6

Letter To Sir Henry Goodyere

Stanzas II, III, IV, and a few words from Stanza V, are prefixed as the motto to Essay XV of The Friend, 1818, i. 179; 1850, i. 136.

For Stanza II, line 3—

But he which dwells there is not so; for he
With him who dwells there 'tis not so; for he

For Stanza III—

So had your body her morning, hath her noon,
And shall not better, her next change is night:
But her fair larger guest, t'whom sun and moon
Are sparks, and short liv'd, claims another right.—

The motto reads:

Our bodies had their morning, have their noon,
And shall not better—the next change is night,
But their fair larger guest, t'whom sun and moon
Are sparks and short liv'd, claims another right.

The alteration was first noted in 1837. In 1850 line 3 of Stanza III 'fair' is misprinted 'far'.

7

BEN JONSON

A Nymph's Passion

I love, and he loves me again,
Yet dare I not tell who;
For if the nymphs should know my swain,
I fear they'd love him too;
Yet if it be not known, 5
The pleasure is as good as none,
For that's a narrow joy is but our own.

I'll tell, that if they be not glad,
They yet may envy me;
But then if I grow jealous mad, 10
And of them pitied be,
It were a plague 'bove scorn,
And yet it cannot be forborne,
Unless my heart would, as my thought, be torn.

He is, if they can find him, fair, 15
And fresh and fragrant too,
As summer's sky or purged air,
And looks as lilies do
That are this morning blown;
Yet, yet I doubt he is not known, 20
And fear much more, that more of him be shown.

But he hath eyes so round and bright,
As make away my doubt,
Where Love may all his torches light
Though hate had put them out; 25
But then, t'increase my fears,
What nymph soe'er his voice but hears,
Will be my rival, though she have but ears.

I'll tell no more, and yet I love,
And he loves me; yet no 30
One unbecoming thought doth move
From either heart, I know;
But so exempt from blame,
As it would be to each a fame,
If love or fear would let me tell his name. 35

Underwoods No. V.

Mutual Passion

Altered and Modernized From an Old Poet

I love, and he loves me again,
Yet dare I not tell who:
For if the nymphs should know my swain,
I fear they'd love him too.
Yet while my joy's unknown, 5
Its rosy buds are but half-blown:
What no one with me shares, seems scarce my own.

[[1119]]I'll tell, that if they be not glad,
They yet may envy me:
But then if I grow jealous mad, 10
And of them pitied be,
'Twould vex me worse than scorn!
And yet it cannot be forborn,
Unless my heart would like my thoughts be torn.

He is, if they can find him, fair 15
And fresh, and fragrant too;
As after rain the summer air,
And looks as lilies do,
That are this morning blown!
Yet, yet I doubt, he is not known, 20
Yet, yet I fear to have him fully shewn.

But he hath eyes so large, and bright.
Which none can see, and doubt
That Love might thence his torches light
Tho' Hate had put them out! 25
But then to raise my fears,
His voice—what maid so ever hears
Will be my rival, tho' she have but ears.

I'll tell no more! yet I love him,
And ho loves me; yet so, 30
That never one low wish did dim
Our love's pure light, I know—
In each so free from blame,
That both of us would gain new fame,
If love's strong fears would let me tell his name! 35

First published in The Courier, September 21, 1811; included in the supplementary sheet to Sibylline Leaves; reprinted in Essays on His Own Times, iii. 995, 996, and in the Appendix to P. W., 1863. It was first pointed out by W. E. Henley that 'Mutual Passion' is an adaptation of 'A Nymph's Passion', No. V of Ben Jonson's Underwoods.