The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume ICrashaw, Richard
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The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I
Crashaw, Richard
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
18. Each ruby there,
Or pearle that dares appeare,
Be its own blush, be its own teare.
19. A well tam'd heart, 55
For whose more noble smart,
Love may be long chusing a dart.
20. Eyes, that bestow
Full quivers on Love's bow;
Yet pay lesse arrowes than they owe. 60
21. Smiles, that can warme
The blood, yet teach a charme,
That Chastity shall take no harme.
22. Blushes, that bin
The burnish of no sin, 65
Nor flames of ought too hot within.
23. Ioyes, that confesse,
Vertue their mistresse,
And have no other head to dresse.
24. Feares, fond, and flight, 70
As the coy bride's, when Night
First does the longing lover right.
25. Teares, quickly fled,
And vaine, as those are shed
For a dying maydenhead. 75
26. Dayes, that need borrow,
No part of their good morrow,
From a fore-spent night of sorrow.
27. Dayes, that in spight
Of darknesse, by the light 80
Of a cleere mind are day all night.
28. Nights, sweet as they,
Made short by lovers play,
Yet long by th' absence of the day.
29. Life, that dares send 85
A challenge to his end,
And when it comes say, Welcome friend!
30. Sydnæan showers
Of sweet discourse, whose powers
Can crown old Winter's head with flowers. 90
31. Soft silken hours;
Open sunnes; shady bowers;
'Bove all, nothing within that lowers.
32. What ere delight
Can make Daye's forehead bright, 95
Or give downe to the wings of Night.
33. In her whole frame,
Haue Nature all the name,
Art and ornament the shame.
34. Her flattery, 100
Picture and Poesy,
Her counsell her owne vertue be.
35. I wish her store
Of worth may leave her poore
Of wishes; and I wish----no more. 105
36. Now if Time knowes
That her, whose radiant browes
Weave them a garland of my vowes;
37. Her whose just bayes,
My future hopes can raise, 110
A trophie to her present praise.
38. Her that dares be,
What these lines wish to see:
I seeke no further: it is she.
39. 'Tis she, and here 115
Lo I uncloath and cleare,
My wishes cloudy character.
40. May she enjoy it,
Whose merit dare apply it,
But Modesty dares still deny it. 120
41. Such worth as this is
Shall fixe my flying wishes,
And determine them to kisses.
42. Let her full glory,
My fancyes, fly before ye, 125
Be ye my fictions; but her story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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