Volume Ii Part 49 (1/2)
Ben Jonson [1573?-1637]
”TAKE, O TAKE THOSE LIPS AWAY”
Take, O take those lips away, That so sweetly were forsworn, And those eyes, the break of day, Lights that do mislead the morn; But my kisses bring again, Seals of love, but sealed in vain.
Hide, O hide those hills of snow, Which thy frozen bosom bears, On whose tops the pinks that grow Are of those that April wears!
But first set my poor heart free, Bound in those icy chains by thee.
The first stanza from ” Measure for Measure,” by William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
The second stanza from ”The b.l.o.o.d.y Brothers,” by John Fletcher [1579-1625]
A STOLEN KISS
Now gentle sleep hath closed up those eyes Which, waking, kept my boldest thoughts in awe; And free access unto that sweet lip lies, From which I long the rosy breath to draw.
Methinks no wrong it were, if I should steal From those two melting rubies one poor kiss; None sees the theft that would the thief reveal, Nor rob I her of aught that she can miss; Nay, should I twenty kisses take away, There would be little sign I had done so; Why then should I this robbery delay?
O, she may wake, and therewith angry grow!
Well if she do, I'll back restore that one, And twenty hundred thousand more for loan.
George Wither [1588-1667]
SONG
My Love bound me with a kiss That I should no longer stay; When I felt so sweet a bliss I had less power to part away: Alas! that women do not know Kisses make men loath to go.
Yes, she knows it but too well, For I heard when Venus' dove In her ear did softly tell That kisses were the seals of love: O muse not then though it be so, Kisses make men loath to go.
Wherefore did she thus inflame My desires, heat my blood, Instantly to quench the same And starve whom she had given food?
Ay, ay, the common sense can show, Kisses make men loath to go.
Had she bid me go at first I would ne'er have grieved my heart Hope delayed had been the worst; But ah to kiss and then to part!
How deep it struck, speak, G.o.ds! you know Kisses make men loath to go.
Unknown
TO ELECTRA
I dare not ask a kiss, I dare not beg a smile, Lest having that, or this, I might grow proud the while.