Design, or chance, makes others wive; But Nature did this match contrive; Eve might as well have Adam fled, As she denied her little bed To him, for whom Heaven seemed to frame, And measure out, this only dame. Thrice happy is that humble pair, Beneath the level of all care! Over whose heads those arrows fly Of sad distrust and jealousy; 10 Secured in as high extreme, As if the world held none but them. To him the fairest nymphs do show Like moving mountains, topp'd with snow; And every man a Polypheme Does to his Galatea seem; None may presume her faith to prove; He proffers death that proffers love. Ah, Chloris! that kind Nature thus From all the world had severed us; 20 Creating for ourselves us two, As love has me for only you! [1] 'Dwarfs': Gibson and Shepherd, each three feet ten inches in height. They were pages at Court, and Charles I. gave away the female infinitesimal. LOVE'S FAREWELL. 1 Treading the path to nobler ends, A long farewell to love I gave, Resolved my country, and my friends, All that remain'd of me should have. 2 And this resolve no mortal dame, None but those eyes could have o'erthrown; The nymph I dare not, need not name, So high, so like herself alone. 3 Thus the tall oak, which now aspires Above the fear of private fires, Grown and design'd for nobler use, Not to make warm, but build the house, Though from our meaner flames secure, Must that which falls from heaven endure. FROM A CHILD. Madam, as in some climes the warmer sun Makes it full summer ere the spring's begun, And with ripe fruit the bending boughs can load, Before our violets dare look abroad; So measure not by any common use The early love your brighter eyes produce. When lately your fair hand in woman's weed Wrapp'd my glad head, I wish'd me so indeed, That hasty time might never make me grow Out of those favours you afford me now; 10 That I might ever such indulgence find, And you not blush, nor think yourself too kind; Who now, I fear, while I these joys express, Begin to think how you may make them less. The sound of love makes your soft heart afraid, And guard itself, though but a child invade, And innocently at your white breast throw A dart as white-a ball of new fallen snow. ON A GIRDLE. That which her slender waist confined, Shall now my joyful temples bind; No monarch but would give his crown, His arms might do what this has done. It was my heaven's extremest sphere, The pale which held that lovely deer. My joy, my grief, my hope, my love, Did all within this circle move! A narrow compass! and yet there Dwelt all that's good, and all that's fair; Give me but what this ribband bound, Take all the rest the sun goes round. THE FALL.