Volume Ii Part 25 (2/2)
O that her grace would my wished comforts give!
How rich in her, how happy should I live!
All my desire, all my delight should be Her to enjoy, her to unite to me; Envy should cease, her would I love alone: Who loves by looks, is seldom true to one.
Could I enchant, and that it lawful were, Her would I charm softly that none should hear; But love enforced rarely yields firm content: So would I love that neither should repent.
Thomas Campion [?--1619]
”THERE IS NONE, O NONE BUT YOU”
There is none, O none but you, That from me estrange the sight, Whom mine eyes affect to view, And chained ears hear with delight.
Other beauties others move: In you I all graces find; Such is the effect of Love, To make them happy that are kind.
Women in frail beauty trust, Only seem you fair to me: Still prove truly kind and just, For that may not dissembled be.
Sweet, afford me then your sight, That, surveying all your looks, Endless volumes I may write, And fill the world with envied books:
Which, when after-ages view, All shall wonder and despair,-- Woman, to find a man so true, Or man, a woman half so fair!
Thomas Campion [?--1619]
OF CORINNA'S SINGING
When to her lute Corinna sings, Her voice revives the leaden strings, And doth in highest notes appear, As any challenged echo clear: But when she doth of mourning speak, E'en with her sighs, the strings do break.
And as her lute doth live or die, Led by her pa.s.sion, so must I!
For when of pleasure she doth sing, My thoughts enjoy a sudden spring: But if she doth of sorrow speak, E'en from my heart the strings do break.
Thomas Campion [?--1619]
”WERE MY HEART AS SOME MEN'S ARE”
Were my heart as some men's are, thy errors would not move me; But thy faults I curious find, and speak because I love thee: Patience is a thing divine, and far, I grant, above me.
Foes sometimes befriend us more, our blacker deeds objecting, Than the obsequious bosom-guest with false respect affecting: Friends.h.i.+p is the Gla.s.s of Truth, our hidden stains detecting.
When I use of eyes enjoy, and inward light of reason, Thy observer will I be and censor, but in season: Hidden mischief to conceal in State and Love is treason.
Thomas Campion [?--1619]
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