A LOVER'S COMPLAINT. INTRODUCTION. As already mentioned in the Introduction to the Sonnets this poem first appeared in the quarto containing the Sonnets published in 1609. In a letter to the Editor of the "Leopold Shakespeare," Professor Delius says: "A Lover's Complaint may belong to the end of Shakespeare's second period, or to the third and latest period; so you may place it with Othello," in the chronological order. 20 Oft did she heave her napkin to her eyne, Hanging her pale and pined cheek beside ; Though slackly braided in loose negligence. These often bathed she in her fluxive eyes, 50 This said, in top of rage the lines she rents, A reverend man that grazed his cattle nigh-- So slides he down upon his grained bat, 70 'Father,' she says, though in me you behold The injury of many a blasting hour, Let it not tell your judgment I am old; Not age, but sorrow, over me hath power: 'But, woe is me! too early I attended A youthful suit-it was to gain my grace- And when in his fair parts she did abide, "His browny locks did hang in crooked curls; wear : Yet show'd his visage by that cost more dear; And nice affections wavering stood in doubt If best were as it was, or best without. 'His qualities were beauteous as his form, 99 His rudeness so with his authorized youth Well could he ride, and often men would say "That horse his mettle from his rider takes: Proud of subjection, noble by the sway, What rounds, what bounds, what course, what stop he makes!" And controversy hence a question takes, 110 'But quickly on this side the verdict went: 'So many have, that never touch'd his hand, Sweetly supposed them mistress of his heart. My woeful self, that did in freedom stand, And was my own fee-simple, not in part, What with his art in youth, and youth in art, Threw my affections in his charmed power, Reserved the stalk and gave him all my flower. 'Yet did I not, as some my equals did, Demand of him, nor being desired yielded ; Finding myself in honor so forbid, 150 With safest distance I mine honor shielded : Of this false jewel, and his amorous spoil 'But, ah, who ever shunn'd by precedent 'Nor gives it satisfaction to our blood, 'For further I could say "This man's untrue," And knew the patterns of his foul beguiling; Heard where his plants in others' orchards grew, 171 Saw how deceits were gilded in his smiling; Knew vows were ever brokers to defiling; Thought characters and words merely but art, And bastards of his foul adulterate heart. And long upon these terms I held my city, Till thus he gan besiege me: "Gentle maid, Have of my suffering youth some feeling pity, And be not of my holy vows afraid : That's to ye sworn to none was ever said; 180 For feasts of love I have been call'd unto, Till now did ne'er invite, nor never woo. To spend her living in eternal love. ""But, O my sweet, what labor is't to leave The thing we have not, mastering what not strives, 240 †Playing the place which did no form receive, ""O, pardon me, in that my boast is true: 250 ""How mighty then you are, O, hear me tell' Must for your victory us all congest, 666 My parts had power to charm a sacred nun, 260 Who, disciplined, ay, dieted in grace, "When thou impressest, what are precepts worth Of stale example? When thou wilt inflame, How coldly those impediments stand forth 269 Of wealth, of filial fear, law, kindred, fame! †Love's arms are peace, 'gainst rule, 'gainst sense, 'gainst shame, And sweetens, in the suffering pangs it bears, The aloes of all forces, shocks, and fears. ""Now all these hearts that do on mine depend, Feeling it break, with bleeding groans they pine; And supplicant their sighs to you extend, To leave the battery that you make 'gainst mine, Lending soft audience to my sweet design, And credent soul to that strong-bonded oath That shall prefer and undertake my troth Or swooning paleness; and he takes and leaves, In either's aptness, as it best deceives, To blush at speeches rank to weep at woes, Or to turn white and swoon at tragic shows: 'That not a heart which in his level came Could 'scape the hail of his all-hurting aim, Showing fair nature is both kind and tame ; And, veil'd in them, did win whom he would maim : [claim; Against the thing he sought he would exWhen he most burn'd in heart-wish'd luxury, He preach'd pure maid, and praised cold chastity. 'Thus merely with the garment of a Grace The naked and concealed fiend he cover'd; That th' unexperient gave the tempter place, Which like a cherubin above them hover'd. Who, young and simple, would not be so lover'd? Ay me! I fell; and yet do question make 'O, that infected moisture of his eye, 320 O, that false fire which in his cheek so glow'd 329 THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE. INTRODUCTION. The Phoenix and the Turtle was printed as one of the additional poems to Chester's Love's Martyr, or Rosalind's Complaint, 1601, with Shakespeare's name appended. That it is his seems in a high degree doubtful; Mr. Furnivall says, "it is no doubt spurious." Property was thus appalled, That it cried, How true a twain Whereupon it made this threne 40 50 |