THE PASSIONATE PILGRIM. I. SWEET Cytherea, sitting by a brook With young Adonis, lovely, fresh, and green, She show'd him favours to allure his eye; To win his heart, she touch'd him here and there ; But, whether unripe years did want conceit, Then fell she on her back, fair queen, and toward : 2. Scarce had the Sun dried up the dewy morn, A longing tarriance for Adonis made A brook where Adon used to cool his spleen : Anon he comes, and throws his mantle by, He, spying her, bounced in, whereas he stood: 3. Fair was the morn when the fair queen of love,2 Paler for sorrow than her milk-white dove, See, in my thigh," quoth she, "here was the score." 4. Venus, with young Adonis sitting by her Under a myrtle shade, began to woo him: She told the youngling how god Mars did try her, And as he fell to her, so fell she to him. "Even thus," quoth she, "the warlike god embraced me," 1 Wistly is wistfully, that is, intently or earnestly. 2 The line which should follow this, and rhyme with wild, is wanting in both the old copies. And then she clipp'd Adonis in her arms; "Even thus," quoth she, "the warlike god unlaced me," As if the boy should use like loving charms; "Even thus," quoth she, "he seized on my lips," And would not take her meaning nor her pleasure. To kiss and clip me till I run away! 5. Fair is my love, but not so fair as fickle; A lily pale, with damask dye to grace her, Her lips to mine how often hath she join'd, She burn'd with love, as straw with fire flameth; Was this a lover, or a lecher whether? Bad in the best, though excellent in neither. 6. If music and sweet poetry agree, As they must needs, the sister and the brother, One god is god of both, as poets feign; One knight loves both, and both in thee remain. 7. Sweet rose, fair flower, untimely pluck'd, soon vaded, Pluck'd in the bud, and vaded in the spring! Bright orient pearl, alack, too timely shaded! Fair creature, kill'd too soon by death's sharp sting! I weep for thee, and yet no cause I have; O yes, dear friend, I pardon crave of thee,- 8 For why is here equivalent to because. See vol. i, page 204, note 8. Crabbed age and youth Cannot live together: Youth is full of pleasance, Age is full of care; Youth like summer morn, 8. Age like winter weather; Youth like Summer brave,4 Age like Winter bare. Youth is full of sport, 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 5 thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee, For methinks thou stay'st too long. 9. Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good; A doubtful good, a gloss, a glass, a flower, And as goods lost are seld or never found, 4 Brave is fine, splendid. So used both as adjective and verb. 5 To defy was often used for to renounce or to contemn. |