IX PRESENT IN ABSENCE ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation Against thy strength, Distance, and length; Do what thou canst for alteration: For hearts of truest mettle Absence doth join, and Time doth settle. Who loves a mistress of such quality, Beyond time, place, and all mortality. Absence is Presence, Time doth tarry. By absence this good means I gain, Where none can watch her, Anon. X ABSENCE EING your slave, what should I do but tend BEING Upon the hours and time of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend Nor services to do, till you require : Nor dare I chide the world-without-end-hour Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you, When you have bid your servant once adieu : Nor dare I question with my jealous thought So true a fool is love, that in your will, W. Shakespeare XI H OW like a winter hath my absence been From Thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen, What old December's bareness everywhere! And yet this time removed was summer's time: Yet this abundant issue seem'd to me Or if they sing, 't is with so dull a cheer, WHE XII A CONSOLATION WHEN in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, For thy sweet love remember'd, such wealth brings O XIII THE UNCHANGEABLE NEVER say that I was false of heart, Though absence seem'd my flame to qualify: As easy might I from myself depart As from my soul, which in thy breast doth lie; That is my home of love; if I have ranged, Just to the time, not with the time exchanged, Never believe, though in my nature reign'd For nothing this wide universe I call, W. Shakespeare XIV 'O me, fair Friend, you never can be old, your eye eyed Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold Have from the forests shook three summers' pride; Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turn'd Ah! yet doth beauty, like a dial hand, For fear of which, hear this, thou age unbred, DIA XV DIAPHENIA IAPHENIA like the daffadowndilly, Heigh ho, how I do love thee ! I do love thee as my lambs Are beloved of their dams; How blest were I if thou wouldst prove me. Diaphenia like the spreading roses, That in thy sweets all sweets encloses, Fair sweet, how I do love thee! I do love thee as each flower Loves the sun's life-giving power; For dead, thy breath to life might move me. Diaphenia like to all things blessed As the birds do love the spring, Then in requite, sweet virgin, love me ! XVI ROSALINE H. Constable IKE to the clear in highest sphere L'Where all cheperial glory thines, Of selfsame colour is her hair Whether unfolded, or in twines : |