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1609?

SIMPLEX MUNDITIIS

From Epicane

STILL to be neat, still to be drest,
As you were going to a feast;
Still to be powder'd, still perfumed:
Lady, it is to be presumed,

Though art's hid causes are not found,
All is not sweet, all is not sound.

Give me a look, give me a face,
That makes simplicity a grace;
Robes loosely flowing, hair as free:
Such sweet neglect more taketh me,
Than all th' adulteries of art;

They strike mine eyes, but not my heart. 12

Ben Jonson.

SILVIA

From Two Gentlemen of Verona

WHO is Silvia? What is she,

That all our swains commend her?

Holy, fair, and wise is she;

The heaven such grace did lend her, That she might admirèd be.

5

1623.

Is she kind as she is fair?

For beauty lives with kindness:
Love doth to her eyes repair,

To help him of his blindness;
And, being help'd, inhabits there.

Then to Silvia let us sing,
That Silvia is excelling;
She excels each mortal thing
Upon the dull earth dwelling:
To her let us garlands bring.

William Shakespeare.

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15

"O MISTRESS MINE, WHERE ARE YOU ROAMING?"

From Twelfth Night

O MISTRESS mine, where are you roaming?
O stay and hear! your true-love's coming
That can sing both high and low;

Trip no further, pretty sweeting,
Journeys end in lovers meeting-
Every wise man's son doth know.

What is love? 't is not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What 's to come is still unsure:

In delay there lies no plenty,

Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty,
Youth's a stuff will not endure.

1623.

12

William Shakespeare.

"TAKE, O TAKE THOSE LIPS

AWAY"

From Measure for Measure

TAKE, O take those lips away,
That so sweetly were forsworn;
And those eyes, the break of day,
Lights that do mislead the morn!
But my kisses bring again,

Bring again;

Seals of love, but seal'd in vain,
Seal'd in vain!

1623.

William Shakespeare.

LOVE

From Merchant of Venice

TELL me where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart, or in the head?
How begot, how nourished?
Reply, reply.

1600.

It is engendered in the eyes,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies.

Let us all ring fancy's knell:
I'll begin it, ding, dong, bell.

Ding, dong, bell.

William Shakespeare.

10

CRABBED AGE AND YOUTH

CRABBED Age and Youth
Cannot live together:
Youth is full of pleasance,
Age is full of care;

Youth like summer morn,
Age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave,
Age like winter bare:
Youth is full of sport,

1599.

Age's breath is short;

Youth is nimble, Age is lame:

Youth is hot and bold,

Age is weak and cold;

Youth is wild, and Age is tame:

Age, I do abhor thee,

Youth, I do adore thee;

O! my Love, my Love is young!

Age, I do defy thee

O sweet shepherd, hie thee,

For methinks thou stay'st too long

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William Shakespeare (?)

20

"ON A DAY, ALACK THE DAY!"

1598.

From L. L. L.

On a day, alack the day!
Love, whose month is ever May,
Spied a blossom passing fair
Playing in the wanton air:

Through the velvet leaves the wind
All unseen 'gan passage find;
That the lover, sick to death,

Wish'd himself the heaven's breath.
Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow;
Air, would I might triumph so!
But, alack, my hand is sworn

Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn:

Vow, alack, for youth unmeet;

Youth so apt to pluck a sweet!

Do not call it sin in me

That I am forsworn for thee:

Thou for whom e'en Jove would swear

Juno but an Ethiope were,
And deny himself for Jove,
Turning mortal for thy love.

William Shakespeare.

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