Robert Berrick

No, no, the utmost share
Of my desire shall be
Only to kiss that air

That late kissed thee.

IN
CALIF

LY

His Covenant; or Protestation to Julia

WHY dost thou wound and break my heart,

As if we should for ever part?

Hast thou not heard an oath from me,

After a day, or two, or three,

I would come back and live with thee?
Take, if thou dost distrust that vow,
This second protestation now.
Upon thy cheek that spangled tear,
Which sits as dew of roses there,

That tear shall scarce be dried before
I'll kiss the threshold of thy door.

(Then weep not, Sweet; but this much know,
'm half return'd before I go.

To Julia

JULIA, when thy Herrick dies,
Close thou up thy poet's eyes:
And his last breath, let it be

Taken in by none but thee.

William Strode

was born in Devonshire in 1600. He was educated at Westminster and Oxford, and in 1638 he became Canon of Christ Church. He was an eloquent preacher, and a poet of some eminence. He died in 1644.

Kisses

My love and I for kisses play'd;

She would keep stakes, I was content;
But when I won she would be paid,

This made me ask her what she meant ;

Nay, since I see (quoth she) you wrangle in vain,
Take your own kisses, give me mine again.

Edmund Waller

was born at Coleshill in Warwickshire in 1605, and, whilst still a youth, inherited a large fortune. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and was but a youth of seventeen when elected to represent Agmondesham in Parliament. At the age of twenty-three he married a rich heiress, who died a year or so afterwards. At twenty-five he was singing the praises of Lady Dorothy Sydney, who, though appreciating the verses addressed to her as Sacharissa, neglected the poet, and married the Earl of Sunderland. After this, Waller married a lady named Bresse, and was blessed with a family of thirteen children. Differences arising between the Parliament and the King, Waller was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with his Majesty. Later, Waller was arrested for treason, and made a speech in the House of Commons which is said to have saved his life, but he is also recorded to have spent £30,000 in bribes. He suffered a year's imprisonment, and had to pay a fine of £10,000. Obtaining his liberty, he removed to France, but, a poor man now, funds failed him. He obtained leave from Cromwell to return, and it would seem that the Protector took pleasure in his company, but had no reliance in him as a partisan. Waller recognised the generosity extended him in suitable verse, but the poet's praises were none the less lavishly bestowed upon Charles II., when the Restoration was accomplished. He died in 1687. In his later years he wrote certain Divine Poems, but his fame rests upon his lighter verse. His amorous poems, usually produced with great labour, are the most esteemed.

Lines to a Girdle

THAT which her slender waist confined,
Shall now my joyful temples bind ;
No monarch but would give his crown
His arms might do what this has done.

It was my heaven's extremest sphere,
The pale which held that lovely deer;
My joy, my grief, my hope, my love
Did all within this circle move.

A narrow compass! and yet there
Dwelt all that's good, and all that's fair;
Give me but what this riband bound,
Take all the rest the sun goes round.

Lines to a Rose

Go, lovely rose !

Tell her that wastes her time and me,

That now she knows,

When I resemble her to thee,

How sweet and fair she seems to be.

Tell her, that's young,

And shuns to have her graces spied,

That, had'st thou sprung

In deserts, where no men abide,
Thou must have uncommended died.

Small is the worth

Of beauty from the light retired :

Bid her come forth,

Suffer herself to be desired,

And not blush so to be admired.

Edmund Waller

Then die! that she

The common fate of all things rare

May read in thee,

How small a part of time they share
That are so wondrous sweet and fair.

[Kirke White added this verse.]

Yet, though thou fade,

From thy dead leaves let fragrance rise; And teach the maid

That goodness Time's rude hand defies,— That virtue lives when beauty dies.