Both the wanton and the coy Me with equal pleasure[44:2] move; She whom I by force enjoy, Or who forceth me to love: 40 This, because she'll not confess, That, not hide, her happiness. She whose loosely flowing hair, (Scatter'd like the beams o' th' morn.) Playing with the sportive air, 45 Hides the sweets it doth adorn, Captive in that net restrains me, In those golden fetters chains me; Nor doth she with power less bright My divided heart invade, 50 Whose soft tresses spread, like night, O'er her shoulders a black shade; For the starlight of her eyes Brighter shines through those dark skies. Black, or fair, or tall, or low, 55 I alike with all can sport, The bold sprightly Thais woo, Or the frozen vestal court: Every beauty takes my mind, Tied to all, to none confin'd. 60 LA BELLE CONFIDANTE. You earthly souls that court a wanton flame, Whose pale weak influence Can rise no higher than the humble name And narrow laws of sense! Learn by our friendship to create 5 An immaterial fire, Whose brightness angels may admire But cannot emulate. Sickness may fright the roses from her cheek, Or make the lilies fade, 10 But all the subtle ways that Death doth seek Cannot my love invade. Flames that are kindled by the eye Through time and age expire, But ours, that boast a reach far higher, 15 Cannot decay or die.[45:1] For[45:2] when we must resign our vital breath, Our loves by Fate benighted,[45:3] We by this friendship shall survive in death, Even in divorce united: 20 Weak love, through fortune or distrust, In time forgets to burn, But this pursues us to the urn, And marries either's dust. LA BELLE ENNEMIE. I yield, dear enemy, nor know How to resist so fair a foe. Who would not thy soft yoke sustain, And bow beneath thy easy chain, That with a bondage blest might be 5 Which far transcends all liberty? But since I freely have resign'd, At first assault, my willing mind, Insult not o'er my captiv'd heart With too much tyranny and art, 10 Lest by thy scorn thou lose the prize Gain'd by the power of thy bright eyes; And thou this conquest thus shalt prove, Though got by beauty, kept by love. LOVE DEPOSED.