The steed is stalled up, and even now
To tie the rider she begins to prove :

Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust;

And govern'd him in strength, though not in lust.

So soon was she along, as he was down,
Each leaning on their elbows and their hips:
Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown,
And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips;

And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, 'If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.'

He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears
Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks;
Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs,
To fan and blow them dry again she seeks :

He saith, she is immodest, blames her 'miss; 1
What follows more, she murders with a kiss.

Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,

Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, and bone, Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,

Till either gorge be stuff'd, or prey be gone;

Even so she kiss'd his brow, his cheek, his

chin;

And where she ends, she doth anew begin.

i. e. misbehavior.

2 Tears, pecks.

Forced to content, but never to obey,
Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face:
She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey;
And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace;
Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers,
So they were dew'd with such distilling showers.

Look, how a bird lies tangled in a net,
So fasten'd in her arms Adonis lies;

Pure shame and awed resistance made him fret,
Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes:
Rain, added to a river that is rank,1
Perforce will force it overflow the bank.

Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,
For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale;

Still is he sullen, still he lowers and frets,
"Twixt crimson shame, and anger ashy-pale:

Being red, she loves him best; and being white,
Her best is better'd with a more delight.

Look how he can, she cannot choose but love;
And by her fair immortal hand she swears
From his soft bosom never to remove,

Till he take truce with her contending tears,

Which long have rain'd, making her cheeks all

wet;

And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.

1 i. e. full.

Upon this promise did he raise his chin,
Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave,
Who being look'd on, ducks as quickly in;
So offers he to give what she did crave;
But when her lips were ready for his
He winks, and turns his lips another way.

Never did passenger, in summer's heat,

pay.

More thirst for drink, than she for this good turn: Her help she sees, but help she cannot get;

6

She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn.
'O, pity,' 'gan she cry, flint-hearted boy!
'Tis but a kiss I beg: why art thou coy?

I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, Even by the stern and direful god of war, Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow; Who conquers where he comes, in every jar : Yet hath he been my captive and my slave. And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have.

'Over my altars hath he hung his lance, His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest;

And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance,
To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest;

Scorning his churlish drum, and ensign red;
Making my arms his field, his tent my bed.

Thus he that over-ruled, I oversway'd, Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain:

Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength obey'd,
Yet was he servile to my coy disdain.

O, be not proud, nor brag not of thy might,
For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight!

Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine, (Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red) The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine:What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head:

Look in mine eyeballs; there thy beauty lies:
Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes?

· Art thou ashamed to kiss? then wink again,
And I will wink; so shall the day seem night:
Love keeps his revels where there are but twain:
Be bold to play; our sport is not in sight:

These blue-vein'd violets, whereon we lean,
Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.

The tender spring upon thy tempting lip Shows thee unripe; yet mayst thou well be tasted: Make use of time; let not advantage slip:

Beauty within itself should not be wasted:

Fair flowers, that are not gather'd in their prime, Rot and consume themselves in little time.

Were I hard-favor'd, foul, or wrinkled-old, Ill-nurtured, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, O'er-worn, despised, rheumatic and cold, Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice,

Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not

for thee;

But having no defects, why dost abhor me?

Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow;

Mine eyes are gray, and bright, and quick in

turning;

My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow;

My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning: My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt,

Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt.

'Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear;
Or, like a fairy, trip upon the green;
Or, like a nymph, with long dishevell❜d hair,
Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen.
Love is a spirit all compact of fire;

Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.

'Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie : These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me; Two strengthless doves will draw me through the

sky,

From morn to night, even where I list to sport me.
Is love so light, sweet boy; and may it be,
That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee?

1 What we now call blue eyes, were in Shakspeare's time called gray.