But if no faithless action stain Thy love and constant word, I’ll make thee famous by my pen, 35 And glorious by my sword. I’ll serve thee in such noble ways As ne’er was known before; I’ll deck and crown thy head with bays, And love thee more and more. 40 _Marquis of Montrose._ XCVII _TO ALTHEA FROM PRISON._ When Love with unconfinèd wings Hovers within my gates, And my divine Althea brings To whisper at the grates; When I lie tangled in her hair, 5 And fettered to her eye, The birds, that wanton in the air, Know no such liberty. When flowing cups run swiftly round With no allaying Thames, 10 Our careless heads with roses crowned, Our hearts with loyal flames; When thirsty grief in wine we steep, When healths and draughts go free, Fishes, that tipple in the deep, 15 Know no such liberty. When, like committed linnets, I With shriller throat shall sing The sweetness, mercy, majesty And glories of my King; 20 When I shall voice aloud how good He is, how great should be, Enlargèd winds, that curl the flood, Know no such liberty. Stone walls do not a prison make, 25 Nor iron bars a cage; Minds innocent and quiet take That for an hermitage: If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free, 30 Angels alone, that soar above, Enjoy such liberty. _Richard Lovelace._ XCVIII _TO LUCASTA, ON GOING BEYOND THE SEAS._ If to be absent were to be Away from thee; Or that when I am gone You or I were alone; Then, my Lucasta, might I crave 5 Pity from blustering wind, or swallowing wave. Though seas and land betwixt us both, Our faith and troth, Like separated souls, All time and space controls: 10 Above the highest sphere we meet Unseen, unknown, and greet as angels greet. So then we do anticipate Our after-fate, And are alive i’ the skies, 15 If thus our lips and eyes Can speak like spirits unconfined In Heaven, their earthy bodies left behind. _Richard Lovelace._ XCIX _A CAVALIER WAR-SONG._