Upon this promise did he raise his chin, But when her lips were ready for his pay. Never did passenger, in summer's heat, More thirst for drink, than she for this good turn: Her help she sees, but help she cannot get ; She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn. 'O, pity,' 'gan she cry, 'flint-hearted boy! 'Tis but a kiss I beg: why art thou coy? • I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, Even by the stern and direful god of war, Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow ; Who conquers where he comes, in every jar: Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have. • Over my altars hath he hung his lance, Scorning his churlish drum, and ensign red; • Thus he that over-ruled, I oversway'd, Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain : Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength obey'd, O, be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, • Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine, (Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red) The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine :What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head: Look in mine eyeballs; there thy beauty lies: 'Art thou ashamed to kiss? then wink again, These blue-vein'd violets, whereon we lean, The tender spring upon thy tempting lip Shows thee unripe; yet mayst thou well be tasted: Make use of time; let not advantage slip: Beauty within itself should not be wasted: Fair flowers, that are not gather'd in their prime, Rot and consume themselves in little time. Were I hard-favor'd, foul, or wrinkled-old, Ill-nurtured, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, O'er-worn, despised, rheumatic and cold, Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee; But having no defects, why dost abhor me? 'Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow; 1 Mine eyes are gray, and bright, and quick in turning; My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow; Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 'Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear; Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire. 'Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie : These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me; Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky, From morn to night, even where I list to sport me. What we now call blue eyes, were in Shakspeare's time called gray. Is thine own heart to thine own face affected? Can thy right hand seise love upon thy left? Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. And died to kiss his shadow in the brook. • Torches are made to light, jewels to wear, Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear: Things growing to themselves are growth's abuse. Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedett beauty: Thou wast begot;-to get it is thy duty. • Upon the earth's increase why shouldst thou feed, Unless the earth with thy increase be fed? By law of Nature thou art bound to breed, By this, the love-sick queen began to sweat, With burning eye did hotly overlook them, For attired. And now Adonis, with a lazy spright, His lowering brows o'erwhelming his fair sight, Souring his cheeks, cries. 'Fie, no more of love! The sun doth burn my tace; I must remove.' 'Ah me!' quoth Venus, 'young, and so unkind? If they burn too, I'll quench them with my tears. 'The sun that shines from heaven, shines but warm ; And, lo, I lie between that sun and thee: The heat I have from thence doth little harm; 'Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel? She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. I Without cauldron. |