No More Learning

422. THE POET LOVES A MISTRESS, BUT NOT TO MARRY.

I do not love to wed,
Though I do like to woo;
And for a maidenhead
I'll beg and buy it too.

I'll praise and I'll approve
Those maids that never vary;
And fervently I'll love,
But yet I would not marry.

I'll hug, I'll kiss, I'll play,
And, cock-like, hens I'll tread,
And sport it any way
But in the bridal bed.

For why? that man is poor
Who hath but one of many,
But crown'd he is with store
That, single, may have any.

Why then, say, what is he,
To freedom so unknown,
Who, having two or three,
Will be content with one?


425. THE WILLOW GARLAND.

A willow garland thou did'st send
Perfum'd, last day, to me,
Which did but only this portend--
I was forsook by thee.

Since so it is, I'll tell thee what,
To-morrow thou shalt see
Me wear the willow; after that,
To die upon the tree.

As beasts unto the altars go
With garlands dress'd, so I
Will, with my willow-wreath, also
Come forth and sweetly die.


427. A HYMN TO SIR CLIPSEBY CREW.
'Twas not love's dart,
Or any blow
Of want, or foe,
Did wound my heart
With an eternal smart;

But only you,
My sometimes known
Companion,
My dearest Crew,
That me unkindly slew.

May your fault die,
And have no name
In books of fame;
Or let it lie
Forgotten now, as I.

We parted are
And now no more,
As heretofore,
By jocund Lar
Shall be familiar.

But though we sever,
My Crew shall see
That I will be
Here faithless never,
But love my Clipseby ever.


430. EMPIRES.

Empires of kings are now, and ever were,
As Sallust saith, coincident to fear.


431. FELICITY QUICK OF FLIGHT.

Every time seems short to be
That's measured by felicity;
But one half-hour that's made up here
With grief, seems longer than a year.


436. THE CROWD AND COMPANY.

In holy meetings there a man may be
One of the crowd, not of the company.


438. POLICY IN PRINCES.

That princes may possess a surer seat,
'Tis fit they make no one with them too great.