A sweet disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness:-- A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distractión,-- An erring lace, which here and there Enthrals the crimson stomacher,-- A cuff neglectful, and thereby Ribbands to flow confusedly,-- A winning wave, deserving note, In the tempestuous petticoat,-- A careless shoe-string, in whose tie I see a wild civility,-- Do more bewitch me, than when art Is too precise in every part. _R. Herrick_ CXX 2 Whenas in silks my Julia goes Then, then (methinks) how sweetly flows That liquefaction of her clothes. Next, when I cast mine eyes and see That brave vibration each way free; O how that glittering taketh me! _R. Herrick_ CXXI 3 My Love in her attire doth shew her wit, It doth so well become her: For every season she hath dressings fit, For Winter, Spring, and Summer. No beauty she doth miss When all her robes are on: But Beauty's self she is When all her robes are gone. _Anon._ CXXII _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. _E. Waller_ CXXIII _A MYSTICAL ECSTASY_ E'en like two little bank-dividing brooks, That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams, And having ranged and search'd a thousand nooks, Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames, Where in a greater current they conjoin: So I my Best-Belovéd's am; so He is mine. E'en so we met; and after long pursuit, E'en so we join'd; we both became entire; No need for either to renew a suit, For I was flax and he was flames of fire: Our firm-united souls did more than twine; So I my Best-Belovéd's am; so He is mine. If all those glittering Monarchs that command The servile quarters of this earthly ball, Should tender, in exchange, their shares of land, I would not change my fortunes for them all: Their wealth is but a counter to my coin: The world's but theirs; but my Belovéd's mine. _F. Quarles_ CXXIV _TO ANTHEA WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANY THING_ Bid me to live, and I will live Thy Protestant to be: Or bid me love, and I will give A loving heart to thee. A heart as soft, a heart as kind, A heart as sound and free As in the whole world thou canst find, That heart I'll give to thee.