No More Learning

When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veines fill
Adde one more to the plaguie Bill? 15
Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.

Call us what you will, wee are made such by love;
Call her one, mee another flye, 20
We'are Tapers too, and at our owne cost die,
And wee in us finde the'Eagle and the Dove.
The Phœnix ridle hath more wit
By us, we two being one, are it.
So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit, 25
Wee dye and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.

Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombes and hearse
Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse; 30
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes;
As well a well wrought urne becomes
The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes,
And by these hymnes, all shall approve 35
Us _Canoniz'd_ for Love:

And thus invoke us; You whom reverend love
Made one anothers hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove 40
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize,)
Countries, Townes, Courts: Beg from above
A patterne of your love! 45


[The Canonization. _1633-39_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Canonization. _1650-69_, _S:_
Canonizatio. _S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_]

[3 five _1633_, _1669:_ true _1635-54_

fortune] fortunes _1669_]

[4 improve, _1650-69:_ improve _1633-39_]

[7 reall] Roiall _Lec_]

[14 veines] reynes _1669_]

[15 more, _1633-54_, _Lec:_ man _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[17 which] whom _1669_]

[18 Though] While _1669_]

[22 Dove. _Ed:_ dove, _1633-69_]

[24 are it. _1633-69:_ are it; _Chambers and Grolier_]

[25 So _1650-69:_ So, _1633-39_. _See note_

fit, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fit. _1633-69_. _See note_]

[29 tombes and _1633-54:_ tomb or _1669_]

[30 legend] legends _1633_]

[35 these _1633:_ those _1635-69_]

[36 Love:] Love. _1633_]

[39 rage; _Ed:_ rage, _1633-69_]

[40 contract] extract _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_]

[41 eyes _1633-69:_ eyes; _Chambers_]

[42-3 _brackets_, _Ed_]

[44 Courts: Beg] Courts Beg _1669:_ courts beg _Chambers_.
_See note_

from] frow _1633_]

[45 your _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S96_, _TC:_ our _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_

love! _Ed:_ love. _1633-69_]




_The triple Foole. _

I am two fooles, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining Poëtry;
But where's that wiseman, that would not be I,
If she would not deny? 5
Then as th'earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretfull salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my paines,
Through Rimes vexation, I should them allay,
Griefe brought to numbers cannot be so fierce, 10
For, he tames it, that fetters it in verse.

But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth Set and sing my paine,
And, by delighting many, frees againe 15
Griefe, which verse did restraine.
To Love, and Griefe tribute of Verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when'tis read,
Both are increased by such songs:
For both their triumphs so are published, 20
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee.


[The triple Foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Song _or no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]

[4 the wiser man, _1669_]

[5 If he should not deny? _P_]

[6 narrow _om. _ _P:_ crooked _om. _ _B_

lanes] vaines _Cy_, _P_]

[9 allay, _1633-39:_ allay. _1650-69_, _Chambers_]

[10 numbers] number _1669_]

[11 For, he tames it] He tames it much _B_]

[13 and] or _1669_]




_Lovers infinitenesse. _

If yet I have not all thy love,
Deare, I shall never have it all,
I cannot breath one other sigh, to move,
Nor can intreat one other teare to fall,
And all my treasure, which should purchase thee, 5
Sighs, teares, and oathes, and letters I have spent.
Yet no more can be due to mee,
Then at the bargaine made was ment,
If then thy gift of love were partiall,
That some to mee, some should to others fall, 10
Deare, I shall never have Thee All.

Or if then thou gavest mee all,
All was but All, which thou hadst then;
But if in thy heart, since, there be or shall,
New love created bee, by other men, 15
Which have their stocks intire, and can in teares,
In sighs, in oathes, and letters outbid mee,
This new love may beget new feares,
For, this love was not vowed by thee.
And yet it was, thy gift being generall, 20
The ground, thy heart is mine, what ever shall
Grow there, deare, I should have it all.

Yet I would not have all yet,
Hee that hath all can have no more,
And since my love doth every day admit 25
New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store;
Thou canst not every day give me thy heart,
If thou canst give it, then thou never gavest it:
Loves riddles are, that though thy heart depart,
It stayes at home, and thou with losing savest it: 30
But wee will have a way more liberall,
Then changing hearts, to joyne them, so wee shall
Be one, and one anothers All.


[Lovers infinitenesse. _1633-69:_ Mon Tout. _A25_, _C:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_
Elegie. _S96_

_Query_ Loves infinitenesse. ]

[3 move, _Ed:_ move; _1633-69_]

[4 fall, _Ed:_ fall. _1633:_ fall; _1635-69_]

[6 teares,] teares _1633_

spent. _Ed:_ spent, _1633-69 and Grolier:_ spent; _Chambers_]

[8 Then _1633-35_, _1669:_ That _1639-54_]

[9 were] was _1669_

partiall] generall _A25_, _C_]

[11 Thee _1633:_ It _1635-69_ (it _1669_)]

[12 gavest] givest _1669_]

[13 then; _1635-54:_ then, _1633_]

[17 and letters _1633:_ in letters _1635-69_]

[19 thee. _1639-69:_ thee, _1633-35_]

[20 it] is _1633_]

[21 is _1633_, _1669:_ was _1635-54_]

[25-6 And since my heart doth every day beget New love, _&c. _
_A25_. ]

[29-30

Except mine come when thine doth part
And in such giving it, thou savest it: _A25_, _C_

Perchance mine comes, when thine doth parte,
And by such losing it, _&c. _ _JC_
]

[31 have] love _1669:_ find _A25_, _C_]

[32 them] us _1669_]




_Song. _

Sweetest love, I do not goe,
For wearinesse of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter Love for mee;
But since that I 5
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
To use my selfe in jest
Thus by fain'd deaths to dye;

Yesternight the Sunne went hence,
And yet is here to day, 10
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor halfe so short a way:
Then feare not mee,
But beleeve that I shall make
Speedier journeyes, since I take 15
More wings and spurres then hee.

O how feeble is mans power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot adde another houre,
Nor a lost houre recall! 20
But come bad chance,
And wee joyne to'it our strength,
And wee teach it art and length,
It selfe o'r us to'advance.

When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde, 25
But sigh'st my soule away,
When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde,
My lifes blood doth decay.
It cannot bee
That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st, 30
If in thine my life thou waste,
Thou art the best of mee.

Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
Destiny may take thy part, 35
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
Alive, ne'r parted bee. 40


[Song. _1633-69:_ Song. _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _in A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _this with_ Send
home my long stray'd eyes _and_ The Bait _are given as_ Songs
which were made to certain ayres which were made before. ]

[1-4 _In most MSS. these lines are written as two long lines,
and so with ll. _ 9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36]

[4 mee; _1650-69:_ mee, _1633-39_]

[5-8 But since . . . dye; _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_

At the last must part 'tis best,
Thus to use my selfe in jest
By fained deaths to dye; _1635-54_, _O'F:_
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
Thus to use my self in jest
By fained death to dye; _1669_
]

[15 Speedier] Hastier _1669_]

[20 recall! _Ed:_ recall? _1633-69_]

[25 not wind _1633:_ no wind _1635-69_]

[32 Thou _1633 and MSS. generally:_ That _1635-54:_ Which
_1669_

best _1633-54:_ life _1669_]

[36 may _1633-35_, _1669:_ make _1639-54_

fulfill; _Ed:_ fulfill, _1633-69_]

[38 turn'd] lai'd _1669_]




_The Legacie. _

When I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye
As often as from thee I goe,
Though it be but an houre agoe,
And Lovers houres be full eternity,
I can remember yet, that I 5
Something did say, and something did bestow;
Though I be dead, which sent mee, I should be
Mine owne executor and Legacie.

I heard mee say, Tell her anon,
That my selfe, (that is you, not I,) 10
Did kill me, and when I felt mee dye,
I bid mee send my heart, when I was gone,
But I alas could there finde none,
When I had ripp'd me,'and search'd where hearts did lye;
It kill'd mee againe, that I who still was true, 15
In life, in my last Will should cozen you.

Yet I found something like a heart,
But colours it, and corners had,
It was not good, it was not bad,
It was intire to none, and few had part. 20
As good as could be made by art
It seem'd; and therefore for our losses sad,
I meant to send this heart in stead of mine,
But oh, no man could hold it, for twas thine.


[The Legacie. _1633-69:_ Legacie. _L74:_ Song. _or no title_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96:_ Elegie. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[1 When I dyed last,] When last I dyed, _1669_]

[1-4 (and deare . . . eternity) _Grolier_. ]

[7 sent _1633_, _1669:_ meant _1635-54_

should be] might be _1669_]

[10 that is _1635-69:_ that's _1633:_ _brackets from A18_,
_N_, _TC_]

[13 none, _1633-69:_ none. _Chambers and Grolier_]

[14 When . . . did _1633_, _A25_ (doe), _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96:_ When I had ripp'd, and search'd where
hearts should _1635-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_ lye; _Ed:_
lye, _1633-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]

[18 But] For _1650-69_]

[20 part. _1633-39:_ part: _1650-69_]

[22 seem'd; _Ed:_ seem'd, _1633-69_, _Grolier, and Chambers_

our losses sad, _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S96_, _TC:_ our loss be sad, _1669:_ our loss be ye
sad. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ our losses sad;
_Grolier:_ our loss be sad. _Chambers_]

[23 meant] thought _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_

this _1633:_ that _1635-69_]




_A Feaver. _

Oh doe not die, for I shall hate
All women so, when thou art gone,
That thee I shall not celebrate,
When I remember, thou wast one.

But yet thou canst not die, I know; 5
To leave this world behinde, is death,
But when thou from this world wilt goe,
The whole world vapors with thy breath.

Or if, when thou, the worlds soule, goest,
It stay, tis but thy carkasse then, 10
The fairest woman, but thy ghost,
But corrupt wormes, the worthyest men.

O wrangling schooles, that search what fire
Shall burne this world, had none the wit
Unto this knowledge to aspire, 15
That this her feaver might be it?

And yet she cannot wast by this,
Nor long beare this torturing wrong,
For much corruption needfull is
To fuell such a feaver long. 20

These burning fits but meteors bee,
Whose matter in thee is soone spent.
Thy beauty,'and all parts, which are thee,
Are unchangeable firmament.

Yet t'was of my minde, seising thee, 25
Though it in thee cannot persever.
For I had rather owner bee
Of thee one houre, then all else ever.


[A Feaver. _1633-69_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96:_ Of a
fever. _L74:_ The Fever. _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P:_ Fever. _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _JC_]

[5 know; _Ed:_ know, _1633-69_]

[8 with] in _1669_]

[16 might] must _TCC_]

[18 beare] endure _1669_

torturing] tormenting _JC_, _O'F_ (_corr. from_ torturing)]

[19 For much _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ For more _1635-69_,
_O'F:_ Far more _Cy_, _P_]

[22 is soon] soon is _1669_]

[24 Are] Are an _1669_, _P_, _S96_]

[25 Yet 'twas of _1633-54:_ And here as _1669_]

[27 For] Yet _1669_]




_Aire and Angels. _

Twice or thrice had I loved thee,
Before I knew thy face or name;
So in a voice, so in a shapelesse flame,
_Angells_ affect us oft, and worship'd bee;
Still when, to where thou wert, I came, 5
Some lovely glorious nothing I did see.
But since my soule, whose child love is,
Takes limmes of flesh, and else could nothing doe,
More subtile then the parent is,
Love must not be, but take a body too, 10
And therefore what thou wert, and who,
I bid Love aske, and now
That it assume thy body, I allow,
And fixe it selfe in thy lip, eye, and brow.

Whilst thus to ballast love, I thought, 15
And so more steddily to have gone,
With wares which would sinke admiration,
I saw, I had loves pinnace overfraught,
Ev'ry thy haire for love to worke upon
Is much too much, some fitter must be sought; 20
For, nor in nothing, nor in things
Extreme, and scatt'ring bright, can love inhere;
Then as an Angell, face, and wings
Of aire, not pure as it, yet pure doth weare,
So thy love may be my loves spheare; 25
Just such disparitie
As is twixt Aire and Angells puritie,
'Twixt womens love, and mens will ever bee.


[Aire and Angels. _1633-69_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _B_,
_H40_]

[4 bee; _Ed:_ bee, _1633-69_]

[5 came,] came _1633_]

[6 I did] did I _1669_

see. _Ed:_ see, _1633-69_]

[7 since _Ed:_ since, _1633-69_]

[11 who, _Ed:_ who _1633-69_]

[14 lip, eye,] lips, eyes, _1669_, _Chambers_]

[19 Ev'ry thy _1633-39_, _A18_, _B_ (Even), _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_ (Ever), _S96_, _TC:_ Thy every
_1650-69_]

[22 scatt'ring _Ed:_ scattring, _1633-35:_ scattering
_1639-69_]

[27 Aire _1633-54 and all MSS. :_ Airs _1669_, _Chambers_]




_Breake of day. _

'Tis true, 'tis day; what though it be?
O wilt thou therefore rise from me?
Why should we rise, because 'tis light?
Did we lie downe, because 'twas night?
Love which in spight of darknesse brought us hether, 5
Should in despight of light keepe us together.

Light hath no tongue, but is all eye;
If it could speake as well as spie,
This were the worst, that it could say,
That being well, I faine would stay, 10
And that I lov'd my heart and honor so,
That I would not from him, that had them, goe.

Must businesse thee from hence remove?
Oh, that's the worst disease of love,
The poore, the foule, the false, love can 15
Admit, but not the busied man.
He which hath businesse, and makes love, doth doe
Such wrong, as when a maryed man doth wooe.


[Breake of day, _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
_no title or_ Sonnet, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96:_ A Songe. _A25_]

[1 day;] day, _1633_]

[5 in spight of _1633-39_, _1669_, _A25_, _JC_, _S96:_ in
dispight _1650-54_, _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _TC_]

[6 in despight _1633_, _1650-69:_ in spight _1635-39_

keepe] holde _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _S96_, _TC_]

[9 were] is _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_ _TC_]

[11 I lov'd] I love _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]

[12 him, that had them _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ him
that had them (_or_ it) _A25_, _B_, _C_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_TC:_ her, that had them, _1669:_ her that hath them _B_, _JC_
(it), _S96_]

[15 foule,] foole, _H40_]

[18 as when . . . doth _1633_, _1669_, _A25_, _C_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96:_ as if . . . should _A18_, _B_, _JC_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC:_ as when . . . should _1635-54_]




_The Anniversarie. _

All Kings, and all their favorites,
All glory of honors, beauties, wits,
The Sun it selfe, which makes times, as they passe,
Is elder by a yeare, now, then it was
When thou and I first one another saw: 5
All other things, to their destruction draw,
Only our love hath no decay;
This, no to morrow hath, nor yesterday,
Running it never runs from us away,
But truly keepes his first, last, everlasting day. 10

Two graves must hide thine and my coarse,
If one might, death were no divorce.
Alas, as well as other Princes, wee,
(Who Prince enough in one another bee,)
Must leave at last in death, these eyes, and eares, 15
Oft fed with true oathes, and with sweet salt teares;
But soules where nothing dwells but love
(All other thoughts being inmates) then shall prove
This, or a love increased there above,
When bodies to their graves, soules from their graves remove. 20

And then wee shall be throughly blest,
But wee no more, then all the rest;
Here upon earth, we'are Kings, and none but wee
Can be such Kings, nor of such subjects bee.
Who is so safe as wee? where none can doe 25
Treason to us, except one of us two.
True and false feares let us refraine,
Let us love nobly, and live, and adde againe
Yeares and yeares unto yeares, till we attaine
To write threescore: this is the second of our raigne. 30


[The Anniversarie. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S:_ Ad Liviam. _S96_]

[3 times, as they passe, _1633_, _1669_ (_which brackets_
which . . . pass), _MSS. :_ times, as these pass, _1635-54:_
time, as they pass, _Chambers, who attributes to 1633, 1669_]

[12 divorce. _Ed:_ divorce, _1633-69_]

[17 love _Ed:_ love; _1633-69_]

[20 to their graves] to their grave _1635-39_]

[22 wee _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ now _1633-69_. _See note_

rest; _Ed:_ rest. _1633-69_]

[23 none _om. 1669, D, H40, H49, JC, Lec, S, S96_]

[24 None are such Kings, _1669_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96_]

nor] and _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_, bee.
_Ed:_ bee; _1633-69_]

[27 refraine,] refraine. _1669_]

[30 threescore: _Grolier:_ threescore, _1633-69_]




_A Valediction: of my name, in the window. _


I.

My name engrav'd herein,
Doth contribute my firmnesse to this glasse,
Which, ever since that charme, hath beene
As hard, as that which grav'd it, was;
Thine eye will give it price enough, to mock 5
The diamonds of either rock.


II.

'Tis much that Glasse should bee
As all confessing, and through-shine as I,
'Tis more, that it shewes thee to thee,
And cleare reflects thee to thine eye. 10
But all such rules, loves magique can undoe,
Here you see mee, and I am you.


III.

As no one point, nor dash,
Which are but accessaries to this name,
The showers and tempests can outwash, 15
So shall all times finde mee the same;
You this intirenesse better may fulfill,
Who have the patterne with you still.


IIII.

Or, if too hard and deepe
This learning be, for a scratch'd name to teach, 20
It, as a given deaths head keepe,
Lovers mortalitie to preach,
Or thinke this ragged bony name to bee
My ruinous Anatomie.


V.

Then, as all my soules bee, 25
Emparadis'd in you, (in whom alone
I understand, and grow and see,)
The rafters of my body, bone
Being still with you, the Muscle, Sinew, and Veine,
Which tile this house, will come againe. 30


VI.

Till my returne, repaire
And recompact my scattered body so.
As all the vertuous powers which are
Fix'd in the starres, are said to flow
Into such characters, as graved bee 35
When these starres have supremacie:


VII.

So, since this name was cut
When love and griefe their exaltation had,
No doore 'gainst this names influence shut;
As much more loving, as more sad, 40
'Twill make thee; and thou shouldst, till I returne,
Since I die daily, daily mourne.


VIII.

When thy inconsiderate hand
Flings ope this casement, with my trembling name,
To looke on one, whose wit or land, 45
New battry to thy heart may frame,
Then thinke this name alive, and that thou thus
In it offendst my Genius.


IX.

And when thy melted maid,
Corrupted by thy Lover's gold, and page, 50
His letter at thy pillow'hath laid,
Disputed it, and tam'd thy rage,
And thou begin'st to thaw towards him, for this,
May my name step in, and hide his.


X.

And if this treason goe 55
To an overt act, and that thou write againe;
In superscribing, this name flow
Into thy fancy, from the pane.
So, in forgetting thou remembrest right,
And unaware to mee shalt write. 60


XI.

But glasse, and lines must bee,
No meanes our firme substantiall love to keepe;
Neere death inflicts this lethargie,
And this I murmure in my sleepe;
Impute this idle talke, to that I goe, 65
For dying men talke often so.


[A Valediction: Of _&c. _ _D_, _H49:_ A Valediction of _&c. _
_1633-69_, _H40_, _Lec_; Valediction of _&c. _ _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ A Valediction of my name in the Glasse Window
_Cy:_ A Valediction to _&c. _ _B:_ Valediction 4: of Glasse
_O'F:_ Valediction in Glasse _P:_ The Diamond and Glasse _S:_
Vpon the ingravinge of his name with a Diamonde in his mistris
windowe when he was to travel. _S96_ (_This is added to the
title in O'F. _): _similarly, JC_]

[4 was; _Ed:_ was, _1633-69_]

[5 eye] eyes _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_]

[8 I, _1633-54:_ I _1669_]

[12 am you. ] see you. _1669_]

[14 accessaries _1633-69_, _O'F_, _S:_ accessary _A18_, _B_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]

[15 tempests _1633_, _1669:_ tempest _1635-54_]

[19 Or, _Ed:_ Or _1633-69_]

[32 so. _1633-35:_ so, _1639-69_, _Chambers_. _See note_]

[34 flow _Ed:_ flow, _1633-69_]

[36 these _1633:_ those _1635-69_

have] had _1669_

supremacie: _1633-69:_ supremacie. _1650-69_. _See note_]

[37 So, _Ed:_ So _1633-69_]

[39 shut; _Ed:_ shut, _1633-69_]

[44 ope _1633-69_, _O'F_, _S96:_ out _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_]

[48 offendst] offends _1669_]

[50 and] or _1669_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]

[52-3

Disputed thou it, and tame thy rage.
If thou to him begin'st to thaw for this,

_1669_]

[55 goe] growe _JC_, _O'F_, _S_]

[56 againe; _1633:_ againe: _1635-69_]

[57 this] my _1669_]

[58 pane. _1633:_ Pen, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S_]

[60 unaware] unawares _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[64 this] thus _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]




_Twicknam garden. _

Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with teares,
Hither I come to seeke the spring,
And at mine eyes, and at mine eares,
Receive such balmes, as else cure every thing;
But O, selfe traytor, I do bring 5
The spider love, which transubstantiates all,
And can convert Manna to gall,
And that this place may thoroughly be thought
True Paradise, I have the serpent brought.

'Twere wholsomer for mee, that winter did 10
Benight the glory of this place,
And that a grave frost did forbid
These trees to laugh, and mocke mee to my face;
But that I may not this disgrace
Indure, nor yet leave loving, Love let mee 15
Some senslesse peece of this place bee;
Make me a mandrake, so I may groane here,
Or a stone fountaine weeping out my yeare.

Hither with christall vyals, lovers come,
And take my teares, which are loves wine, 20
And try your mistresse Teares at home,
For all are false, that tast not just like mine;
Alas, hearts do not in eyes shine,
Nor can you more judge womans thoughts by teares,
Then by her shadow, what she weares. 25
O perverse sexe, where none is true but shee,
Who's therefore true, because her truth kills mee.


[Twicknam garden. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ Twitnam Garden. _A18_,
_L74_ (_in margin_), _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ In a Garden. _B:_ _no title_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_]

[3 eares] years _1669_]

[4 balms . . . cure _1633_, _A25_, _D_, _H49:_ balm . . .
cures
_1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_

thing; _Ed:_ thing, _1633:_ thing: _1635-69_]

[6 spider] spiders _1669_]

[8 thoroughly _1633-39:_ throughly _1650-69_]

[12 did] would _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC_]

[13 laugh,] laugh _1633_]

[14 that I may not] since I cannot _1669_]

[15 nor yet leave loving, _1633:_ _om. D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ nor leave this garden, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_,
_JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[17 groane _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _N_, _TC:_ grow
_1633-69_, _B_, _L74_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]

[18 my yeare, _1633_, _1669_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ the
yeare. _1635-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]

[20 loves] lovers _1639_]

[24 womans _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _TC:_ womens
_1633-69_, _Lec_, _P_, _S96_]




_A Valediction: of the booke. _

I'll tell thee now (deare Love) what thou shalt doe
To anger destiny, as she doth us,
How I shall stay, though she Esloygne me thus
And how posterity shall know it too;
How thine may out-endure 5
Sybills glory, and obscure
Her who from Pindar could allure,
And her, through whose helpe _Lucan_ is not lame,
And her, whose booke (they say) _Homer_ did finde, and name.

Study our manuscripts, those Myriades 10
Of letters, which have past twixt thee and mee,
Thence write our Annals, and in them will bee
To all whom loves subliming fire invades,
Rule and example found;
There, the faith of any ground 15
No schismatique will dare to wound,
That sees, how Love this grace to us affords,
To make, to keep, to use, to be these his Records.

This Booke, as long-liv'd as the elements,
Or as the worlds forme, this all-graved tome 20
In cypher writ, or new made Idiome,
Wee for loves clergie only'are instruments:
When this booke is made thus,
Should againe the ravenous
Vandals and Goths inundate us, 25
Learning were safe; in this our Universe
Schooles might learne Sciences, Spheares Musick, Angels Verse.

Here Loves Divines, (since all Divinity
Is love or wonder) may finde all they seeke,
Whether abstract spirituall love they like, 30
Their Soules exhal'd with what they do not see,
Or, loth so to amuze
Faiths infirmitie, they chuse
Something which they may see and use;
For, though minde be the heaven, where love doth sit, 35
Beauty a convenient type may be to figure it.

Here more then in their bookes may Lawyers finde,
Both by what titles Mistresses are ours,
And how prerogative these states devours,
Transferr'd from Love himselfe, to womankinde, 40
Who though from heart, and eyes,
They exact great subsidies,
Forsake him who on them relies,
And for the cause, honour, or conscience give,
Chimeraes, vaine as they, or their prerogative. 45

Here Statesmen, (or of them, they which can reade,)
May of their occupation finde the grounds:
Love and their art alike it deadly wounds,
If to consider what 'tis, one proceed,
In both they doe excell 50
Who the present governe well,
Whose weaknesse none doth, or dares tell;
In this thy booke, such will their nothing see,
As in the Bible some can finde out Alchimy.

Thus vent thy thoughts; abroad I'll studie thee, 55
As he removes farre off, that great heights takes;
How great love is, presence best tryall makes,
But absence tryes how long this love will bee;
To take a latitude
Sun, or starres, are fitliest view'd 60
At their brightest, but to conclude
Of longitudes, what other way have wee,
But to marke when, and where the darke eclipses bee?


[A Valediction: of _&c. _ _Ed:_ A Valediction of the Booke
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Valediction of the booke. _D_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ Valediction 3: Of the Booke _O'F:_ The Booke
_Cy_, _P:_ Valediction to his booke. _1633-69_, _S:_ A
Valediction of a booke left in a windowe. _JC_]

[18 Records, _1633-69:_ records, _Grolier_]

[20 tome _1633-35:_ to me _1639-54:_ Tomb. _1669_, _A18_,
_Cy_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_]

[21 Idiome, _Ed:_ Idiome; _1633-69_]

[22 instruments: _Ed:_ instruments, _1633-69_. _See note_]

[25 and Goths inundate us, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ and the Goths invade us, _1633-54_,
_S:_ and Goths invade us, _1669_, _H40_, _JC_ (or), _O'F_,
_P_]

[26 were safe; _1633:_ _rest omit semicolon_.

Universe _1633-39:_ Universe, _1650-69_]

[30 abstract] abstracted _1669_]

[32 Or, . . . amuze _Ed:_ Or . . . amuze, _1633-69_]

[33 infirmitie,] infirmities, _1669_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[38 titles] titles, _1663_]

[39 these states] those rites _A18_, _N_, _TC_]

[40 womankinde, _Ed:_ womankinde. _1633-54:_ womankinde:
_1669_]

[43 relies, _Ed:_ relies _1633:_ relies; _1635-69_]

[44 give,] give; _1635-69_]

[46 Statesmen] Tradesmen _Cy_, _P_]

[47 grounds: _Ed:_ grounds, _1633-69_]

[49 'tis, one] 'tis on _1669_]

[53 their nothing _1635-54_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_ (nothings), _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_ (_but
the MSS. waver between_ their _and_ there): there something
_1633_, _1669_, _P_]

[55 vent _1633_, _1669:_ went _1635-54_

thoughts; abroad] thoughts abroad: _1669_]

[56 great heights] shadows _O'F_]

[63 _1669 omits_ darke]




_Communitie. _

Good wee must love, and must hate ill,
For ill is ill, and good good still,
But there are things indifferent,
Which wee may neither hate, nor love,
But one, and then another prove,
As wee shall finde our fancy bent. 5

If then at first wise Nature had
Made women either good or bad,
Then some wee might hate, and some chuse,
But since shee did them so create, 10
That we may neither love, nor hate,
Onely this rests, All, all may use.

If they were good it would be seene,
Good is as visible as greene,
And to all eyes it selfe betrayes: 15
If they were bad, they could not last,
Bad doth it selfe, and others wast,
So, they deserve nor blame, nor praise.

But they are ours as fruits are ours,
He that but tasts, he that devours, 20
And he that leaves all, doth as well:
Chang'd loves are but chang'd sorts of meat,
And when hee hath the kernell eate,
Who doth not fling away the shell?


[Communitie. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[3 there _1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_, _&c. :_
these _1633_, _D_, _Cy_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[7 had _Ed:_ had, _1633-39_]

[12 All, all _1633-54:_ All men _1669_]

[15 betrayes: _1650-69:_ betrayes, _1633-39_]

[21 well: _Ed:_ well, _1633-69_]




_Loves growth. _

I scarce beleeve my love to be so pure
As I had thought it was,
Because it doth endure
Vicissitude, and season, as the grasse;
Me thinkes I lyed all winter, when I swore, 5
My love was infinite, if spring make'it more.

But if this medicine, love, which cures all sorrow
With more, not onely bee no quintessence,
But mixt of all stuffes, paining soule, or sense,
And of the Sunne his working vigour borrow, 10
Love's not so pure, and abstract, as they use
To say, which have no Mistresse but their Muse,
But as all else, being elemented too,
Love sometimes would contemplate, sometimes do.

And yet no greater, but more eminent, 15
Love by the spring is growne;
As, in the firmament,
Starres by the Sunne are not inlarg'd, but showne.
Gentle love deeds, as blossomes on a bough,
From loves awakened root do bud out now. 20
If, as in water stir'd more circles bee
Produc'd by one, love such additions take,
Those like so many spheares, but one heaven make,
For, they are all concentrique unto thee.
And though each spring doe adde to love new heate, 25
As princes doe in times of action get
New taxes, and remit them not in peace,
No winter shall abate the springs encrease.


[Loves growth. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The
Spring. _or_ Spring. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ _no title_, _JC_]

[9 paining _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ vexing _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]

[10 working _1633 and MSS. as above:_ active _1635-69 and MSS.
as above_]

[11 pure, and] pure an _1669_, _O'F_]

[14 do. ] do _1633_]

[18-19 Starres . . . showne. Gentle love _Ed:_ Starres . . .
showne, Gentle love _1633-69:_

Stars are not by the sunne enlarg'd; but showne
Greater; Loves deeds

_P_. _See note_]

[24 thee. _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]

[28 the _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ this _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]




_Loves exchange. _

_Love_, any devill else but you,
Would for a given Soule give something too.
At Court your fellowes every day,
Give th'art of Riming, Huntsmanship, or Play,
For them which were their owne before; 5
Onely I have nothing which gave more,
But am, alas, by being lowly, lower.

I aske no dispensation now
To falsifie a teare, or sigh, or vow,
I do not sue from thee to draw 10
A _non obstante_ on natures law,
These are prerogatives, they inhere
In thee and thine; none should forsweare
Except that hee _Loves_ minion were.

Give mee thy weaknesse, make mee blinde, 15
Both wayes, as thou and thine, in eies and minde;
Love, let me never know that this
Is love, or, that love childish is;
Let me not know that others know
That she knowes my paines, least that so 20
A tender shame make me mine owne new woe.

If thou give nothing, yet thou'art just,
Because I would not thy first motions trust;
Small townes which stand stiffe, till great shot
Enforce them, by warres law _condition_ not. 25
Such in loves warfare is my case,
I may not article for grace,
Having put Love at last to shew this face.

This face, by which he could command
And change the Idolatrie of any land, 30
This face, which wheresoe'r it comes,
Can call vow'd men from cloisters, dead from tombes,
And melt both Poles at once, and store
Deserts with cities, and make more
Mynes in the earth, then Quarries were before. 35

For this, Love is enrag'd with mee,
Yet kills not. If I must example bee
To future Rebells; If th'unborne
Must learne, by my being cut up, and torne:
Kill, and dissect me, Love; for this 40
Torture against thine owne end is,
Rack't carcasses make ill Anatomies.


[Loves exchange. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]

[4 or] and _most MSS. _

Play _D:_ play _1633-69_]

[9 or sigh, or vow, _1633-54:_ a sigh, a vow, _1669_]

[18 is; _Ed:_ is. _1633-69_]

[20 paines] paine _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]

[21 _1669 omits_ new]

[28 Love _D:_ love _1633-69_

this] his _1669_]

[36 For this, _Ed:_ For, this _1633-69_

Love _D:_ love _1633-69_]

[37 not. If _Ed:_ not; if _1633-39:_ not: if _1650-69_]




_Confined Love. _

Some man unworthy to be possessor
Of old or new love, himselfe being false or weake,
Thought his paine and shame would be lesser,
If on womankind he might his anger wreake,
And thence a law did grow, 5
One might but one man know;
But are other creatures so?

Are Sunne, Moone, or Starres by law forbidden,
To smile where they list, or lend away their light?
Are birds divorc'd, or are they chidden 10
If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?
Beasts doe no joyntures lose
Though they new lovers choose,
But we are made worse then those.

Who e'r rigg'd faire ship to lie in harbors, 15
And not to seeke new lands, or not to deale withall?
Or built faire houses, set trees, and arbors,
Only to lock up, or else to let them fall?
Good is not good, unlesse
A thousand it possesse, 20
But doth wast with greedinesse.


[Confined Love _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ To the
worthiest of all my lovers. _Cy:_ To the of all my loves my
virtuous mistriss. _P_]

[3 his] this _1669_

lesser] the lesser _A18_, _Cy_, _JC_, _P_]

[6 might _1633-69:_ should _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]

[9 lend] bend _1669_]

[11 mate, _1633-39:_ meate, _1650:_ meat, _1669_

a night (_i. e. _ a-night) _1633-54:_ all night _1669_]

[12 Beasts] Beast _1635_]

[15 ship] ships _1669_, _Chambers_]

[16 seeke new lands _1633-35 and MSS. :_ seeke lands _1639-69_,
_Chambers, whose note is incorrect_

withall _1633:_ with all _1635-69_]

[17 built _1633-35:_ build _1639-69_]




_The Dreame. _

Deare love, for nothing lesse then thee
Would I have broke this happy dreame,
It was a theame
For reason, much too strong for phantasie,
Therefore thou wakd'st me wisely; yet 5
My Dreame thou brok'st not, but continued'st it,
Thou art so truth, that thoughts of thee suffice,
To make dreames truths; and fables histories;
Enter these armes, for since thou thoughtst it best,
Not to dreame all my dreame, let's act the rest. 10

As lightning, or a Tapers light,
Thine eyes, and not thy noise wak'd mee;
Yet I thought thee
(For thou lovest truth) an Angell, at first sight,
But when I saw thou sawest my heart, 15
And knew'st my thoughts, beyond an Angels art,
When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when
Excesse of joy would wake me, and cam'st then,
I must confesse, it could not chuse but bee
Prophane, to thinke thee any thing but thee. 20

Comming and staying show'd thee, thee,
But rising makes me doubt, that now,
Thou art not thou.
That love is weake, where feare's as strong as hee;
'Tis not all spirit, pure, and brave, 25
If mixture it of _Feare_, _Shame_, _Honor_, have.
Perchance as torches which must ready bee,
Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with mee,
Thou cam'st to kindle, goest to come; Then I
Will dreame that hope againe, but else would die. 30


[The Dreame. _1633-69:_ _do. or similarly_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _RP31_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[6 brok'st . . . continued'st] breakest . . . continuest _1669_,
_A25_, _C_, _P_, _S_]

[7 so truth, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC:_ so true, _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_. _See note_]

[10 act] doe _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]

[14 an Angell,] but an Angell, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]

[16 thoughts,] _om. comma Grolier and Chambers_. _See Note_]

[17 then thou knew'st when _1669_]

[19 must] doe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]

[20 Prophane,] Profaness _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC_]

[24 feare's as strong _1635-54_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _TCC:_ feares are strong _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ feare is strong, _N_, _TCD_]

[26 have. _1669:_ have; _1633-54_]

[29 cam'st] com'st _1669_

Then I] Thus I _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_
(_RP31 agrees with this group throughout_)]




_A Valediction: of weeping. _

Let me powre forth
My teares before thy face, whil'st I stay here,
For thy face coines them, and thy stampe they beare,
And by this Mintage they are something worth,
For thus they bee 5
Pregnant of thee;
Fruits of much griefe they are, emblemes of more,
When a teare falls, that thou falst which it bore,
So thou and I are nothing then, when on a divers shore.

On a round ball 10
A workeman that hath copies by, can lay
An Europe, Afrique, and an Asia,
And quickly make that, which was nothing, _All_,
So doth each teare,
Which thee doth weare, 15
A globe, yea world by that impression grow,
Till thy teares mixt with mine doe overflow
This world, by waters sent from thee, my heaven dissolved so.

O more then Moone,
Draw not up seas to drowne me in thy spheare, 20
Weepe me not dead, in thine armes, but forbeare
To teach the sea, what it may doe too soone;
Let not the winde
Example finde,
To doe me more harme, then it purposeth; 25
Since thou and I sigh one anothers breath,
Who e'r sighes most, is cruellest, and hasts the others death.


[A Valediction: of _&c. _ _Ed:_ A Valediction of weeping.
_1633-69:_ Valediction of Weeping. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
A Valediction. _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec:_ A
Valediction of Teares. _Cy_, _S_, _S96:_ Valediction 2. Of
Tears. _O'F:_ _no title_, _JC_]

[3 beare, _1633:_ beare; _1635-69_]

[6 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]

[8 falst _1633-69:_ falls _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_]

[9 shore. ] shore, _1633_]

[13 _All_, _1633:_ _All_ _1635:_ _All. _ _1639:_ _All:_
_1650-69_]

[16 world] would _1669_]

[20 up seas] thy seas _1669_]

[22 soone; _Ed:_ soone, _1633-69_]

[25 purposeth; _Ed:_ purposeth, _1633-69_]




_Loves Alchymie. _

Some that have deeper digg'd loves Myne then I,
Say, where his centrique happinesse doth lie:
I have lov'd, and got, and told,
But should I love, get, tell, till I were old,
I should not finde that hidden mysterie; 5
Oh, 'tis imposture all:
And as no chymique yet th'Elixar got,
But glorifies his pregnant pot,
If by the way to him befall
Some odoriferous thing, or medicinall, 10
So, lovers dreame a rich and long delight,
But get a winter-seeming summers night.

Our ease, our thrift, our honor, and our day,
Shall we, for this vaine Bubles shadow pay?
Ends love in this, that my man, 15
Can be as happy'as I can; If he can
Endure the short scorne of a Bridegroomes play?
That loving wretch that sweares,
'Tis not the bodies marry, but the mindes,
Which he in her Angelique findes, 20
Would sweare as justly, that he heares,
In that dayes rude hoarse minstralsey, the spheares.
Hope not for minde in women; at their best
Sweetnesse and wit, they'are but _Mummy_, possest.


[Loves Alchymie. _1633-69:_ Mummye. _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_ (or Alchymy. _added in a later
hand_), _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Elegie. _P:_ _no title_, _A25_]

[14 Bubles] Bubless _1669_]

[15 my _1633-69 and MSS. :_ any _S96_, _1855_, _and Grolier_
(_perhaps from some copy of 1633_)]

[23-4 _punctuation from MSS:_

at their best,
Sweetnesse, and wit they'are, but, _Mummy_, possest.

_1633-54:_ _1669 omits all punctuation in these lines_]




_The Flea. _

Marke but this flea, and marke in this,
How little that which thou deny'st me is;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea, our two bloods mingled bee;
Thou know'st that this cannot be said 5
A sinne, nor shame, nor losse of maidenhead,
Yet this enjoyes before it wooe,
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two,
And this, alas, is more then wee would doe.

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, 10
Where wee almost, yea more then maryed are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our mariage bed, and mariage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,
And cloysterd in these living walls of Jet. 15
Though use make you apt to kill mee,
Let not to that, selfe murder added bee,
And sacrilege, three sinnes in killing three.

Cruell and sodaine, hast thou since
Purpled thy naile, in blood of innocence? 20
Wherein could this flea guilty bee,
Except in that drop which it suckt from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and saist that thou
Find'st not thy selfe, nor mee the weaker now;
'Tis true, then learne how false, feares bee; 25
Just so much honor, when thou yeeld'st to mee,
Will wast, as this flea's death tooke life from thee.


[The Flea _is placed here in the 1633 edition:_ _1635-69 place
it at beginning of_ Songs and Sonets: The Flea. _or no title_,
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[3 It suckt mee first, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96:_
Mee it suck'd first, _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_

and now sucks] and now it sucks _1669_]

[5 Thou know'st that _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Confess it.
This cannot be said _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[6 nor shame, nor losse _1633-54_ (shame _1633_), _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ or shame, or loss _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]

[9 would] could _1669_]

[11: yea, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ nay, _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _C_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]

[16 you] thee _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[21 Wherein] In what _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[22 drop] blood _1669_]




_The Curse. _

Who ever guesses, thinks, or dreames he knowes
Who is my mistris, wither by this curse;
His only, and only his purse
May some dull heart to love dispose,
And shee yeeld then to all that are his foes; 5
May he be scorn'd by one, whom all else scorne,
Forsweare to others, what to her he'hath sworne,
With feare of missing, shame of getting, torne:

Madnesse his sorrow, gout his cramp, may hee
Make, by but thinking, who hath made him such: 10
And may he feele no touch
Of conscience, but of fame, and bee
Anguish'd, not that'twas sinne, but that'twas shee:
In early and long scarcenesse may he rot,
For land which had been his, if he had not 15
Himselfe incestuously an heire begot:

May he dreame Treason, and beleeve, that hee
Meant to performe it, and confesse, and die,
And no record tell why:
His sonnes, which none of his may bee, 20
Inherite nothing but his infamie:
Or may he so long Parasites have fed,
That he would faine be theirs, whom he hath bred,
And at the last be circumcis'd for bread:

The venom of all stepdames, gamsters gall, 25
What Tyrans, and their subjects interwish,
What Plants, Mynes, Beasts, Foule, Fish,
Can contribute, all ill which all
Prophets, or Poets spake; And all which shall
Be annex'd in schedules unto this by mee, 30
Fall on that man; For if it be a shee
Nature before hand hath out-cursed mee.


[The Curse. _1633-69:_ A Curse. _or_ The Curse. _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Dirae. _P_, _Q_]

[2 curse] course _1669_]

[3 His only, and only his purse _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TC:_ Him, only for his purse _1669_, _Chambers:_ His one and
his onely purse _P_]

[4 heart _1633-54 and MSS. :_ whore _1669 and Chambers_]

[5 And she yeeld then to _1633-54 and MSS. :_ And then yield
unto _1669_, _Chambers_]

[8 getting, _Ed:_ getting _1633-69_

torne: _Ed:_ torne; _1633-54:_ torne. _1669_. _Compare_ 16
_and_ 24]

[9 cramp,] cramps, _1669_, _Chambers_, _and most MSS. _]

[10 him _1633-54 and MSS. :_ them _1669_, _Chambers_]

[12 fame,] shame; _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _P_, _TC_]

[14-16 In early and long scarceness . . . an heire begot:
_1633_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_ (_which gives
alternate version in margin_), _S:_

Or may he for her vertue reverence
One that hates him onely for impotence,
And equall Traitors be she and his sense.

_1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC_]

[18 Meant] Went _A18_, _N_, _TC_]

[26 Tyrans, _1633-35:_ Tyrants, _1639:_ tyrants, _1650-69_]

[27 Mynes, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC:_ Myne, _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[28 ill _1669:_ ill, _1633-54_]




_The Message. _

Send home my long strayd eyes to mee,
Which (Oh) too long have dwelt on thee;
Yet since there they have learn'd such ill,
Such forc'd fashions,
And false passions, 5
That they be
Made by thee
Fit for no good sight, keep them still.

Send home my harmlesse heart againe,
Which no unworthy thought could staine; 10
But if it be taught by thine
To make jestings
Of protestings,
And crosse both
Word and oath, 15
Keepe it, for then 'tis none of mine.

Yet send me back my heart and eyes,
That I may know, and see thy lyes,
And may laugh and joy, when thou
Art in anguish 20
And dost languish
For some one
That will none,
Or prove as false as thou art now.


[The Message. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ Sonnet. _P:_ Songes w^{ch} were made to _&c. _ (_vid.
sup. _ _p. _ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[2 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]

[3 But if they there _1669_, _S_]

[10 staine;] staine, _1633-69_]

[11 But _1635-69:_ Which _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]

[14 crosse, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ breake _1633-69_]

[16 Keep it still 'tis _1669_]

[19 And may laugh, when that Thou _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[24 art now. ] dost now. _1669_]




_A nocturnall upon S. _ Lucies _day,_

_Being the shortest day. _

Tis the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes,
_Lucies_, who scarce seaven houres herself unmaskes,
The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes;
The worlds whole sap is sunke: 5
The generall balme th'hydroptique earth hath drunk,
Whither, as to the beds-feet, life is shrunke,
Dead and enterr'd; yet all these seeme to laugh,
Compar'd with mee, who am their Epitaph.

Study me then, you who shall lovers bee 10
At the next world, that is, at the next Spring:
For I am every dead thing,
In whom love wrought new Alchimie.
For his art did expresse
A quintessence even from nothingnesse, 15
From dull privations, and leane emptinesse:
He ruin'd mee, and I am re-begot
Of absence, darknesse, death; things which are not.

All others, from all things, draw all that's good,
Life, soule, forme, spirit, whence they beeing have; 20
I, by loves limbecke, am the grave
Of all, that's nothing. Oft a flood
Have wee two wept, and so
Drownd the whole world, us two; oft did we grow
To be two Chaosses, when we did show 25
Care to ought else; and often absences
Withdrew our soules, and made us carcasses.

But I am by her death, (which word wrongs her)
Of the first nothing, the Elixer grown;
Were I a man, that I were one, 30
I needs must know; I should preferre,
If I were any beast,
Some ends, some means; Yea plants, yea stones detest,
And love; All, all some properties invest;
If I an ordinary nothing were, 35
As shadow, a light, and body must be here.

But I am None; nor will my Sunne renew.
You lovers, for whose sake, the lesser Sunne
At this time to the Goat is runne
To fetch new lust, and give it you, 40
Enjoy your summer all;
Since shee enjoyes her long nights festivall,
Let mee prepare towards her, and let mee call
This houre her Vigill, and her Eve, since this
Both the yeares, and the dayes deep midnight is. 45


[A nocturnal _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[7 beds-feet,] beds-feet _1633-69_]

[12 every _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ a very),
_TC:_ a very _1635-69_]

[16 emptinesse: _1719:_ emptinesse; _Chambers and Grolier:_
emptinesse _1633-54:_ emptinesse, _1669_. _See note_]

[20 have; _Ed:_ have, _1633-69_. ]

[31 know;] know, _1633_]

[32 beast,] beast; _Grolier_]

[34 love; All, all _Ed:_ love, all, all _1633-69_

invest; _Ed:_ invest, _1633:_ invest _1635-69_]

[37 renew. _1633:_ renew, _1635-69_]

[41 all; _Ed:_ all, _1633-69 and Chambers, who places a full
stop after_ festivall]

[44 Eve, _1650-69:_ eve, _1633-39_]




_Witchcraft by a picture. _

I fixe mine eye on thine, and there
Pitty my picture burning in thine eye,
My picture drown'd in a transparent teare,
When I looke lower I espie;
Hadst thou the wicked skill 5
By pictures made and mard, to kill,
How many wayes mightst thou performe thy will?

But now I have drunke thy sweet salt teares,
And though thou poure more I'll depart;
My picture vanish'd, vanish feares, 10
That I can be endamag'd by that art;
Though thou retaine of mee
One picture more, yet that will bee,
Being in thine owne heart, from all malice free.


[Witchcraft _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The
Picture. _or_ Picture. _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ A Songe.
_B_]

[4 espie; _Ed:_ espie, _1633-69_]

[6 to kill, _Ed:_ to kill? _1633-39:_ to kill; _1650-69_]

[9 And though] Although _1669_ And though thou therefore poure
more will depart; _B_, _H40_]

[10 vanish'd, vanish feares, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_JC_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ vanished, vanish all feares
_1635-54_, _O'F:_ vanish, vanish fears, _1669_]

[11 that] thy _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]

[14 all] thy _B_, _H40_, _S96_]




_The Baite. _

Come live with mee, and bee my love,
And wee will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and christall brookes,
With silken lines, and silver hookes.

There will the river whispering runne 5
Warm'd by thy eyes, more then the Sunne.
And there the'inamor'd fish will stay,
Begging themselves they may betray.

When thou wilt swimme in that live bath,
Each fish, which every channell hath, 10
Will amorously to thee swimme,
Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.

If thou, to be so seene, beest loath,
By Sunne, or Moone, thou darknest both,
And if my selfe have leave to see, 15
I need not their light, having thee.

Let others freeze with angling reeds,
And cut their legges, with shells and weeds,
Or treacherously poore fish beset,
With strangling snare, or windowie net: 20

Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest
The bedded fish in banks out-wrest,
Or curious traitors, sleavesilke flies
Bewitch poore fishes wandring eyes.

For thee, thou needst no such deceit, 25
For thou thy selfe art thine owne bait;
That fish, that is not catch'd thereby,
Alas, is wiser farre then I.


[The Baite. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _Walton's_
Compleate Angler: _Fourth Day:_ _Chap. XII. :_ Songs that were
made _&c. _ (_vid. sup. p.