ELIA, of all sweet courtesies resolve me!
For wished grace, how must I now be doing?
Since OPS, the completest frame which did absolve
thee,
Hath made each parcel to my sole undoing!
Those wires which should thy corps to mine unite,
Be rays to daze us from so near approach.
Thine eyne, which should my 'nighted sailors light,
Be shot to keep them off with foul reproach.
Those ruddy plums embrued with heavenly foods,
When I would suck them, turn to driest coral;
And when I couch between her lily buds,
They surge, like frothy water mounts above all.
Surely, they were all made unto good uses;
But She, them all untowardly abuses.
ITH grievous thoughts and weighty care oppiest,
One day, I went to VENUS's Fanacle;
Of Cyprian dreams, which did me sore molest,
To be resolved by certain Oracle.
No sooner was I past the temple's gate,
But from the shrine, where VENUS wont to stand,
I saw a Lady fair and delicate
Did beckon to me with her ivory hand.
Weening She was the Goddess of the Fane,
With cheerful looks I towards bent my pace:
Soon when I came, I found unto my bane,
A GORGON shadowed under VENUS' face;
Whereat affright, when back I would be gone,
I stood transformèd to a speechless stone.
HEN once I saw that no intreats would move her;
All means I sought to be delivered:
Against white CUPID and his golden Mother,
In high contempt, base words I uttered:
When both, from clouds of her bright firmament,
With heavy griefs and strong disdain surmounted,
Upon my thoughts and me did shoot revengement,
Whilst in our highest prides we were amounted.
Nor be they pleased to give us all these wounds,
To make me languish as a dying liver:
But from her orbs they fling their firebrands.
Thereby to quite consume both heart and liver.
Pardon, dread Powers! pardon my rash offence!
By Heaven's bright vail! 'twas 'gainst my conscience!
HAT is the Fair, to whom so long I plead?
What is her face, so angel-like ?
Then unto Saints in mind, Sh'is not unlike ?
What may be hoped of one so evil nat'red?
O then my woes how shall I ope best?
Then She is flexible?
Fie, no, it is impossible!
About her straight then only our best!
How must I first her loves to me approve?
Lead.
Angel-like.
Unlike.
Hatred.
Hope best!
She is flexible.
Possible.
You're best!
Prove!
Kiss her!
For all her bobs I must them bear, or miss her? Yes, sir!
Then will She yield at length to Love?
Even so! Even so! By NARCISSE! is it true? Truc!
Of thine honesty? I. Adieu!
SONNET XVI.
HAT may be thought of thine untowardness,
That movest still at every motion?
What may be hoped of so strange uncouthness,
That scorns all vows, scorns all devotion?
If I but sue, thou wouldst relieve mine anguish,
Two threatening arcs thou bendest rigorously!
Then if I swear thy love did make me languish,
Thou turn'st away, and smilest scornfully!
Then if I wish thou would'st not tyrannize;
Of Tyranny thou mak'st but a mockery!
And if I weep, my tears thou dost despise!
And if I stir, thou threatenest battery!
Frown on! smile on! mock me! despise me! threat me! All shall not make me leave for to intreat thee!
SONNET XVII.
ELENT, my dear, yet unkind CŒLIA!
At length, relent, and give my sorrows end!
So shall I keep my long-wished holiday,
And set a trophy on a froward friend!
Nor tributes, nor imposts, nor other duties
Demand I will, as lawful Conqueror !
Duties, tributes, imposts unto thy beauties,
Myself will pay as yielded Servitor!
Then quick relent! thyself surrender us!
"Brave Sir, and why," quoth She, "must I relent?"
"Relent," cried I, "thyself doth conquer us!"
When eftsoons with my proper instrument
She cut me off, ay me! and answered,
"You cannot conquer, and be conquerèd."
CANNOT conquer and be conquerèd!”.
Then whole myself I yield unto thy favour!
Behold my thoughts float in an ocean, battered;
To be cast off, or wafted to thine harbour!
If of the fame, thou wilt then take acceptance,
Stretch out thy fairest hand, as flag of peace!
If not, no longer keep us in attendance;
But all at once thy fiery shafts release!
If thus I die, an honest cause of love
Will of my fates the rigour mitigate;
Those gracious ey'n, which will a Tartar move,
Will prove my case the less unfortunate.
Although my friends may rue my chance for aye,
It will be said,." He died for CŒLIA!"
T SHALL be said I died for CŒLIA!
Then quick, thou grisly man of Erebus,
Transport me hence unto PROSERPINA,
To be adjudged as "wilful amorous."
To be hung up within the liquid air!
For all the sighs which I in vain have wasted:
To be through Lethe's waters cleansèd fair!
For those dark clouds which have my looks o'ercasted:
To be condemned to everlasting fire!
Because at CUPID'S fire, I wilful brent me,
And to be clad for deadly dumps in mire.
Among so many plagues which shall torment me,
One solace I shall find, when I am over;
It will be known I died a constant lover!
ECEIVE these writs, my sweet and dearest Friend!
The lively patterns of my lifeless body;
Where thou shalt find in ebon pictures penned,
How I was meek, but thou extremely bloody!
I'll walk forlorn along the willow shades,
Alone, complaining of a ruthless Dame:
Where'er I pass, the rocks, the hills, the glades,
In piteous yells shall sound her cruel name!
There will I wail the lot that Fortune sent me,
And make my moans unto the savage ears!
The remnant of the days which Nature lent me ;
I'll spend them all, concealed, in ceaseless tears!
Since unkind Fates permit me not t'enjoy her;
No more, burst eyes! I mean for to annoy her!
To PARTHENO PHIL!
Upon his LA YA and PARTHENOPHE.
[See Vol. V. pp. 335-486.j
MADRIGAL.
HEN first I heard thy loves to LAYA,
I wished the gods to turn it to good hap!
Yet since I hear thy blessed flight away,
I joy thy chance, for fear of afterclap!
Unwily man! why couldst not keep thee there?
But must with PARTHENOPH', thee 'gain entrap!
I little rue thy well deserved tears!
The beast once 'scaped will ever shun the trap!
What tell'st thou me, "By spells,* th' hast won thy Dear?
Believe her, Friend! no more than LAYA past!
Charmed Love endures but whilst the Charm doth last!
[* See the Sestine at Vol. V. pp. 479–482.]
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