and yet I Live

Once did I love and yet I live,

Though love and truth be now forgotten;

Then did I joy, now do I grieve

That holy vows must now be broken.

Hers be the blame that caused it so, Mine be the grief though it be mickle; She shall have shame, I cause to know What 'tis to love a dame so fickle.

Love her that list, I am content

For that chameleon-like she changeth, Yielding such mists as may prevent My sight to view her when she rangeth.

Let him not vaunt that gains my loss, For when that he and time hath proved her,

She may him bring to Weeping-Cross:
I say no more, because I loved her.

Once did my
Thoughts both

Ebb and Flow

Once did my thoughts both ebb and flow, As passion did them move;

Once did I hope, straight fear again,— And then I was in love.

Once did I waking spend the night,
And tell how many minutes move;
Once did I wishing waste the day,—
And then I was in love.

Once, by my carving true love's knot,
The weeping trees did prove

That wounds and tears were both our

lot,

And then I was in love.

Once did I breathe another's breath

And in my mistress move,

Once was I not mine own at all,—
And then I was in love.

Once wore I bracelets made of hair,
And collars did approve,

Once wore my clothes made out of wax,-
And then I was in love.

Once did I sonnet to my saint,
My soul in numbers move,
Once did I tell a thousand lies,-
And then I was in love.

Once in my ear did dangling hang

A little turtle-dove,

Once, in a word, I was a fool,-
And then I was in love.

A Woman's Looks

A woman's looks
Are barbed hooks,
That catch by art

The strongest heart

When yet they spend no breath;
But let them speak,

And sighing break

Forth into tears,

Their words are spears

That wound our souls to death.

The rarest wit

Is made forget,

And like a child

Is oft beguiled

With love's sweet-seeming bait;

Love with his rod

So like a god

Commands the mind;

We cannot find,

Fair shows hide foul deceit.

Time, that all things
In order brings,
Hath taught me how
To be more slow

In giving faith to speech,
Since women's words
No truth affords,
And when they kiss
They think by this

Us men to over-reach.