Lo, in the orient when the gracious light Lifts up his burning head, each under eye Doth homage to his new-appearing sight, Serving with looks his sacred majesty; And having climb'd the steep-up heavenly hill, Resembling strong youth in his middle age, Yet mortal looks adore his beauty still, Attending on his golden pilgrimage;
But when from high-most pitch, with weary car, Like feeble age, he reeleth from the day,
The eyes, 'fore duteous, now converted are From his low tract, and look another way: So thou, thyself outgoing in thy noon, Unlook'd on diest, unless thou get a son.
WHEN I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls, all silver'd o'er with white; When lofty trees I see barren of leaves, Which erst from heat did canopy the herd, And summer's green all girded up in sheaves, Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard; Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go, Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake, And die as fast as they see others grow;
And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defenc Save breed, to brave him, when he takes thee hence
DEVOURING Time, blunt thou the lion's paws,
And make the earth devour her own sweet brood; Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws, And burn the long-liv'd phoenix in her blood ; Make glad and sorry seasons, as thou fleets, And do whate'er thou wilt, swift-footed Time, To the wide world, and all her fading sweets; But I forbid thee one most heinous crime: O carve not with thy hours my love's fair brow, Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen! Him in thy course untainted do allow,
For beauty's pattern to succeeding men.
Yet, do thy worst, old Time : despite thy wrong,
My love shall in my verse ever live young.
WEARY with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tir'd; But then begins a journey in my head,
To work my mind, when body's work's expir'd: For then my thoughts (from far where I abide) Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide, Looking on darkness which the blind do see; Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new.
Lo, thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee, and for myself, no quiet find.
WHEN in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee,—and then my state (Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remember'd, such wealth brings, That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
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