Stay, lovely boy, why fly'st thou me That languish in these flames for thee? I'm black, 'tis true: why so is Night, And Love doth in dark shades delight. The whole world, do but close thine eye, Will seem to thee as black as I; Or ope 't, and see what a black shade Is by thine own fair body made, That follows thee where'er thou go; (O who, allow'd, would not do so?) 10 Let me for ever dwell so nigh, And thou shall need no other shade than I. _Mr. Hen. Rainolds._ _The Boy's Answer to the Blackmoor._ Black maid, complain not that I fly, When Fate commands antipathy: Prodigious might that union prove, Where Night and Day together move, And the conjunction of our lips Not kisses make, but an eclipse; In which the mixed black and white Portends more terror than delight. Yet if my shadow thou wilt be, Enjoy thy dearest wish: but see 10 Thou take my shadow's property, That hastes away when I come nigh: Else stay till death hath blinded me, And then I will bequeath myself to thee. [_A Blackmoor Maid_, and _Answer._] I do not know whether the exact connexion between these two poems and Cleveland's 'Fair Nymph scorning a Black Boy' (_v. sup._, p. 42) has ever been discussed. But if 'Mr. Hen. Rainolds' is Drayton's friend, the verses printed above must have the priority, for nothing seems to be known of him after 1632. In Rawlinson MS. 1092, fol. 271, there are curious versions of these poems (the first is ascribed to William Strode), inverting the parts 'A black boy in love with a fair maid', and 'The fair maid's answer'.] _To a Friend upon Overbury's Wife given to her._ I know no fitter subject for your view Than this, a meditation ripe for you, As you for it. Which, when you read, you'll see What kind of wife yourself will one day be: Which happy day be near you, and may this Remain with you as earnest of my wish; When you so far love any, that you dare Venture your whole affection on his care, May he for whom you change your virgin-life Prove good to you, and perfect as this Wife. 10 [_To a Friend upon Overbury's Wife, &c._] King seems to have been fond of giving this popular production as a present, for the first of the three poems is certainly not addressed to the recipient of the others, and it seems probable that 2 and 3 are also independent. Hannah, without giving any reason, save the initials, suggests that 'A. R.' was Lady Anne Rich (_v. inf._).] _Upon the same._ Madam, who understands you well would swear, That you the Life, and this your Copy were. _To A. R. upon the same._