No More Learning

_&c. _ _Ed:_ Elegie on his Mistris. _1635-54
where, and in 1669, it appears among_ Funerall Elegies:
Elegie. _1669: among_ Elegies _with or without heading or
number_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_ _B heads_ His wife would
have gone as his page. ]

[1 interview, _Ed:_ interview _1635-69_]

[3 starving] striving _1669_, _B_, _P:_ starvling _A18_, _N_,
_TC_]

[7 beg: _D:_ beg. _1635-69_

fathers _1635-69_, _O'F:_ Parents _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_]

[11 Here I] I here _1669_]

[12 wayes _1635-54_, _O'F:_ means _1669, and rest of MSS. _]

[14 still . . . faign'd] _1669 om. _ still _and reads_ faigned]

[18 My soule . . . to thee] From other lands my soule towards
thee _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _M_(to), _N_,
_P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_

soare. _Ed:_ soare, _1635-69_]

[21 harshness] rashness _P_.
_Compare_ Elegy V, 8]

[23 Faire Orithea] The fair Orithea _1669_]

[26 Lovers] friends _P_]

[28 mindes; _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ minde,
_1635-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]

[29 onely; _A18_, _D_, _N_, _TC:_ onely. _1635-69_]

[35 Loves fuellers,] Lyves fuellers, _1669_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _S96_, _P_]

[37 Will quickly know thee, and no lesse, alas! _1635-54_,
_O'F:_ Will too too quickly know thee; and alas, _1669:_ Will
quickly know thee, and know thee, and alas _A18_, _N_, _S_
(_omitting second_ and), _TCD_, _W:_ Will quickly know thee,
and thee, and alas _A25:_ Will quickly know thee, and alas
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_, _S96_, _TCC_]

[39 Page, _Ed:_ Page _1635-39_]

[40 hunt _1635-69_, _O'F:_ haunt _most MSS. _]

[42 hydroptique] Aydroptique _1669_]

[46 greatest _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P:_ greate _A18_, _A25_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_

call] doe call _A18_, _N_, _TC_

to] in to _A25_, _JC_, _S_]

[49 me, nor blesse] me; Blesse _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC_, _W_]




ELEGIE XVII.

_Variety. _

The heavens rejoyce in motion, why should I
Abjure my so much lov'd variety,
And not with many youth and love divide?
Pleasure is none, if not diversifi'd:
The sun that sitting in the chaire of light 5
Sheds flame into what else so ever doth seem bright,
Is not contented at one Signe to Inne,
But ends his year and with a new beginnes.
All things doe willingly in change delight,
The fruitfull mother of our appetite: 10
Rivers the clearer and more pleasing are,
Where their fair spreading streames run wide and farr;
And a dead lake that no strange bark doth greet,
Corrupts it self and what doth live in it.
Let no man tell me such a one is faire, 15
And worthy all alone my love to share.
Nature in her hath done the liberall part
Of a kinde Mistresse, and imploy'd her art
To make her loveable, and I aver
Him not humane that would turn back from her: 20
I love her well, and would, if need were, dye
To doe her service. But followes it that I
Must serve her onely, when I may have choice
Of other beauties, and in change rejoice?
The law is hard, and shall not have my voice. 25
The last I saw in all extreames is faire,
And holds me in the Sun-beames of her haire;
Her nymph-like features such agreements have
That I could venture with her to the grave:
Another's brown, I like her not the worse, 30
Her tongue is soft and takes me with discourse.
Others, for that they well descended are,
Do in my love obtain as large a share;
And though they be not fair, 'tis much with mee
To win their love onely for their degree. 35
And though I faile of my required ends,
The attempt is glorious and it self commends.
How happy were our Syres in ancient times,
Who held plurality of loves no crime!