English

" She blows! ... She blows! ... " Of course
someone has to say it. . . . White puffs
exploding into the gale far out and fading
over wind-ivoried black-hackled ocean ...
and then the low crescent of the whale, odd-
ly rigid against the tossing water,
like the rim of a slow wheel turning — its axle
steady as a meridian under
the seas' shuddering tons ...

I came to marvel. And most
marvellous it is. Nevermind
that the naturalist aboard ship calls them
(the sea's creatures) " peleegic " .

Juno

Jove sent thee Paris; what is mine ,
be safely bold;
And for that trifle I resigne
a wreath of gold.
Obey then and command, thou canst not be
Just to thy selfe, if not to me.

Pallas

Twice happy in thy choise: be wise,
ere thou dispence
This Treasure, give thy Reason eyes,
and blinde thy sence,
Thus Armes and Arts thy humble name shall raise

See the day breakes; heark how the whispering wind
Calls up the drowsy birds to their mattens.
But who ere saw so calme a morning rise
Out of the bosome of so rough a night?
She seems t'have robd the heav'n of stars to fill
The earth with flowers; Sir:
Sure tis some dream, Melisso!
But now the whole world was at variance:
The sea in clouds, clouds in the sea were lost;
The skies with horrid claps of thunder rent,
Bright in the dreadfull glory of their lightning;
The earths deep roots were shaken by the winds,

Why doth that foole unjustly love accuse,
Who through his owne feare did occasion lose?
To misse an offer'd happinesse must be,
Or want of love, or too much modesty:
Thy scorne Lysarda I have justly won ,
Who wanted light when I embrac'd the Sun.
O look into my heart, thou wilt see there,
'Twas admiration onely caus'd my feare:
Respect curb'd my affection; let me dye,
(Displeasing thee) by thy enflaming eye:
Such death will make thy cruelty confesse,
I never wanted love, though happinesse.

Ismenia's eyes my soule divide ,
A faire yet haplesse Sheperdesse,
In whom rich Nature all her pride,
And Fates their poverty expresse.

To move the sute I feare to misse
Her worth and my respect deny;
For where even hope endanger'd is,
Lovers in silence use to dye.

Thus the desire I entertaine,
Neither shuns love, nor sute preferrs;
For though she to be mine disdaine,

As faire Ismenia forth did goe ,
A Saphire sparkled in each eye,
And on her cheek did Jesmines grow,
Bath'd in the Roses Purple dye.

But when I nearer came t'have plaid
Within the Sun-shine of her light,
She scorch'd me, in her beames betraid
Like sportive flyes to losse of sight.

What feare and reverence doth beget
Th'approach unto so bright a flame,
Which can extinguish with its heate,

Narcissa passing through a pleasant Mead ,
To coole her thirst was to a River led:
When she perceiv'd the lazie streame had lost
Its course, condens'd to Christall by the Frost;
Which had perhaps enamour'd of her sight,
Begg'd of December chains to stop its flight;
But the kinde Sun did with his warmer beames,
Dissolve the Ice into its native streames:
And th'angry little Brook, deny'd by stay,
Was enjoy'd flying; wept, and went away.

Menga, a Shepheardesse, neare these Brooks borne ,
(Wonder o'th'earth, and envy of the morne,)
Sad and asham'd complaines of her hard fate;
For beauty seldome proves more fortunate.
Love whose soft chaines she freely did dispence
To all, at last ensnar'd her innocence.
Anton, a Swaine, that many other eyes
Attracted, was to hers a sacrifice;
Nor slights she his affection, though she feare
Their envy who for him like passions beare.
Teresa's love she knowes to him enclin'd ,
A Nymph though faire, yet wanton as the wind:

I

Love, (whose hand guides my Hearts strict Reins,
Nor, though he govern it, disdains
To feed the Fire with pious care
Which first himself enkindled there)
Commands my backward Soul to tell
What Flames within her Bosome dwell;
Fear would perswade her to decline
The charge of such a high designe:
But all her weak reluctance fails,
'Gainst greater Force no Force avails.
Love to advance her flight will lend
Those wings by which he did descend
Into my Heart, where he to rest

Put the moonlight in your flower basket,
without letting it leak out,
without letting it cloud over,
just hold it — that's the thing.