You that unto your mistress’ eyes
Your hearts do sacrifice,
And offer sighs or tears at Love’s rich shrine,
Renounce with me
Th’ idolatry,5
Nor this infernal power esteem divine!
The brand, the quiver, and the bow,
Which we did first bestow,
And he as tribute wears from every lover,
I back again10
From him have ta’en,
And the impostor now unveil’d discover.
I can the feeble Child disarm,
Untie his mystic charm,
Divest him of his wings, and break his arrow;15
We will obey
No more his sway,
Nor live confin’d to laws or bounds so narrow
And you, bright Beauties, that inspire
The Boy’s pale torch with fire,20
We safely now your subtle power despise,
And unscorch’d may,
Like atoms, play
And wanton in the sunshine of your eyes.
Nor think hereafter by new arts25
You can bewitch our hearts,
Or raise this devil by your pleasing charm:
We will no more
His power implore,
Unless, like Indians, that he do no harm.30
The Divorce.
Dear, back my wounded heart restore,
And turn away thy powerful eyes;
Flatter my willing soul no more:
Love must not[46:1] hope what Fate denies.
Take, take away thy smiles and kisses!5
Thy love wounds deeper than disdain;
For he that sees the heaven he misses,
Sustains two hells of loss and pain.
Shouldst thou some other’s suit prefer,
I might return thy scorn to thee,10
And learn apostasy of her
Who taught me, first, idolatry.[46:2]