As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore? Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake, 45 As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake? Is not your last act harsh, and violent, As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent? So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice, 50 And such in searching wounds the Surgeon is As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse. Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus, She, and comparisons are odious. [Eleg. VIII. The Comparison. _1635-54:_ Elegie VIII. _1669:_ Elegie. _1633:_ Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_] [2 muskats] muskets _1669_] [4 breast, _1635-69:_ breast. _1633_] [5 <brow> _Ed: necke 1633-69 and MSS. See note_] [6 coronets. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_ carcanets. _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _S_, _W:_ carolettes. _P_] [8 boiles, _Ed:_ boiles. _1633-69:_ _in MSS. generally spelt as pronounced_, biles _or_ byles] [13 vile lying stones _1635-54 and MSS.:_ vile stones lying _1633_, _1669_] [14 they hang _A18_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ it), _S_, _TC_, _W:_ it hangs _1633-69_] [19 a] _om._ _1635-39_] [26 grave] grav'd _1669_ dust _1633-69_, _W:_ durt _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TC_] [28 hands. _W:_ hands, _1633-69_] [34 thy gouty hand. _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_ (hand; _1635-69_): her gouty hand; _1633_, _JC_, _S:_ thy mistress hand; _1669_] [37 durt _1635-69:_ part _1633_, _from next line_] [46 feares] fear'd _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W_] [48 when _1635-69 and MSS.:_ where _1633_] [50 Are Priests ... sacrifice,] A Priest is in his handling Sacrifice, _1669_] [51 such _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ nice _1633-69_] ELEGIE IX. _The Autumnall_