Life, that dares send
A challenge to his end,
And when it comes, say, “Welcome, friend.'

I wish her store
Of worth may leave her poor
Of wishes; and I wish

no more.

- Now, if Time knows That Her, whose radiant brows Weave them a garland of my vows;

Her that dares be
What these lines wish to see :
I seek no further, it is She.

'Tis She, and here
Lo! I unclothe and clear
My wishes' cloudy character.

Such worth as this is
Shall fix my flying wishes,
And determine them to kisses.

Let her full glory,
My fancies, fly before ye;
Be ye my fictions :-

- but her story.

R. Crashaw

Under floods that are deepest,
Which Neptune obey ;
Over rocks that are steepest
Love will find out the way.

Where there is no place
For the glow-worm to lie;
Where there is no space
For receipt of a fly;
Where the midge dares not venture
Lest herself fast she lay ;
If love come, he will enter
And soon find out his way.

You may esteem him
A child for his might;
Or you may deem him
A coward from his flight;
But if she whom love doth honour
Be conceal'd from the day,
Set a thousand guards upon her,
Love will find out the way.

Some think to lose him
By having him confined ;
And some do suppose him,
Poor thing, to be blind ;
But if ne'er so close ye wall him,
Do the best that you may,
Blind love, if so ye call him,
Will find out his way.

You

may train the eagle To stoop to your fist;

Or you may inveigle
The phoenix of the east ;
The lioness, ye may move her
To give o'er her prey ;
But you 'll ne'er stop a lover :
He will find out his way.

Anon.

LXXXI

CHILD AND MAIDEN

A

H, Chloris ! could I now but sit

As unconcern'd as when
Your infant beauty could beget

No happiness or pain !
When I the dawn used to admire,

And praised the coming day,
I little thought the rising fire

Would take my rest away.

Your charms in harmless childhood lay

Like metals in a mine ;
Age from no face takes more away

Than youth conceal'd in thine.
But as your charms insensibly

To their perfection prest,
So love as unperceived did fly,

And center'd in my breast.

My passion with your beauty grew,
While Cupid at

heart Still as his mother favour'd you

Threw a new flaming dart :

my

Each gloried in their wanton part;

To make a lover, he
Employ'd the utmost of his art -
To make a beauty, she.

Sir C. Sedley

LXXXII

COUNSEL TO GIRLS

Gold Time is still a-flying

ATHER ye rose-buds while ye may,

And this same flower that smiles to-day,

To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun,

The higher he's a getting The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he's to setting. .

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time;

And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.

R. Herrick

LXXXIII

TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS

'ELL me not, Sweet, I am unkind
That from the

nunnery
Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind,

To war and arms I fly.

TEL

True, a new mistress now I chase,

The first foe in the field ;
And with a stronger faith embrace

A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you too shall adore ,
I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not Honour more.

Colonel Lovelace

LXXXIV

ELIZABETH OF BOHEMIA

YW

OU meaner beauties of the night,

Which poorly satisfy our eyes
More by your number than your light,

You common people of the skies,
What are you, when the Moon shall rise ?

Ye violets that first appear,

By your pure purple mantles known
Like the proud virgins of the year

As if the spring were all your own,
What are you, when the Rose is blown ?