I cannot speak, but I can do
As much as any of our crew;
And if you doubt it, some of you

May prove me.

I dare be bold thus much to say,
If that my bullets do but play,
You would be hurt so night and day,
Yet love me.

Orfames' Song

'HY so pale and wan, fond lover?
Prithee, why so pale?

WH

Will, when looking well can't move her,

Looking ill prevail?

Prithee, why so pale?

Why so mute and dumb, young sinner?

Prithee, why so mute?

Will, when speaking well can't win her,

Saying nothing do't?

Prithee, why so mute?

Quit, quit, for shame, this will not move:

This cannot take her.

If of herself she will not love,
Nothing can make her :
The devil take her!

The Conftant Lover

O

UT upon it! I have loved

Three whole days together;

And am like to love three more,

If it prove fine weather.

Time shall moult away his wings,
Ere he shall discover

In the whole wide world again
Such a constant lover.

But the spite on 't is, no praise
Is due at all to me:

Love with me had made no stays,

Had it any been but she.

Had it any been but she,

And that very face,

There had been at least, ere this,

A dozen in her place!

I

PRITHEE send me back my heart,
Since I cannot have thine:

For if from yours you will not part, Why then shouldst thou have mine?

Yet now I think on 't, let it lie,
To find it, were in vain,

For th' hast a thief in either eye

Would steal it back again.

Why should two hearts in one breast lie,

And yet not lodge together?

O love! where is thy sympathy,

If thus our breasts you sever?

But love is such a mystery,
I cannot find it out:

For when I think I'm best resolv'd,

I then am most in doubt.

Then farewell care, and farewell woe,

I will no longer pine:

For I'll believe I have her heart,
As much as she has mine.

T

Love and Debt

HERE'S one request I make to Him,
Who sits the clouds above:

That I were fairly out of debt,

As I am out of love.

Then for to dance, to drink, to sing
I should be very willing:

I should not owe one lass a kiss,
Nor any rogue a shilling.

'Tis only being in love or debt,
That robs us of our rest,
And he that is quite out of both,
Of all the world is blest.

He sees the golden age, wherein
All things were free and common;
He eats, he drinks, he takes his rest-
And fears nor man nor woman.

William Cartwright (1611-1643)

Lefbia on her Sparrow

T

WELL me not of joy! there's none,
Now my little sparrow's gone:
He, just as you,

Would sigh and woo,

He would chirp and flatter me;
He would hang the wing a while,
Till at length he saw me smile,
Lord! how sullen he would be!

He would catch a crumb, and then
Sporting let it go again;
He from my lip

Would moisture sip,

He would from my trencher feed:
Then would hop, and then would run,
And cry Phillip when he'd done:
Oh! whose heart can choose but bleed?

Oh! how eager would he fight,

And ne'er hurt though he did bite.
No morn did pass,