Drawn by the powerful[32:4] influence
Of thy bright eyes, I back return;
And since I nowhere can dispense
With flames that[32:5] do in absence burn,10
I rather choose ’twixt[32:6] them t’expire,
Than languish by a hidden fire.
But if thou th’[32:7] insulting pride
Of vulgar beauties dost despise,
Who, by vain triumphs deified,15
Their votaries do sacrifice,
Then let those flames, whose magic charm
At distance scorch’d, approach’d, but warm.
Chang’d, Yet Constant.
Wrong me no more
In thy complaint,
Blam’d for inconstancy:
I vow’d t’ adore
The fairest Saint,5
Nor chang’d whilst thou wert she:
But if another thee outshine,
Th’ inconstancy is only thine!
To be by such
Blind fools admir’d10
Gives thee but small esteem,
By whom as much
Thou’dst be desir’d,
Didst thou less beauteous seem.
Sure, why they love they know not well,15
Who why they should not, cannot tell!
Women are by
Themselves betray’d,
And to their short joys cruel,
Who foolishly20
Themselves persuade
Flames can outlast their fuel;
None (though platonic their pretence),
With reason love, unless by sense.
And he,[33:1] by whose25
Command to thee
I did my heart resign,
Now bids me choose
A deity
Diviner far than thine;30
No power can Love from Beauty sever:
I’m still Love’s subject; thine was, never.
The fairest she
Whom none surpass,
To love hath only right;35
And such to me
Thy beauty was,
Till one I found more bright;
But ’twere as impious to adore
Thee now, as not to have done ’t before.40
Nor is it just
By rules of Love,
Thou shouldst deny to quit
A heart that must
Another’s prove45
Even in thy right to it;
Must not thy subjects captives be
To her who triumphs over thee?