WHAT means this niceness, now of late? Since time doth truth approve.

Such distance may well stand with State; It cannot stand with Love!

It's either cunning, or distrust,
That doth such ways allow;
The first is base, the last 's unjust:
Let neither blemish you!

If you intend to draw me on;
You overact your Part!

And if you mean to send me gone;
You need not half this Art!

Speak but the word; or do but cast
A look which seems to frown!
I'll give thee all the love that 's past;
The rest shall be my own!

And such a fair and equal way
On both sides, none can blame!
Since every one is bound to play
The fairest of his game!

I DO confess, thou'rt smooth and fair!
And I might have gone near to love thee;
Had I not found, the slightest prayer

That lips could speak, had power to move thee!
But I can let thee now alone;

As worthy to be loved by none!

I do confess, thou'rt sweet! yet find
Thee such an unthrift of thy sweets,
Thy favours are but like the wind,
Which kisseth everything it meets!

And since thou canst love more than one;
Thou'rt worthy to be loved by none!

The morning rose, that untouched stands,
Armed with her briars, how sweetly smells!
But plucked, and strained through ruder hands;
Her sweets no longer with her dwells!

But scent and beauty both are gone;
And leaves fall from it, one by one!

Such fate, ere long, will thee betide!
When thou hast handled been a while,
Like fair flowers, to be thrown aside!
And you shall sigh, when I shall smile,
To see thy love to every one,
Hath brought thee to be loved by none!

DEAR! leave thy home; and come with me!
That scorn the World for love of thee.
Here, we will live, within this Park;
A Court of Joy, and Pleasure's Ark!

Here, we will hunt! Here, we will range! Constant in love; our sports we'll change! Of hearts, if any change we make;

I will have thine! thou, mine shall take!

Here, we will walk upon the lawns;
And see the tripping of the fawns!
And all the deer shall wait on thee;
Thou shalt command both them and me!

The leaves a whispering noise shall make! Their music notes the birds shall take! And while thou art in quiet sleep,

And the green wood shall silence keep:

And while my herds about thee feed;
Love's lessons, in thy face I'll read!
And feed upon thy lovely look ;
For Beauty hath no fairer book!

It's not the weather, nor the air;
It is thyself, that is so fair!

Nor doth it rain, when heaven lowers;

But when you frown, then, fall the showers!

One sun alone moves in the sky;
Two suns thou hast, one in each eye!
Only by day that sun gives light;
Where thine doth rise, there is no night!

Fair starry twins! scorn not to shine
Upon my lambs! upon my kine!

My grass doth grow! my corn and wheat,
My fruit, my vines, thrive by their heat!

Thou shalt have wool! Thou shalt have silk!
Thou shalt have honey, wine, and milk!
Thou shalt have all! for all is due,

Where thoughts are free, and love is true!

ON A LOVER,

THAT WOULD NOT BE BELOVED AGAIN. DISDAIN me still! that I may ever love!

For who his Love enjoys, can love no more! The war once past, with peace men cowards prove; And ships returned, do rot upon the shore! [fair!' Then, though thou frown, I'll say, 'Thou art most And still I'll love; though still I must despair!

As heat 's to life; so is desire to Love!
For these once quenched, both life and Love are done!
Let not my sighs, nor tears, thy virtue move!
Like basest metals, do not melt too soon!

Laugh at my woes! although I ever mourn.
LOVE surfeits with rewards! His Nurse is scorn!

THE HEART ENTIRE.

CANST thou love me; and yet doubt
So much falsehood in my heart,
That a way I should find out
To impart

Fragments of a broken love to you;
More than all, being less than due!
O, no! Love must clear distrust;
Or be eaten up with rust!

Short love-liking may find jars;

The love that 's lasting knows no wars!

This Belief begets Delight,

And so satisfies Desire,

That, in them, it shines as light;
No more fire!

All the burning qualities appeased;
Each, in other's joying pleased.

Not a whisper, not a thought,

But 'twixt both in common 's brought!

Even to seem Two, they are loth;
Love being but one Soul in both!