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IF

SOUL AND BODY

F the dull substance of my flesh were thought, Injurious distance should not stop my way; For then, despite of space, I would be brought From limits far remote, where thou dost stay.

No matter then although my food did stand
Upon the farthest earth removed from thee;
For nimble thought can jump both sea and land
As soon as think the place where he would be.

But, ah! thought kills me that I am not thought,
To leap large lengths of miles when thou art gone,
But that, so much of earth and water wrought,
I must attend time's leisure with my moan;

Receiving nought by elements so slow
But heavy tears, badges of either's woe.

100

SONGS AND SONNETS

SOUL AND BODY

THE other two, slight air and purging fire, Are both with thee, wherever I abide; The first my thought, the other my desire, These, present-absent, with swift motion slide.

For when these quicker elements are gone
In tender embassy of love to thee,

My life, being made of four, with two alone
Sinks down to death, oppress'd with melancholy;

Until life's composition be recured

By those swift messengers return'd from thee,
Who even but now come back again, assured
Of thy fair health, recounting it to me :

This told, I joy; but then no longer glad,
I send them back again and straight grow sad.

IN THE COURT OF LOVE

MINE eye and heart are at a mortal war How to divide the conquest of thy sight;

Mine eye my heart thy picture's sight would bar, My heart mine eye the freedom of that right.

My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie,—
A closet never pierced with crystal eyes-
But the defendant doth that plea deny,

And says in him thy fair appearance lies.

To 'cide this title is impanneléd

A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart,

And by their verdict is determinéd

The clear eye's moiety and the dear heart's part :

As thus; mine eye's due is thy outward part, And my heart's right thy inward love of heart.

102

SONGS AND SONNETS

THE PICTURE AND THE IDEA

BETWIXT mine eye and heart a league is took,

And each doth good turns now unto the

other;

When that mine eye is famish’d for a look,

Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother,

With my Love's picture then my eye doth feast
And to the painted banquet bids my heart;
Another time mine eye is my heart's guest
And in his thoughts of love doth share a part:

So, either by thy picture or my love,

Thyself away art present still with me ;

For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move, And I am still with them and they with thee;

Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight

Awakes my heart to heart's and eye's delight.

THE TREASURE OF TREASURES

HOW careful was I, when I took my way,

Each trifle under truest bars to thrust,

That to my use it might unused stay

From hands of falsehood, in sure wards of trust!

But thou, to whom my jewels trifles are,
Most worthy comfort, now my greatest grief,
Thou, best of dearest and mine only care,

Art left the prey of every vulgar thief.

Thee have I not lock'd up in any chest,

Save where thou art not, though I feel thou art,

Within the gentle closure of my breast,

From whence at pleasure thou mayst come and

part;

---And even thence thou wilt be stol'n, I fear,

For truth proves thievish for a prize so dear.

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