Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG, by JOHN DOWLAND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Say, love, if ever thou didst find
Last Line: The only queen of love and beauty.
Subject(s): Happiness; Joy; Delight


SAY, Love, if ever thou didst find,
A woman with a constant mind:
None but one:
And what should that rare mirror be,
Some goddess or some queen is she?
She, she, she, and only she,
The only queen of Love and Beauty.

But could thy fiery poisoned dart
At no time touch her spotless heart,
Nor come near?
She is not subject to Love's bow,
Her eye commands, her heart saith No,
No, no, no, and only no,
One No another still doth follow.

How might I that fair wonder know,
That mocks desire with endless No
See the moon
That ever in one change doth grow,
Yet still the same, and she is so;
So, so, so, and only so,
From heaven her virtues she doth borrow.

To her then yield thy shafts and bow,
That can command affections so:
Love is free,
So are her thoughts that vanquish thee,
There is no queen of love but she,
She, she, she, and only she,
The only queen of Love and Beauty.





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