24 Counsaile, Ed: counsaile, 1633-54: counsails 1669
26 enrages] bringes D, H49: breeds Lec
27 seasonabliest, 1633: seasonablest, 1635-69
28 past.] past; 1633
30 large 1633: old 1635-69
37 not] noe several MSS.
38 soules sacke; 1633, 1669, and MSS.: fooles sack; 1635-54
40 made; Ed: made 1633-54: made, 1669
42 their soules] the soul 1669
43 Deaths-heads 1633: Death-heads 1635-69, Chambers: death-shades H40
44 Ancient, ... Antique 1633, 1669, D, H49, Lec: Ancients, ... Antiques 1635-54, B, O'F, S: ancient ... antiques A18, A25, H40, L74, M, N, TC
be. Ed: be; 1633
46 a] the 1669, M, P
47 naturall lation A18, A25, B, D, H40, H49, L74, M, N, P, S, TC (sometimes thus, natural-lation): motion naturall 1633: naturall station 1635-69, Lec, O'F
50 ebbe out 1633: ebbe on 1635-69, A18, A25, B, D, H40, H49, JC, L74, Lec, M, N, O'F, P, S, TC