Part 4 (1/2)

Methought last night Love in an anger came And brought a rod, so whipt me with the same; Myrtle the twigs were, merely to imply Love strikes, but 'tis with gentle cruelty.

Patient I was: Love pitiful grew then And strok'd the stripes, and I was whole again.

Thus, like a bee, Love gentle still doth bring Honey to salve where he before did sting.

42. TO LOVE.

I'm free from thee; and thou no more shalt hear My puling pipe to beat against thine ear.

Farewell my shackles, though of pearl they be; Such precious thraldom ne'er shall fetter me.

He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck unto a second yoke.

43. ON HIMSELF.

Young I was, but now am old, But I am not yet grown cold; I can play, and I can twine 'Bout a virgin like a vine: In her lap too I can lie Melting, and in fancy die; And return to life if she Claps my cheek, or kisseth me: Thus, and thus it now appears That our love outlasts our years.

44. LOVE'S PLAY AT PUSH-PIN.

Love and myself, believe me, on a day At childish push-pin, for our sport, did play; I put, he pushed, and, heedless of my skin, Love p.r.i.c.ked my finger with a golden pin; Since which it festers so that I can prove 'Twas but a trick to poison me with love: Little the wound was, greater was the smart, The finger bled, but burnt was all my heart.

_Push-pin_, a game in which pins are pushed with an endeavor to cross them.

45. THE ROSARY.

One ask'd me where the roses grew: I bade him not go seek, But forthwith bade my Julia show A bud in either cheek.

46. UPON CUPID.

Old wives have often told how they Saw Cupid bitten by a flea; And thereupon, in tears half drown'd, He cried aloud: Help, help the wound!

He wept, he sobb'd, he call'd to some To bring him lint and balsamum, To make a tent, and put it in Where the stiletto pierced the skin; Which, being done, the fretful pain a.s.suaged, and he was well again.

_Tent_, a roll of lint for probing wounds.

47. THE PARCae; OR, THREE DAINTY DESTINIES: THE ARMILLET.

Three lovely sisters working were, As they were closely set, Of soft and dainty maidenhair A curious armillet.

I, smiling, asked them what they did, Fair Destinies all three, Who told me they had drawn a thread Of life, and 'twas for me.

They show'd me then how fine 'twas spun, And I reply'd thereto,-- ”I care not now how soon 'tis done, Or cut, if cut by you”.

48. SORROWS SUCCEED.

When one is past, another care we have: _Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave_.

49. CHERRY-PIT.