1617.

A Welcome

'Cause her fortune seems too high,
Shall I play the fool and die?
She that bears a noble mind,
If not outward helps she find,

Thinks what with them he would do
That without them dares her woo;
And unless that mind I see,
What care I how great she be?

Great, or good, or kind, or fair,
I will ne'er the more despair;
If she love me, this believe,
I will die ere she shall grieve;
If she slight me when I woo,
I can scorn and let her go;
For if she be not for me,
What care I for whom she be?

32

40

George Wither.

A WELCOME

Welcome, welcome! do I sing,

Far more welcome than the spring;
He that parteth from you never
Shall enjoy a spring for ever.

He that to the voice is near
Breaking from your iv'ry pale,
Need not walk abroad to hear
The delightful nightingale.

He that looks still on your eyes,

Though the winter have begun
To benumb our arteries,

Shall not want the summer's sun.

He that still may see your cheeks,
Where all rareness still reposes,
Is a fool if e'er he seeks

Other lilies, other roses.

SHALL I tell you whom I love?
Hearken then awhile to me;

And if such a woman move
As I now shall versify,
Be assured 't is she or none,
That I love, and love alone.

12

16

20

24

1616.

My Choice

Nature did her so much right
As she scorns the help of art.
In as many virtues dight

As e'er yet embraced a heart.
So much good so truly tried,
Some for less were deified.

Wit she hath, without desire

To make known how much she hath;
And her anger flames no higher

Than may fitly sweeten wrath.
Full of pity as may be,

Though perhaps not so to me.

Reason masters every sense,
And her virtues grace her birth;
Lovely as all excellence,

Modest in her most of mirth.
Likelihood enough to prove
Only worth could kindle love.

Such she is; and if you know

Such a one as I have sung;
Be she brown, or fair, or so

That she be but somewhat young;

Be assured 't is she, or none,
That I love, and love alone.

William Browne, of Tavistock.

12

18

24

30

OVER THE MOUNTAINS

OVER the mountains

And over the waves,
Under the fountains

And under the graves;
Under floods that are deepest,
Which Neptune obey,
Over rocks that are steepest,
Love will find out the way.

When there is no place

For the glow-worm to lie,
Where there is no space

For receipt of a fly;

When the midge dares not venture
Lest herself fast she lay;

If Love come, he will enter

8

And will find out the way.

16

You may esteem him

A child for his might;
Or you may deem him

A coward from his flight;
But if she whom Love doth honour
Be conceal'd from the day-
Set a thousand guards upon her,
Love will find out the way.

24

Over the Mountains

Some think to lose him

By having him confined;
And some do suppose him,
Poor thing! to be blind;

But if ne'er so close ye wall him,
Do the best that ye may,
Blind Love, if so ye call him,

He will find out his way.

You may train the eagle

To stoop to your fist;

Or you may inveigle

The Phoenix of the east;
The lioness, you may move her
To give over her prey;
But you'll ne'er stop a lover-
He will find out his way.

If the earth it should part him,
He would gallop it o'er;
If the seas should o'erthwart him,

He would swim to the shore;
Should his Love become a swallow,
Through the air to stray,

Love will lend wings to follow,
And will find out the way.

There is no striving

To cross his intent;

There is no contriving
His plots to prevent;

32

40

48