Steal some star out of the sky,5
Rob the phœnix, and the east
Of her wealthy sweets divest,
To enrich her breath or eye!
We thy borrow’d pride despise:
For this wine to which we are10
Votaries, is richer far
Than her cheek, or breath, or eyes.
And should that coy fair one view
These diviner beauties, she
In this flame would rival thee,15
And be taught to love thee too.
Come, then, break thy wanton chain,
That when this brisk wine hath spread
On thy paler cheek a red,
Thou, like us, may’st Love disdain.20
Love, thy power must yield to wine!
And whilst thus ourselves we arm,
Boldly we defy thy charm:
For these flames extinguish[20:1] thine.
I go, dear Saint, away,
Snatch’d from thy arms
By far less pleasing charms,
Than those I did[21:1] obey;
But if hereafter thou shalt know5
That grief hath kill’d me, come,[21:2]
And on my tomb
Drop, drop a tear or two;
Break with thy sighs the silence of my sleep,
And I shall smile in death to see thee weep.10
Thy tears may have the power
To reinspire
My ashes with new fire,
Or change me to some flower,
Which, planted ’twixt thy breasts, shall grow:15
Veil’d in this shape, I will
Dwell with thee still,
Court, kiss, enjoy thee too:
Securely we’ll contemn[21:3] all envious force,
And thus united be by death’s divorce.20