Cautious, she knew never yet Of herself survey she takes, But 'tweene men no difference makes. She obeyes with speedy will Here grave parents' wise commands; She nor acts nor understands. Women's feet runne still astray, She sailes by that rocke, the court, Where vice is enthron'd for wit. She holds that daye's pleasure best O're that darknesse whence is thrust She her throne makes reason climbe, Her pure thoughts to Heaven flie: All her vowes religious be, TO CASTARA. Why should we feare to melt away in death, There, when o' th' wedding eve some beauteous maid, The tribute of her vowes: o' th' sudden shee Two violets sprouting from the tombe will see: And cry out, "Ye sweet emblems of their zeale The faithfull patterns of their love shall be? If not, hang downe your heads opprest with dew, TO THE SAME. Give me a heart where no impure Nor wooed to madnesse by queint oathes, To vice or folly doth decline; Give me that heart, Castara, for 'tis thine. Take thou a heart where no new looke With no fresh charme of beauty tooke, Not idly wand'ring here and there, Led by an am'rous eye and eare. Aiming each beauteous marke to hit ; Which vertue doth to one confine: Take thou that heart, Castara, for 'tis mine. TO CASTARA, HOW HAPPY, THOUGH IN AN OBSCURE FORTUNE. Were we by Fate throwne downe below our feare, Could we be poore? Or question Nature's care In our provision? She who doth afford A feathered garment fit for every bird, And onely voyce enough t' expresse delight: As if in that she'de teach man's duller sence, If thus she cares for things even voyd of sence, TO CASTARA, INVITING HER TO SLEEPE. Sleepe, my Castara! silence doth invite Thy eyes to close up day; though envious Night Rest in thy peace secure. With drowsie charmes Kinde Sleepe bewitcheth thee into her armes; And finding where Love's chiefest treasure lies, Wrought by the Persian hand, thy dreames from guilt May sleepe thy fever calmely chase away. TO CASTARA, WHERE TRUE HAPPINESSE ABIDES. Castara, whisper in some dead man's eare Hee'le say they flow not on th' uncertaine tide Nor lurke they in the caverns of the earth, If among these content, he thus doth prove, TO CASTARA PRAYING. I saw Castara pray, and from the skie Faire zeale begets such wonders. O divine And purest beauty, let me thee enshrine Shine thou the starre by which my thoughts shall move, TO FAME. Fly on thy swiftest wing, ambitious Fame, For she with want would have her bounty meet, DOMINE LABIA MEA APERIES. Noe monument of me remaine, In the same marble with my dust, Ye glorious wonders of the skies, Th' Almightie's mystick characters! Nor, to perfume her veines, will I The purple of the violet: The untoucht flowre may grow and dye Safe from my fancie's injurie. Open my lippes, great God! and then Ile soare above The humble flight of carnall love. For what can our unbounded soules Their object finde, excepting thee? Where can I fixe? since time controules Our pride, whose motion all things roules. Should I my selfe ingratiate T'a prince's smile, How soone may death my hopes beguile! If I court gold, will it not rust? Toward a female beauty move, But thou, æternall banquet! where May feede without satietie! Who art, while all things else appeare! While up to thee I shoote my flame, A holy death, that murders sence, It crownes me with a victory So heavenly, all That's earth from me away doth fall. And I, from my corruption free, Grow in my vowes even part of thee. 66 NOX NOCTI INDICAT SCIENTIAM." When I survay the bright So rich with jewels hung, that night My soule her wings doth spread, The Almighty's mysteries to read |