Part 7 (2/2)

Nor doth she with power less bright My divided heart invade, 50 Whose soft tresses spread, like night, O'er her shoulders a black shade; For the starlight of her eyes Brighter s.h.i.+nes through those dark skies.

Black, or fair, or tall, or low, 55 I alike with all can sport, The bold sprightly Thas woo, Or the frozen vestal court: Every beauty takes my mind, Tied to all, to none confin'd. 60

LA BELLE CONFIDANTE.

You earthly souls that court a wanton flame, Whose pale weak influence Can rise no higher than the humble name And narrow laws of sense!

Learn by our friends.h.i.+p to create 5 An immaterial fire, Whose brightness angels may admire But cannot emulate.

Sickness may fright the roses from her cheek, Or make the lilies fade, 10 But all the subtle ways that Death doth seek Cannot my love invade.

Flames that are kindled by the eye Through time and age expire, But ours, that boast a reach far higher, 15 Cannot decay or die.[45:1]

For[45:2] when we must resign our vital breath, Our loves by Fate benighted,[45:3]

We by this friends.h.i.+p shall survive in death, Even in divorce united: 20 Weak love, through fortune or distrust, In time forgets to burn, But this pursues us to the urn, And marries either's dust.

LA BELLE ENNEMIE.

I yield, dear enemy, nor know How to resist so fair a foe.

Who would not thy soft yoke sustain, And bow beneath thy easy chain, That with a bondage blest might be 5 Which far transcends all liberty?

But since I freely have resign'd, At first a.s.sault, my willing mind, Insult not o'er my captiv'd heart With too much tyranny and art, 10 Lest by thy scorn thou lose the prize Gain'd by the power of thy bright eyes; And thou this conquest thus shalt prove, Though got by beauty, kept by love.

LOVE DEPOSED.

You that unto your mistress' eyes Your hearts do sacrifice, And offer sighs or tears at Love's rich shrine, Renounce with me Th' idolatry, 5 Nor this infernal power esteem divine!

The brand, the quiver, and the bow, Which we did first bestow, And he as tribute wears from every lover, I back again 10 From him have ta'en, And the impostor now unveil'd discover.

I can the feeble Child disarm, Untie his mystic charm, Divest him of his wings, and break his arrow; 15 We will obey No more his sway, Nor live confin'd to laws or bounds so narrow

And you, bright Beauties, that inspire The Boy's pale torch with fire, 20 We safely now your subtle power despise, And unscorch'd may, Like atoms, play And wanton in the suns.h.i.+ne of your eyes.

Nor think hereafter by new arts 25 You can bewitch our hearts, Or raise this devil by your pleasing charm: We will no more His power implore, Unless, like Indians, that he do no harm. 30

THE DIVORCE.

Dear, back my wounded heart restore, And turn away thy powerful eyes; Flatter my willing soul no more: Love must not[46:1] hope what Fate denies.

Take, take away thy smiles and kisses! 5 Thy love wounds deeper than disdain; For he that sees the heaven he misses, Sustains two h.e.l.ls of loss and pain.

Shouldst thou some other's suit prefer, I might return thy scorn to thee, 10 And learn apostasy of her Who taught me, first, idolatry.[46:2]

Or in thy unrelenting breast Should I[46:3] disdain or coyness move, He by thy hate might be releas'd, } 15 Who now is prisoner to thy love. }[46:4]

Since, then, unkind Fate will divorce Those whom affection long united, Be thou as cruel as this force, And I in death shall be delighted. 20

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