ELEGIE XVI.
On his Mistris.
BY our first strange and fatall interview,
By all desires which thereof did ensue,
By our long starving hopes, by that remorse
Which my words masculine perswasive force
5Begot in thee, and by the memory
Of hurts, which spies and rivals threatned me,
I calmly beg: But by thy fathers wrath,
By all paines, which want and divorcement hath,
I conjure thee, and all the oathes which I
10And thou have sworne to seale joynt constancy,
Here I unsweare, and overswear them thus,
Thou shalt not love by wayes so dangerous.
Temper, ô faire Love, loves impetuous rage,
Be my true Mistris still, not my faign'd Page;
15I'll goe, and, by thy kinde leave, leave behinde
Thee, onely worthy to nurse in my minde,
Thirst to come backe; ô if thou die before,
My soule from other lands to thee shall soare.
Thy (else Almighty) beautie cannot move
20Rage from the Seas, nor thy love teach them love,
Nor tame wilde Boreas harshnesse; Thou hast reade
How roughly hee in peeces shivered
Faire Orithea, whom he swore he lov'd.
Fall ill or good, 'tis madnesse to have prov'd
25Dangers unurg'd; Feed on this flattery,
That absent Lovers one in th'other be.
Dissemble nothing, not a boy, nor change
Thy bodies habite, nor mindes; bee not strange
To thy selfe onely; All will spie in thy face
30A blushing womanly discovering grace;
Richly cloath'd Apes, are call'd Apes, and as soone
Ecclips'd as bright we call the Moone the Moone.
Men of France, changeable Camelions,
Spittles of diseases, shops of fashions,
35Loves fuellers, and the rightest company
Of Players, which upon the worlds stage be,
Will quickly know thee, and no lesse, alas!
Th'indifferent Italian, as we passe
His warme land, well content to thinke thee Page,
40Will hunt thee with such lust, and hideous rage,
As Lots faire guests were vext. But none of these
Nor spungy hydroptique Dutch shall thee displease,
If thou stay here. O stay here, for, for thee
England is onely a worthy Gallerie,
45To walke in expectation, till from thence
Our greatest King call thee to his presence.
When I am gone, dreame me some happinesse,
Nor let thy lookes our long hid love confesse,
Nor praise, nor dispraise me, nor blesse nor curse
50Openly loves force, nor in bed fright thy Nurse
With midnights startings, crying out, oh, oh
Nurse, ô my love is slaine, I saw him goe
O'r the white Alpes alone; I saw him I,
Assail'd, fight, taken, stabb'd, bleed, fall, and die.
55Augure me better chance, except dread Iove
Thinke it enough for me to'have had thy love.
Elegie XVI. &c. Ed: Elegie on his Mistris. 1635-54 where, and in 1669, it appears among Funerall Elegies: Elegie. 1669: among Elegies with or without heading or number, A18, A25, B, D, H49, JC, Lec, M, N, O'F, P, S, TCC, TCD, W: B heads His wife would have gone as his page.
1 interview, Ed: interview 1635-69
3 starving] striving 1669, B, P: starvling A18, N, TC
7 beg: D: beg. 1635-69
fathers 1635-69, O'F: Parents A18, A25, B, D, H49, JC, Lec, M, N, P, S, TC, W
11 Here I] I here 1669
12 wayes 1635-54, O'F: means 1669, and rest of MSS.
14 still ... faign'd] 1669 om. still and reads faigned
18 My soule ... to thee] From other lands my soule towards thee A18, A25, B, D, H49, JC, Lec, M(to), N, P, S, TC, W
soare. Ed: soare, 1635-69
21 harshness] rashness P. Compare Elegy V, 8
23 Faire Orithea] The fair Orithea 1669
26 Lovers] friends P
28 mindes; A18, A25, B, JC, N, TC, W: minde, 1635-69, D, H49, Lec, O'F, P
29 onely; A18, D, N, TC: onely. 1635-69
35 Loves fuellers,] Lyves fuellers, 1669, B, D, H49, JC, Lec, S96, P
37 Will quickly know thee, and no lesse, alas! 1635-54, O'F: Will too too quickly know thee; and alas, 1669: Will quickly know thee, and know thee, and alas A18, N, S (omitting second and), TCD, W: Will quickly know thee, and thee, and alas A25: Will quickly know thee, and alas D, H49, JC, Lec, P, S96, TCC
39 Page, Ed: Page 1635-39
40 hunt 1635-69, O'F: haunt most MSS.
42 hydroptique] Aydroptique 1669
46 greatest 1635-69, B, O'F, P: greate A18, A25, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, S, TC
call] doe call A18, N, TC
to] in to A25, JC, S
49 me, nor blesse] me; Blesse A18, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, TC, W
ELEGIE XVII.
Variety.
THE heavens rejoyce in motion, why should I
Abjure my so much lov'd variety,
And not with many youth and love divide?
Pleasure is none, if not diversifi'd:
5The sun that sitting in the chaire of light
Sheds flame into what else so ever doth seem bright,
Is not contented at one Signe to Inne,
But ends his year and with a new beginnes.
All things doe willingly in change delight,
10The fruitfull mother of our appetite:
Rivers the clearer and more pleasing are,
Where their fair spreading streames run wide and farr;
And a dead lake that no strange bark doth greet,
Corrupts it self and what doth live in it.
15Let no man tell me such a one is faire,
And worthy all alone my love to share.
Nature in her hath done the liberall part
Of a kinde Mistresse, and imploy'd her art
To make her loveable, and I aver
20Him not humane that would turn back from her:
I love her well, and would, if need were, dye
To doe her service. But followes it that I
Must serve her onely, when I may have choice
Of other beauties, and in change rejoice?
25The law is hard, and shall not have my voice.
The last I saw in all extreames is faire,
And holds me in the Sun-beames of her haire;
Her nymph-like features such agreements have
That I could venture with her to the grave:
30Another's brown, I like her not the worse,
Her tongue is soft and takes me with discourse.
Others, for that they well descended are,
Do in my love obtain as large a share;
And though they be not fair, 'tis much with mee
35To win their love onely for their degree.
And though I faile of my required ends,
The attempt is glorious and it self commends.
How happy were our Syres in ancient times,
Who held plurality of loves no crime!
40With them it was accounted charity
To stirre up race of all indifferently;
Kindreds were not exempted from the bands:
Which with the Persian still in usage stands.
Women were then no sooner asked then won,
45And what they did was honest and well done.
But since this title honour hath been us'd,
Our weake credulity hath been abus'd;
The golden laws of nature are repeald,
Which our first Fathers in such reverence held;
50Our liberty's revers'd, our Charter's gone,
And we're made servants to opinion,
A monster in no certain shape attir'd,
And whose originall is much desir'd,
Formlesse at first, but goeing on it fashions,
55And doth prescribe manners and laws to nations.
Here love receiv'd immedicable harmes,
And was dispoiled of his daring armes.
A greater want then is his daring eyes,
He lost those awfull wings with which he flies;
60His sinewy bow, and those immortall darts
Wherewith he'is wont to bruise resisting hearts.
Onely some few strong in themselves and free
Retain the seeds of antient liberty,
Following that part of Love although deprest,
65And make a throne for him within their brest,
In spight of modern censures him avowing
Their Soveraigne, all service him allowing.
Amongst which troop although I am the least,
Yet equall in perfection with the best,
70I glory in subjection of his hand,
Nor ever did decline his least command:
For in whatever forme the message came
My heart did open and receive the same.
But time will in his course a point discry
75When I this loved service must deny,
For our allegiance temporary is,
With firmer age returnes our liberties.
What time in years and judgement we repos'd,
Shall not so easily be to change dispos'd,
80Nor to the art of severall eyes obeying;
But beauty with true worth securely weighing,
Which being found assembled in some one,
Wee'l love her ever, and love her alone.
Elegie XVII. Variety. Ed: printed for first time without title in appendix to 1650 and so in 1669 and 1719: An Elegie. A10: Elegie 17the. JC
1 motion, why Ed: motion why, 1650-69
3 love divide? MSS.: lov'd divide? 1650-69
4 diversifi'd: Ed: diversifi'd 1650-69
6 what else so ever doth seem 1650-69: what else is not so A10
12 fair-spreading 1650-69, JC: broad silver A10
and farr; A10, JC: and cleare; 1650-69
14 it self and 1650-69: it self, kills A10
16 And only worthy to be past compare; A10
19 aver] ever 1650-69
20 would turn back from 1650-69: could not fancy A10
24 Of other beauties, and in change rejoice? A10: om. 1650-69
25-36 omitted in A10
30 brown, Ed: brown 1650-69
32 are JC: were 1650-69
39 crime! Ed: crime? 1650-69
43 Persian 1650-54, JC: Persians 1669, A10
46 title A10, JC: little 1650-69
50 liberty's Ed: liberty 1650-69, JC
revers'd, our A10: revers'd and 1650-69, JC
51 we're A10: we 1650-69, JC
53 whose originall 1650-69, JC: one whose origin A10
54 goeing on it fashions A10: growing on it fashions JC: growing on its fashions, 1650-69
55 manners and laws to 1650-69, JC: Lawes, Manners unto A10
57 armes. A10: armes, 1650-69
58 is 1650-69: of A10
61 bruise 1650-69 wound A10
hearts. Ed: hearts; 1650-69
63 seeds of antient 1650-69, JC: seed of pristine A10
64 Love] love 1650-69
70 of his 1650-69: under's A10
71 Nor ... decline 1650-69: Never declining from A10
72-7 omitted in A10
73 same. Ed: same: 1650-69: flame JC
75 deny, Ed: deny. 1650-69
79 dispos'd, Ed: dispos'd 1650-69
80 obeying; Ed: obeying, 1650-69
81 securely 1650-69: unpartially A10
82 being 1650-69: having A10
one, Ed: one 1650-69
83 Wee'l love her ever, Ed: Wee'l leave her ever, 1650-69, JC: Would love for ever, A10
ELEGIE XVIII.
Loves Progress.
WHO ever loves, if he do not propose
The right true end of love, he's one that goes
To sea for nothing but to make him sick:
Love is a bear-whelp born, if we o're lick
5Our love, and force it new strange shapes to take,
We erre, and of a lump a monster make.
Were not a Calf a monster that were grown
Face'd like a man, though better then his own?
Perfection is in unitie: preferr
10One woman first, and then one thing in her.
I, when I value gold, may think upon
The ductilness, the application,
The wholsomness, the ingenuitie,
From rust, from soil, from fire ever free:
15But if I love it, 'tis because 'tis made
By our new nature (Use) the soul of trade.
All these in women we might think upon
(If women had them) and yet love but one.
Can men more injure women then to say
20They love them for that, by which they're not they?
Makes virtue woman? must I cool my bloud
Till I both be, and find one wise and good?
May barren Angels love so. But if we
Make love to woman; virtue is not she:
25As beauty'is not nor wealth: He that strayes thus
From her to hers, is more adulterous,
Then if he took her maid. Search every spheare
And firmament, our Cupid is not there:
He's an infernal god and under ground,
30With Pluto dwells, where gold and fire abound:
Men to such Gods, their sacrificing Coles
Did not in Altars lay, but pits and holes.
Although we see Celestial bodies move
Above the earth, the earth we Till and love:
35So we her ayres contemplate, words and heart,
And virtues; but we love the Centrique part.
Nor is the soul more worthy, or more fit
For love, then this, as infinite as it.
But in attaining this desired place
40How much they erre; that set out at the face?
The hair a Forest is of Ambushes,
Of springes, snares, fetters and manacles:
The brow becalms us when 'tis smooth and plain,
And when 'tis wrinckled, shipwracks us again.
45Smooth, 'tis a Paradice, where we would have
Immortal stay, and wrinkled 'tis our grave.
The Nose (like to the first Meridian) runs
Not 'twixt an East and West, but 'twixt two suns;
It leaves a Cheek, a rosie Hemisphere
50On either side, and then directs us where
Upon the Islands fortunate we fall,
(Not faynte Canaries, but Ambrosiall)
Her swelling lips; To which when wee are come,
We anchor there, and think our selves at home,
55For they seem all: there Syrens songs, and there
Wise Delphick Oracles do fill the ear;
There in a Creek where chosen pearls do swell,
The Remora, her cleaving tongue doth dwell.
These, and the glorious Promontory, her Chin
60Ore past; and the streight Hellespont betweene
The Sestos and Abydos of her breasts,
(Not of two Lovers, but two Loves the neasts)
Succeeds a boundless sea, but yet thine eye
Some Island moles may scattered there descry;
65And Sailing towards her India, in that way
Shall at her fair Atlantick Navell stay;
Though thence the Current be thy Pilot made,
Yet ere thou be where thou wouldst be embay'd,
Thou shalt upon another Forest set,
70Where many Shipwrack, and no further get.
When thou art there, consider what this chace
Mispent by thy beginning at the face.
Rather set out below; practice my Art,
Some Symetry the foot hath with that part
75Which thou dost seek, and is thy Map for that
Lovely enough to stop, but not stay at:
Least subject to disguise and change it is;
Men say the Devil never can change his.
It is the Emblem that hath figured
80Firmness; 'tis the first part that comes to bed.
Civilitie we see refin'd: the kiss
Which at the face began, transplanted is,
Since to the hand, since to the Imperial knee,
Now at the Papal foot delights to be:
85If Kings think that the nearer way, and do
Rise from the foot, Lovers may do so too;
For as free Spheres move faster far then can
Birds, whom the air resists, so may that man
Which goes this empty and Ætherial way,
90Then if at beauties elements he stay.
Rich Nature hath in women wisely made
Two purses, and their mouths aversely laid:
They then, which to the lower tribute owe,
That way which that Exchequer looks, must go:
95He which doth not, his error is as great,
As who by Clyster gave the Stomack meat.
Elegie XVIII. &c. Ed: Elegie XVIII. 1669, where it is first included among the Elegies. It had already been printed in Wit and Drollery. By Sir J. M., J. S., Sir W. D., J. D., and the most refined Wits of the Age. 1661. It appears in A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, S, S96, TC, with title Loves Progress., or Elegie. on Loves Progresse., or with no title
4 Love is a 1669: And Love's a MSS.
5 strange 1661 and MSS.: strong 1669
11 I,] I 1669
14 ever 1669: for ever O'F, S, S96
16 (our new nature) use, 1661
17 these 1669 and MSS.: this 1661, Cy, P, Chambers
20 them] om. 1661
25 beauty'is not 1661 and MSS.: beauties no 1669
thus] thus: 1669
27 Then if he took] Then he that took 1661, B (takes), Cy, O'F, P, S
spheare] sphear 1669
30 abound: Ed: abound, 1669
32 in A18, B, D, H49, Lec, N, TC: on 1669, A25
holes.] holes: 1669
38 infinite] infinit 1669
40 erre 1661-69, S, S96: stray A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, N, O'F, P, TC
42 springes, H49 and some MSS.: springs, 1669
46 and 1661, A18, A25, B, C, D, H49, Lec, N, P, S96, TC: but 1669
our 1661, MSS.: a 1669
47 first Meridian 1661 and MSS.: sweet Meridian 1669.
52-3 (Not ... Ambrosiall) ... lips &c. 1661 and MSS. (not always with brackets and sometimes with No for Not and Canary): Not ... Ambrosiall. Unto her swelling lips when we are come, 1669
55 For they seem all: there 1669, A18, B, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, S, TC: For they sing all their 1661, Cy, P
57 There 1661 and MSS.: Then 1669
swell, Ed: swell 1669
58 Rhemora 1669
59 the glorious Promontory,] brackets and no comma, 1669
60 Ore past; ... betweene 1661 and MSS.: Being past the Straits of Hellespont between 1669
62 Loves] loves 1669
63 yet] that D, H49, Lec, and other MSS.
65 Sailing] Sailng 1669
66 Navell] Naval 1669
67 thence A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, Lec, O'F, S, S96, TC: there 1661-9, N(?): hence P
thy all MSS.: the 1661-9
68 wouldst A18, A25, B, Cy, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC: shouldst 1669
70 many 1669: some doe A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, P
73 my 1669, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCD: thy Chambers: thine A18, TCC
80 the] bis 1669
81-2 Civilitie, we see, refin'd the kisse Which at the face begonne, transplanted is D, H49, Lec
83 Imperial] imperial 1669
86 too;] too. 1669
90 elements 1661 and MSS.: enemies 1669
91 hath] Chambers omits
93 owe,] owe 1669
96 Clyster gave A18, D, H49, Lec, N, TC: glister gives 1669
ELEGIE XIX.
Going to Bed.
C OME, Madam, come, all rest my powers defie,
Until I labour, I in labour lie.
The foe oft-times having the foe in sight,
Is tir'd with standing though he never fight.
5Off with that girdle, like heavens Zone glittering,
But a far fairer world incompassing.
Unpin that spangled breastplate which you wear,
That th'eyes of busie fooles may be stopt there.
Unlace your self, for that harmonious chyme,
10Tells me from you, that now it is bed time.
Off with that happy busk, which I envie,
That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off, such beautious state reveals,
As when from flowry meads th'hills shadow steales.
15Off with that wyerie Coronet and shew
The haiery Diademe which on you doth grow:
Now off with those shooes, and then safely tread
In this loves hallow'd temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven's Angels us'd to be
20Receavd by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee
A heaven like Mahomets Paradise; and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easly know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,
Those set our hairs, but these our flesh upright.
25Licence my roaving hands, and let them go,
Before, behind, between, above, below.
O my America! my new-found-land,
My kingdome, safliest when with one man man'd,
My Myne of precious stones, My Emperie,
30How blest am I in this discovering thee!
To enter in these bonds, is to be free;
Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be.
Full nakedness! All joyes are due to thee,
As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth'd must be,
35To taste whole joyes. Gems which you women use
Are like Atlanta's balls, cast in mens views,
That when a fools eye lighteth on a Gem,
His earthly soul may covet theirs, not them.
Like pictures, or like books gay coverings made
40For lay-men, are all women thus array'd;
Themselves are mystick books, which only wee
(Whom their imputed grace will dignifie)
Must see reveal'd. Then since that I may know;
As liberally, as to a Midwife, shew
45Thy self: cast all, yea, this white lynnen hence,
There is no pennance due to innocence.
To teach thee, I am naked first; why than
What needst thou have more covering then a man.
Elegie XIX. &c. Ed: in 1669, A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC, TCD, W
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but with the heading To his Mistris going to Bed. The MSS. include it among the Elegies either with no heading, or simply Elegye, or numbered according to the scheme adopted: B gives title which I have adopted as consistent with other titles
4 he 1669: they A18, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, TC
5 glittering] glistering MSS.
8 That I may see my shrine that shines so fair. Cy, P
10 it is 1669: 'tis your MSS.
11 which] whom A18, D, H49, L74, Lec, S, TC, W
14 from MSS.: through 1669
shadow] shadows 1669
16 Diademe ... grow: A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, TC: Diadem which on your head doth grow: 1669: Diadems which on you do grow. S, Chambers
17 Now ... shooes, 1669, JC, W: Off ... shoes A18, D, H49, Lec, N, TC: Off with those hose and shoes S
safely A18, A25, B, L74, N, O'F, S, S96, TC, W: softly 1669, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, P
20 Receavd by men; Thou all MSS.: Reveal'd to men; thou 1669
21 Paradise; Ed: Paradice, 1669
22 Ill 1669, A18, D, H49, L74, Lec, N, S, S96, TC, W: All B, O'F, P, and Chambers' conjecture
spirits 1669, A18, B, D, H49, N, S: angels O'F, S96
white, Ed: white; 1669
26 below. Ed: below, 1669
28 kingdome, MSS.: Kingdom's 1669
safeliest A18, D, H49, Lec, N, TC: safest, 1669
man'd, Ed: man'd. 1669
29 stones, Ed: stones: 1669
30 How blest am I all MSS.: How am I blest 1669
this A18, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F, P, TC, W: thus 1669, A25, L74, S
discovering] discovery B, O'F
thee! Ed: thee? 1669
be.] be, 1669
35 Gems] Jems 1669: and so 37
36 like 1669: as MSS.
balls, MSS.: ball: 1669
38 covet A18, A25, B, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, TC, W: court 1669, Cy, P, S, S96
theirs, A18, A25, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, P, S96, TC, W: those S: that, 1669, B, O'F
them.] them: 1669
39 pictures, Ed: pictures 1669
made Ed: made, 1669
40 lay-men, Ed: lay-men 1669
array'd; Ed: arrayed 1669
41 Themselves ... only wee A18, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC, W: Themselves are only mystick books, which we, 1669, B
43 see] be A18, A25, D, H49, Lec, N, TC
reveal'd] revealed 1669
44 a all MSS.: thy 1669
Midwife, Ed: Midwife 1669
45 hence, Ed: hence 1669
46 pennance due to innocence. 1669, B, Cy, JC, O'F, P, S: pennance, much less innocence; A18, A25, D, H49, L74, Lec, N, S96, W
47 thee, Ed: thee 1669
first; Ed: first, 1669