Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham. Edmund Waller

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СКАЧАТЬ and carve this passion on the bark

       Of yonder tree, which stands the sacred mark

       Of noble Sidney's birth; when such benign,

       Such more than mortal-making stars did shine,

       That there they cannot but for ever prove

       The monument and pledge of humble love; 30

       His humble love whose hope shall ne'er rise higher,

       Than for a pardon that he dares admire.

OF THE LADY WHO CAN SLEEP WHEN SHE PLEASES.[1]

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      No wonder sleep from careful lovers flies,

       To bathe himself in Saccharissa's eyes.

       As fair Astraæ once from earth to heaven,

       By strife and loud impiety was driven;

       So with our plaints offended, and our tears,

       Wise Somnus to that paradise repairs;

       Waits on her will, and wretches does forsake,

       To court the nymph for whom those wretches wake.

       More proud than Phoebus of his throne of gold 9

       Is the soft god those softer limbs to hold;

       Nor would exchange with Jove, to hide the skies

       In dark'ning clouds, the power to close her eyes;

       Eyes which so far all other lights control,

       They warm our mortal parts, but these our soul!

       Let her free spirit, whose unconquer'd breast

       Holds such deep quiet and untroubled rest,

       Know that though Venus and her son should spare

       Her rebel heart, and never teach her care,

       Yet Hymen may in force his vigils keep,

       And for another's joy suspend her sleep. 20

      [1] She is said to have been like Dudu—

      'Large, and languishing, and lazy,

       Yet of a beauty that might drive you crazy.'

OF THE MISREPORT OF HER BEING PAINTED.

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      As when a sort of wolves infest the night

       With their wild howlings at fair Cynthia's light,

       The noise may chase sweet slumber from our eyes,

       But never reach the mistress of the skies;

       So with the news of Saccharissa's wrongs,

       Her vexed servants blame those envious tongues;

       Call Love to witness that no painted fire

       Can scorch men so, or kindle such desire;

       While, unconcern'd, she seems moved no more

       With this new malice than our loves before; 10

       But from the height of her great mind looks down

       On both our passions without smile or frown.

       So little care of what is done below

       Hath the bright dame whom Heaven affecteth so!

       Paints her, 'tis true, with the same hand which spreads

       Like glorious colours through the flow'ry meads,

       When lavish Nature, with her best attire, 17

       Clothes the gay spring, the season of desire;

       Paints her, 'tis true, and does her cheek adorn

       With the same art wherewith she paints the morn;

       With the same art wherewith she gildeth so

       Those painted clouds which form Thaumantias' bow.

OF HER PASSING THROUGH A CROWD OF PEOPLE.

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      As in old chaos (heaven with earth confused,

       And stars with rocks together crush'd and bruised)

       The sun his light no further could extend

       Than the next hill, which on his shoulders lean'd;

       So in this throng bright Saccharissa fared,

       Oppress'd by those who strove to be her guard;

       As ships, though never so obsequious, fall

       Foul in a tempest on their admiral.

       A greater favour this disorder brought

       Unto her servants than their awful thought 10

       Durst entertain, when thus compell'd they press'd

       The yielding marble of her snowy breast.

       While love insults,[1] disguised in the cloud,

       And welcome force, of that unruly crowd.

       So th'am'rous tree, while yet the air is calm,

       Just distance keeps from his desired palm;[2]

       But when the wind her ravish'd branches throws

       Into his arms, and mingles all their boughs,

       Though loth he seems her tender leaves to press, 19

       More loth he is that friendly storm should cease,

       From whose rude bounty he the double use

       At once receives, of pleasure and excuse.

      [1] 'Insults': exults.

       [2] 'Palm': Ovalle informs us that the palm-trees in Chili have this

       wonderful property, that they never will bear any fruit but when

       they are planted near each other; and when they find one standing

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