There is, they say, no sweetest rose,
There is no fairest face; for fancy grows
Its own deceiver.
But, right or wrong, what does love care?
I say, " World over, only one's all fair, "
And so believe her.

A flame — an instant, secret, mystic thing —
Burns in my soul, and shall forever burn.
The harm is done; in vain were murmuring;
For she that kindled it will never learn
Whose hand it was. She will not even turn
To me, though to her garment-hem I cling;
Nor one of all the days to be will bring
Me strength to speak to her. I can but yearn.
Albeit God made her tender and so sweet,
Love sets for naught the music of her feet.
For naught love follows her with soft command;
She hears stern duty only, night and day.

They are lovers, the winds, that sweep o'er the lea;
He, the strong breeze that lashes the sea;
She the swift wind that sighs through the trees,
Breath of the pines, whose fragrance she grieves;
He strong and salt, with passionate cry,
North Wind and South Wind, lovingly sigh.

Oh, drink thou deep of the purple wine,
And it's hey for love, for I love you so!
Oh, clasp me close, with your lips on mine,
And it's hey for love, for I love you so!
The sea lies violet, deep, and wide,
My heart beats high with the rushing tide;
Was it fancy, beloved, the seagulls cried:
" Sing loud for love, for I love him so " ?

Oh, little boat on the tossing wave,
Sing loud for love, for I love him so!
Oh, tall pine tree in the shadows grave,
Sing loud for love, for I love him so!
The little waves kiss the gleaming sand,

Let us live my Lesbia and Love,
When Dear desires our bosoms move
And their Quick Zest to pleasures give
Tis then we may be said to live.

2

Kiss me soft my Lovely Love,
Soft and melting as the Dove,
Fondly eager, kind, and sweet,
Thus our mixing Souls may meet,
Let thy gentle
The short transporting Joy prolong.

3

Do not yet thy lips remove,
Kiss me on, my charming Love.
I dye with every pointed kiss,
Oh let me dye in such a bliss,
Renew again the Amorous play
And kiss my ravish'd Soul away.

Indeed (my Dear) you wrong my Dog in this,
And show yourself to be of crabbed kind,
That will not let my fawning whelp to kiss
You first, that fain would show his Master's mind:
A Mastiff were more fit for such a one,
That can not let her Lover's dog alone.

He in his kind for me did seem to sue,
That erst did stand so highly in your grace,
His Master's mind the witty Spaniel knew,
And thought his wonted Mistress was in place:
But now at last (good faith) I plainly see
That Dogs more wise than women friendly be.

Nature that taught my silly dog, God wat,
Even for my sake to lick where I do love,
Enforced him, whereas my lady sat,
With humble suit before her falling flat,
As in his sort he might her pray and move
To rue upon his lord and not forget
The steadfast faith he beareth her, and love;
Kissing her hand: whom she could not remove
Away that would for frowning nor for threat,
As though he would have said in my behove,
Pity, my lord, your slave that doth remain,
Lest by his death you guiltless slay us twain.

Wer't granted me to choose,
How I would end my dayes;
Since I this Life must loose,
It should be in Your praise;
For there is no Bayes
Can be set above you.

S'impossibly I love You
And for You sit so hie,
Whence none may remove You
In my cleere Poesie,
That I oft deny
You so ample Merit.

The freedome of my Spirit
Maintayning (still) my Cause,

It was not I that dared betray
What none should know but you and me:
The moon beheld from heaven's way
And told the tale to all the sea.

The ripples laughed in elvish joy
And told the oar-blade, water-pearled;
The oar-blade told the fisher-boy,
Who sang our love to all the world!

When every spur of whin's a spike of ice,
Each grassy tussock bristling blades of steel,
Each withered bracken-frond a rare device
Of sparkling crystal crackling under-heel
With brittle tinkling, then it is the time,
O Love, to leave the chilly hearth and climb
The sunlit Beacon, where the live airs blow
Along the clean wave-edge of drifted snow.

Love, let us go
And scale the ridge: I long to see you there
Breathing the eager air
With cheeks aglow,
The sunlight on your hair:
O Love, I long to share