Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A MASK FOR LYDIA, by THOMAS RANDOLPH



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A MASK FOR LYDIA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sweet lydia, take this mask, and shroud
Last Line: Still such an ethiop be.
Subject(s): Masks


SWEET Lydia, take this mask, and shroud
Thy face within the silken cloud,
And veil those powerful skies;
For he whose gazing dares so high aspire,
Makes burning-glasses of his eyes,
And sets his heart on fire.

Veil, Lydia, veil; for unto me
There is no basilisk but thee,
Thy very looks do kill:
Yet in those looks so fix'd is my delight,
Poor soul (alas!) I languish still
In absence of thy sight.

Close up those eyes, or we shall find
Too great a lustre strike us blind!
Or, if a ray so good
Ought to be seen, let it but then appear,
When eagles do produce their brood,
To try their young ones there.

Or if thou wouldst have me to know
How great a brightness thou canst show
When they have lost the sun,
Then do thou rise, and give the world this theme,
Sol from th' Hesperides is run,
And back hath whipp'd his team.

Yet through the Goat when he shall stray,
Thou through the Crab must take thy way;
For should you both shine bright
In the same tropic, we poor moles should get
Not so much comfort by the light,
As torment by the heat.

Where's Lydia now? where shall I seek
Her charming lip, her tempting cheek,
That my affections bow'd?
So dark a sable hath eclips'd my fair,
That I can gaze upon the cloud,
That durst not see the star.

But yet (methinks) my thoughts begin
To say there lies a white within,
Though black her pride control:
And what care I how black a face I see,
So there be whiteness in the soul?
Still such an Ethiop be.





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