I swear to thee, all-seeing sovereign Rolling heaven's circles round about our center, Except my Phillis safe return again, No joy to heart, no meat to mouth shall enter. All hope (but future hope to be renowned, For weeping Phillis) shall in tears be drowned. DEMADES How large a scope lends Damon to his moan, Wafting those treasures of his happy wit In registering his woeful woe-begone! Ah bend thy muse to matters far more fit! For time shall come when Phillis is interred, That Damon shall confess that he hath erred. When nature's riches shall, by time dissolved, Call thee to see with more judicial eye How Phillis' beauties are to dust resolved, Thou then shalt ask thyself the reason why Thou wert so fond, since Phillis was so frail, To praise her gifts that should so quickly fail. Have mercy on thyself, cease being idle, Let reason claim and gain of will his homage; Rein in these brain-sick thoughts with judgment's bridle, A short prevention helps a mighty domage. If Phillis love, love her, yet love her so That if she fly, thou may'st love's fire forego. Play with the fire, yet die not in the flame; Show passions in thy words, but not in heart; Lest when thou think to bring thy thoughts in frame, Thou prove thyself a prisoner by thine art. Play with these babes of love, as apes with glasses, And put no trust in feathers, wind, or lasses. DAMON Did not thine age yield warrantise, old man, Impatience would enforce me to offend thee; Me list not now thy forward skill to scan, Yet will I pray that love may mend or end thee. Spring flowers, sea-tides, earth, grass, sky, stars shall banish, Before the thoughts of love or Phillis vanish. So get thee gone, and fold thy tender sheep, For lo, the great automaton of day In Isis stream his golden locks doth steep; Sad even her dusky mantle doth display; Light-flying fowls, the posts of night, disport them, And cheerful-looking vesper doth consort them. Come you, my careful flock, forego you master, I'll fold you up and after fall a-sighing; Words have no worth my secret wounds to plaster; Naught may refresh my joys but Phillis nighing. Farewell, old Demades. DEMADES Damon, farewell. How 'gainst advice doth headlong youth rebel! [Footnote C: Our?] AN ELEGY