All ignorant that soul that sees thee without wonder; 65 Which, not to anger bent, is music and sweet fire. To sing heaven's praise with such an earthly tongue. VI Scarce had the sun dried up the dewy morn, And scarce the herd gone to the hedge for shade, A brook where Adon us'd to cool his spleen. And stood stark naked on the brook's green brim. 80 Yet not so wistly as this queen on him. He, spying her, bounc'd in whereas he stood. VII Fair is my love, but not so fair as fickle; Mild as a dove, but neither true nor trusty; Brighter than glass, and yet, as glass is, brittle; 85 Softer than wax, and yet, as iron, rusty: Her lips to mine how often hath she joined, Her faith, her oaths, her tears, and all were jestings. She burn'd with love, as straw with fire flameth; [VIII] If music and sweet poetry agree, As they must needs, the sister and the brother, 100 105 110 Thou lov'st to hear the sweet melodious sound One god is god of both, as poets feign; One knight loves both, and both in thee remain. 115 IX Fair was the morn when the fair queen of love, Paler for sorrow than her milk-white dove, 120 125 130 X Sweet rose, fair flower, untimely pluck'd, soon faded, Pluck'd in the bud, and faded in the spring! Bright orient pearl, alack, too timely shaded! Fair creature, kill'd too soon by death's sharp sting! I weep for thee, and yet no cause I have, For why thou left'st me nothing in thy will; O yes, dear friend, I pardon crave of thee, [xi] Venus, with young Adonis sitting by her 135 140 She told the youngling how god Mars did try her, 145 And as he fell to her, so fell she to him. "Even thus," quoth she, "the warlike god embrac'd me," And then she clipp'd Adonis in her arms; 150 "Even thus," quoth she, "the warlike god unlac'd me,” As if the boy should use like loving charms; "Even thus," quoth she, "he seized on my lips," And with her lips on his did act the seizure: And as she fetched breath, away he skips, And would not take her meaning nor her pleasure. Ah, that I had my lady at this bay, To kiss and clip me till I run away! 155 XII Crabbed age and youth cannot live together: 160 Youth is full of sport, age's breath is short; Youth is nimble, age is lame; Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold; Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee; 165 O, my love, my love is young! Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee, XIII Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good; 170 A doubtful good, a gloss, a glass, a flower, 175 And as goods lost are seld or never found, So beauty blemish'd once 's for ever lost, 180 |