A fair of love we kept a while:
She for each word I said
Gave me two smiles, and for each smile
I her two kisses paid.
The violet, made haste to appear
To be her bosom-guest,
With first primrose that grew this year,
I purchased for[41] her breast:
To me
Gave she
Her golden lock for mine;
My ring of jet,
For her bracelet,
I gave my Valentine.
Subscribed with a line of love,
My name for her I wrote;
In silk for me her name she wove
Whereto this was her mot,[42]
"As shall this year thy truth appear,
I still, my dear, am thine";
"Your mate today, and love for aye,
If you so say," was mine.
While thus
On us
Each other's favours shine,
"No more have we
To change," quoth she,
"Now farewell, Valentine."
"Alas," said I, "let friends not seem
Between themselves so strange;
The jewels both we dear'st esteem
You know are yet to change."
She answers, "No," yet smiles as though
Her tongue her thought denies;
Who truth of maiden's mind will know
Must seek it in her eyes.
She blush'd,
I wish'd
Her heart as free as mine,
She sight[43] and sware
"In sooth you are
Too wanton, Valentine."
Yet I such further favour won
By suit and pleasing play,
She vow'd what now was left undone
Should finish'd be in May;
And though perplex'd with such delay
As more augments desire,
'Twixt present grief and promised joy,
I from my mate retire:
If she
To me
Preserve her vows divine
And constant troth,
She shall be both
My love and Valentine.
From Rawlinson MS. Poet. 206.
On a Watch Sent to a Gentlewoman.[44]
GO and count her better hours,
They more happy are than ours.
The day that gives her any bliss
Make it again as long as 'tis;
The hour she smiles, O let that be
By thy art increased to three.
But if she frown on thee or me,
Know night is made by her not thee:
Be swift in such an hour and soon
Make it night though it be noon,
And stay her times who is the free
Fair sun that governs thee and me.
From Wit Restored, 1658.
A Song to his Mistress.