Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret,
Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes :

Rain added to a river that is rank,
Perforce will force it overflow the bank.

4

Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,
For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale ;
Still is he sullen, still he lowers and frets,
"Twixt crimson shame, and anger ashy-pale;

Being red, she loves him best; and being white,
Her best is better'd with a more delight.

Look how he can, she cannot choose but love ;
And by her fair immortal hand she swears
From his soft bosom never to remove,
Till he take truce with her contending tears, [wet;

Which long have rain’d, making her cheeks all
And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.

Upon this promise did he raise his chin,
Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave,
Who being look'd on, ducks as quickly in ;
So offers he to give what she did crave;

But when her lips were ready for his pay,
He winks, and turns his lips another way,

Never did passenger in summer's heat
More thirst for drink, than she for this good turn:
Her help she sees, but help she cannot get ;

4 rank] i. e. abounding in water.

She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn :

* Oh, pity," 'gan she cry, "flint-hearted boy! “ 'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy?

“ I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now,
“ Even by the stern and direful god of war,
* Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow,
• Who conquers where he comes, in

" Yet hath he been my captive and my slave,
“ And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt

have.

every jar;

“Over my altars hath he hung his lance, “ His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest, “And for my sake hath learn’d to sport and dance, “To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest ;

“Scorning his churlish drum, and ensign red, “ Making my arms his field, his tent my bed.

66

66

66

“ Thus he that over

r-ruld, I oversway'd, "Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain : "Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength " Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. [obey'd,

“() be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, "For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight!

66

Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine, * (Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red,) * The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine :

What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head;

“Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies: " Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes?

.“ Art thou asham’d to kiss ? then wink again,
“ And I will wink, so shall the day seem night;
“ Love keeps his revels where there are but twain;
“ Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight:

“ These blue-vein'd violets whereon we lean
“ Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.

“ The tender spring upon thy tempting lip
“Shows thee unripe; yet may'st thou well be

tasted ;
“Make use of time, let not advantage slip;
Beauty within itself should not be wasted:
"Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime,
“ Rot and consume themselves in little time.

“ Were I hard-favour'd, foul, or wrinkled-old,
“ Ill-nurtur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice,
“O'er-worn, despised, rheumatick and cold,
“Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice,
“ Then might'st thou pause, for then I were

not for thee;
“But having no defects, why dost abhor me?

“ Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow;
"Mine eyes are grey, and bright, and quick in

turning;

"My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow,
My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning;
“My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand

felt,
“ Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt.

66

"Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear, “ Or, like a fairy, trip upon

the

green,
"Or, like a nymph, with long dishevell’d hair,
“Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen:

“ Love is a spirit all compact of fire,
“ Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.

a

* Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie;
“ These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support
me;

[sky, "Two strengthless doves will draw me through the " From morn to night, even where I list to sport me:

“ Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be
" That thou should'st think it heavy unto thee?

6

"Is thine own heart to thine own face affected ?
"Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left?
" Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected,
“Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft.

“ Narcissus, so, himself himself forsook,
* And died to kiss his shadow in the brook,

“ Torches are made to light, jewels to wear, “ Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use,

6

66

“ Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear ; “ Things growing to themselves are growth's abuse: “ Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth

beauty, “ Thou wast begot,—to get it is thy duty.

“ Upon the earth's increase why should’st thou feed,
“ Unless the earth with thy increase be fed ?

· By law of Nature thou art bound to breed,
" That thine may live, when thou thyself art dead;

* And so in spite of death thou dost survive,
“ In that thy likeness still is left alive."

By this, the love-sick queen began to sweat,
For, where they lay, the shadow had forsook them,
And Titan, 'tired in the midday heat,
With burning eye did hotly overlook them;

Wishing Adonis had his team to guide,
So he were like him, and by Venus' side.

And now Adonis, with a lazy spright,
And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye,
Ilis lowering brows o’erwhelming his fair sight,
Like misty vapours, when they blot the sky,

Souring his cheeks, cries, “ Fie, no more of love!
“The sun doth burn my face; I must remove."

“Ab me.” quoth Venus, “ young, and so unkind ! " What bare excuses mak’st thou to begone!