I do but ask that you be always fair, That I for ever may continue kind; Knowing me what I am, you should not dare To lapse from beauty ever, nor seek to bind My alterable mood with lesser cords: Weeping and such soft matters but invite To further vagrancy, and bitter words Chafe soon to irremediable flight. Wherefore I pray you if you love me dearly Less dear to hold me than your own bright charms, Whence it may fall that until death or nearly I shall not move to struggle from your arms; Fade if you must; I would but bid you be Like the sweet year, doing all things graciously. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOLD-OF-OPHIR ROSES by GRACE ATHERTON DENNEN FOR THAT HE LOOKED NOT UPON HER by GEORGE GASCOIGNE SONG, FR. MEASURE FOR MEASURE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 78 by ALFRED TENNYSON THE BABES IN THE WOOD; OR, THE NORFOLK TRAGEDY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 4. WORTHY MEMORY by WILLIAM BASSE THE ESCAPE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE WET WOODS by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE DAVIDEIS, A SACRED POEM OF THE TROUBLES OF DAVID: BOOK 3 by ABRAHAM COWLEY |