You violets that first appear,

By your pure purple mantles known
Like the proud virgins of the year

As if the spring were all your own,—
What are you, when the Rose is blown?

So when my Mistress shall be seen
In form and beauty of her mind,
By virtue first, then choice, a Queen,
Tell me, if she were not design'd
Th' eclipse and glory of her kind?

15

20

Sir H. Wotton.

XXVII.

TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY.

DAUGHTER to that good Earl, once President
Of England's Council and her Treasury,
Who lived in both, unstain'd with gold or fee,
And left them both, more in himself content,

Till the sad breaking of that parliament
Broke him, as that dishonest victory

CXI.

5

At Chaeronea, fatal to liberty,

Kill'd with report that old man eloquent ;

Though later born than to have known the days
Wherein your father flourish'd, yet by you,

10

Madam, methinks I see him living yet;

So well your words his noble virtues praise,
That all both judge you to relate them true,
And to possess them, honour'd Margaret.

J. Milton.

SWEET, be not proud of those two eyes
Which starlike sparkle in their skies;
Nor be you proud, that you can see
All hearts your captives; yours yet free:
Be you not proud of that rich hair
Which wantons with the lovesick air;
Whenas that ruby which you wear,
Sunk from the tip of your soft ear,
Will last to be a precious stone
When all your world of beauty's gone.

CXII.

5

10

CXIII.

5

10

R. Herrick.

XXX.

XXXI.

LOVE in thy youth, fair Maid, be wise;
Old Time will make thee colder,

And though each morning new arise

Yet we each day grow older.

Thou as Heaven art fair and young,

Thine eyes like twin stars shining;

But ere another day be sprung

All these will be declining.

Then winter comes with all his fears,

And all thy sweets shall borrow;

Too late then wilt thou shower thy tears,---
And I too late shall sorrow!

Anon.

TO A ROSE.

Go, lovely Rose:

Tell her, that wastes her time and me,

That now she knows,

CXIV.

5

10

CXV.

XXXII.

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!

XXXIII.

TO CELIA.

DRINK to me only with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup

20

E. Waller.

CXVI.

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,

15

Not of itself but thee!

B. Jonson.

CHERRY-RIPE

THERE is a garden in her face

Where roses and white lilies blow;
A heavenly paradise is that place,
Wherein all pleasant fruits do grow;

CXVII.

XXXIV.

There cherries grow that none may buy,
Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry.

Those cherries fairly do enclose

Of orient pearl a double row,

Which when her lovely laughter shows,

They look like rose-buds fill❜d with snow:
Yet them no peer nor prince may buy,
Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry.

Her eyes like angels watch them still;
Her brows like bended bows do stand,
Threat'ning with piercing frowns to kill
All that approach with eye or hand
These sacred cherries to come nigh,
-Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry!

Anon.

CORINNA'S MAYING.

GET up, get up for shame! The blooming morn
Upon her wings presents the god unshorn.

See how Aurora throws her fair

Fresh-quilted colours through the air:
Get up, sweet Slug-a-bed, and see
The dew bespangling herb and tree.

Each flower has wept, and bow'd toward the east,

Above an hour since; yet you not drest,

Nay not so much as out of bed?

5

10

15

CXVIII.

5

When all the birds have matins said,

10

And sung their thankful hymns: 'tis sin,

Nay, profanation, to keep in,--

Whenas a thousand virgins on this day,

Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch-in May.