The Shepherd's Wife's Song 121î For kings have cares that wait upon a crown, If country loves such sweet desires do gain, His flocks are folded; he comes home at night And merrier, too: For kings bethink them what the state require, He kisseth first, then sits as blithe to eat For kings have often fears when they do sup, To bed he goes, as wanton then, I ween, For kings have many griefs, affects to move, Upon his couch of straw he sleeps as sound More sounder, too: For cares cause kings full oft their sleep to spill, Thus, with his wife, he spends the year as blithe And blither, too: For kings have wars and broils to take in hand, Since country loves such sweet desires do gain, Robert Greene [1560?-1592] "TRUTH DOTH TRUTH DESERVE" "From the "Arcadia” WHO doth desire that chaste his wife should be, THE MARRIED LOVER From "The Angel in the House" WHY, having won her, do I woo? But, spirit-like, eludes embrace; That, as on court-days subjects kiss To dread, as lower ladies might, That grace could meet with disrespect; Thus she with happy favor feeds Allegiance from a love so high That thence no false conceit proceeds Of difference bridged, or state put by; My Love Because, although in act and word Her manners, when they call me lord, Not with her least consent of will, When all is won which hope can ask, That bright in virgin ether bask; Because, though free of the outer court I am, this Temple keeps its shrine Sacred to heaven; because, in short, She's not and never can be mine. 1213 Coventry Patmore [1823-1896] MY LOVE NOT as all other women are Great feelings hath she of her own, And sweet they are as any tone Wherewith the wind may choose to blow. Yet in herself she dwelleth not, Although no home were half so fair; No simplest duty is forgot, Life hath no dim and lowly spot That doth not in her sunshine share. She doeth little kindnesses, Which most leave undone, or despise: For naught that sets one heart at ease, She hath no scorn of common things, Blessing she is: God made her so, She is most fair, and thereunto She is a woman: one in whom I love her with a love as still And, on its full, deep breast serene, It flows around them and between, And makes them fresh and fair and green, Sweet homes wherein to live and die. James Russell Lowell (1819-1891] At Last MARGARET TO DOLCINO Ask if I love thee? Oh, smiles cannot tell Ask if I love thee? How else could I borrow 1215 Pride from man's slander, and strength from my sorrow? Weeping by thee. Charles Kingsley [1819-1875] DOLCINO TO MARGARET THE world goes up and the world goes down, And yesterday's sneer, and yesterday's frown, Sweet wife: No, never come over again. For woman is warm, though man be cold, And the night will hallow the day; Till the heart which at even was weary and old Can rise in the morning gay, Sweet wife; To its work in the morning gay. Charles Kingsley [1819-1875] AT LAST WHEN first the bride and bridegroom wed, They love their single selves the best; Their separate slumbers are not rest. They quarrel, and make up again, 1 |