What is Love? All his practice is deceit; Not a kiss but poison bears; And most treason in his tears. Idle minutes are his reign; To have all childish as himself. If by these ye please to know him, And that he's Venus' runaway. 465 Ben Jonson [1573?-1637] WHAT IS LOVE? From "The Captain " TELL me, dearest, what is love? 'Tis a lightning from above; 'Tis an arrow, 'tis a fire, 'Tis a boy they call Desire. 'Tis a grave, Gapes to have Those poor fools that long to prove. Tell me more, are women true? Yes, some are, and some as you. Be in both, All shall love, to love anew. Tell me more yet, can they grieve? When you men are wise as they. Then I see, Faith will be Never till they both believe. John Fletcher [1579-1625] LOVE'S EMBLEMS From "Valentinian " Now the lusty spring is seen; All love's emblems, and all cry, Every woman, every maid: And inviting men to taste, All love's emblems, and all cry, THE POWER OF LOVE From "Valentinian " HEAR, ye ladies that despise What the mighty Love has done; Fair Callisto was a nun; Advice to a Lover Leda, sailing on the stream Danaë, in a brazen tower, Where no love was, loved a shower. Hear, ye ladies that are coy, What the mighty Love can do; Fear the fierceness of the boy: The chaste Moon he makes to woo; Vesta, kindling holy fires, Circled round about with spies, Never dreaming loose desires, Doting at the altar dies; Ilion, in a short hour, higher He can build, and once more fire. 467 John Fletcher [1579-1625] ADVICE TO A LOVER THE sea hath many thousand sands, As full of woes as any: Believe me, that do know the elf, It is in truth a pretty toy But O, the honies of our youth Are oft our age's gall: Self-proof in time will make thee know He was a prophet told thee so: A prophet that, Cassandra-like, Tells truth without belief; For headstrong Youth will run his race, Although his goal be grief: Love's Martyr, when his heat is past, Proves Care's Confessor at the last. Unknown LOVE'S HOROSCOPE LOVE, brave Virtue's younger brother, Ah, my heart! is that the way? Are these the beams that rule thy day? The obsequious motions of Love's fate. If those sharp rays, putting on Cast amorous glances on its birth, That warms the bed of youth and blood:- But if her milder influence move, Ah, How Sweet It Is To Love" 469 Though every diamond in Jove's crown Her eye a strong appeal can give, O, if Love shall live, O where, Or, if Love shall die, O where, While Love shall thus entombed lie, Love shall live, although he die! Richard Crashaw [1613?-1649] "AH, HOW SWEET IT IS TO LOVE!” From "Tyrannic Love" Aн, how sweet it is to love! Ah, how gay is young Desire! Than all other pleasures are. Sighs which are from lovers blown Cure, like trickling balm, their smart: Love and Time with reverence use, Nor the golden gifts refuse Which in youth sincere they send: |