Love, like spring-tides full and high, Till they quite shrink in again: 'Tis but rain, and runs not clear. 401. I Hidden Flame FEED a flame within, which so torments me That it both pains my heart, and yet contents me: 'Tis such a pleasing smart, and I so love it, That I had rather die than once remove it. Yet he, for whom I grieve, shall never know it; Thus, to prevent my Love from being cruel, On his eyes will I gaze, and there delight me; Nor can I fall more low, mounting no higher. 402. Song to a Fair Young Lady, going out of the Town in the Spring ASK not the cause why sullen Spring So long delays her flowers to bear; Why warbling birds forget to sing, And winter storms invert the year: Chloris is gone, the cruel fair; She cast not back a pitying eye: To sigh, to languish, and to die: Great God of Love, why hast thou made And change the laws of every land? When Chloris to the temple comes, I only am by Love design'd 403. 404. CHARLES WEBBE Against Indifference MORE love or more disdain I crave; Sweet, be not still indifferent: O send me quickly to my grave, Or else afford me more content! Give me a tempest if 'twill drive Me to the place where I would be; SIR GEORGE ETHEREGE Song c. 1678 1635-1691 LADIES, though to your conquering eyes Love owes his chiefest victories, And borrows those bright arms from you Then rack not lovers with disdain, 405. To a Lady asking him how long he would love her IT is not, Celia, in our power To say how long our love will last; May lose those joys we now do taste; Then since we mortal lovers are, Ask not how long our love will last; 406. THOMAS TRAHERNE News 1637?-1674 NEWS from a foreign country came As if my treasure and my wealth lay there ; So much it did my heart inflame, 'Twas wont to call my Soul into mine ear; Which thither went to meet The approaching sweet, And on the threshold stood To entertain the unknown Good. It hover'd there As if 'twould leave mine ear, And was so eager to embrace As if the tidings were the things, To recreate Itself with bliss, and to Be pleased with speed. A fuller view Yet journeys back would make Unto my heart; as if 'twould fain And bring the tidings in. What sacred instinct did inspire Was out of view, And being here alone, I saw that happiness was gone From me! For this I thirsted absent bliss, And thought that sure beyond the seas, |