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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO CELIA SINGING by HENRY LAWES

First Line: TILL I BEHELD FAIR CELIA'S FACE
Last Line: SOFT LOVE WOULD ENTER LOVE'S OWN EAR.
Subject(s): BEAUTY; COURTSHIP;

TILL I beheld fair Celia's face,
Where perfect beauty keeps her court,
A lover's passion found no place
In me, who counted love a sport;
I thought the whole world could not move
A well resolvèd heart to love.

Wounded by her I now adore
Those powers of love I have defied,
I court the flames I scorned before,
And am repaid with scorn and pride;
In such unpitied flames to dwell,
Is not a martyrdom, but hell.

Cupid can't help me, nor wound her,
He'll rather prove my rival hence,
Though blind, he'll turn idolater,
For she hath charms for every sense;
Should he her voice's music hear,
Soft love would enter love's own ear.



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