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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO HER QUESTIONING HIS ESTATE by WILLIAM HAMMOND

First Line: PRITHEE, NO MORE, HOW CAN LOVE SAIL?
Last Line: THE SAME THEN IN OUR SELVES WE ARE.

PRITHEE, no more, how can Love sail?
Thy providence becalms our seas:
Suspensive Care binds up each gale;
Fear doth the lazy current freeze.

Forecast and Love, the lover swears,
Remov'd as the two poles should be:
But if on them must roll the spheres
Of our well-tun'd felicity:

If Sums and Terrars I must bring,
Nor may my inventory hide,
Know I am richer than the king,
Who gilt Pactolus' yellow tide.

For Love is our philosopher's stone;
And whatsoe'er doth please thy sense,
My prizing estimation
Shall elevate to quintessence.

Thy lips each cup to wine shall charm,
As the Sun's kisses do the vine;
Naked embraces keep us warm;
And stript, than May thou art more fine.

And when thou hast me in thy arms,
(The power of Fancy's then most high)
Instate me by those mighty charms
In some imperial monarchy.

Thus I am thy wealth, thou art mine:
And what to each other we appear,
If Love us two in one combine,
The same then in our selves we are.



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