My Love Bound me with a Kiss

My Love bound me with a kiss
That I should no longer stay;
When I felt so sweet a bliss

I had less power to part away:
Alas! that women do not know
Kisses make men loath to gc.

Yes, she knows it but too well,
For I heard when Venus' dove

In her ear did softly tell

That kisses were the seals of love: O muse not then though it be so, Kisses make men loath to go.

Wherefore did she thus inflame
My desires, heat my blood,
Instantly to quench the same

And starve whom she had given food? Ay, ay, the common sense can show Kisses make men loath to go.

Had she bid me go at first

It would ne'er have grieved my heart, Hope delayed had been the worst;

But ah to kiss and then to part!

How deep it struck, speak, gods, you know

Kisses make men loath to go.

Love me not for Comely Grace

Love me not for comely grace,
For my pleasing eye or face,
Nor for any outward part:
No, nor for a constant heart!
For these may fail or turn to ill:
So thou and I shall sever.

Keep therefore a true woman's eye,
And love me still, but know not why!
So hast thou the same reason still

To doat upon me ever.

Hands how have I Grace

Entreated

At her fair hands how have I grace entreated,

With prayers oft repeated!

Yet still my love is thwarted: Heart, let her go, for she 'll not be converted.

Say, shall she go?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no!

She is most fair, though she be marblehearted.

How often have my sighs declared mine anguish,

Wherein I daily languish!

Yet still she doth procure it:

Heart, let her go, for I cannot endure it. Say, shall she go?

O, no, no, no, no, no!

She gave the wound, and she alone must cure it.

AT HER FAIR HANDS

The trickling tears that down my cheeks have flowed

My love have often showed;

Yet still unkind I prove her:

Heart, let her go, for nought I do can move her.

Say, shall she go?

O, no, no, no, no, no!

Though me she hate I cannot choose but love her.

But shall I still a true affection owe her,

Which prayers, sighs, tears do show her,

And shall she still disdain me?

Heart, let her go, if they no grace can gain me.

Say, shall she go?

O, no, no, no, no, no!

She made me hers, and hers she will retain me.

But if the love that hath and still doth burn me

No love at length return me,

Out of my thoughts I'll set her: Heart, let her go, O heart, I pray thee,

let her.