10
Waters, plants, and stones know this:
That they love; not what Love is.

Be not thou[19:2] less kind than these,
Or from Love exempt alone!
Let us twine like amorous trees, 15
And like rivers melt in one.
Or, if thou more cruel prove,
Learn of steel and stones to love.

ON A VIOLET IN HER BREAST.

See how this violet, which before
Hung sullenly her drooping head,
As angry at the ground that bore
The purple treasure which she spread,
Doth smilingly erected grow, 5
Transplanted to those hills of snow.

And whilst the pillows of thy breast
Do her reclining head sustain,
She swells with pride to be so blest,
And doth all other flowers disdain; 10
Yet weeps that dew which kissed her last,
To see her odours so surpass'd.

Poor flower! how far deceiv'd thou wert,
To think the riches of the morn
Or all the sweets she can impart. 15
Could these or sweeten or adorn,
Since thou from them dost borrow scent,
And they to thee lend ornament!

SONG.

Foolish Lover, go and seek
For the damask of the rose,
And the lilies white dispose
To adorn thy mistress' cheek;

Steal some star out of the sky, 5
Rob the phoenix, and the east
Of her wealthy sweets divest,
To enrich her breath or eye!

We thy borrow'd pride despise:
For this wine to which we are 10
Votaries, is richer far
Than her cheek, or breath, or eyes.

And should that coy fair one view
These diviner beauties, she
In this flame would rival thee, 15
And be taught to love thee too.

Come, then, break thy wanton chain,
That when this brisk wine hath spread
On thy paler cheek a red,
Thou, like us, may'st Love disdain. 20

Love, thy power must yield to wine!
And whilst thus ourselves we arm,
Boldly we defy thy charm:
For these flames extinguish[20:1] thine.

THE PARTING.

I go, dear Saint, away,
Snatch'd from thy arms
By far less pleasing charms,
Than those I did[21:1] o