POEMS OF Mr. COVVLEY AND OTHERS. COMPOSED into SONGS and AYRES with a Thorough BASSE to the Theorbo, Harpsecon, or Base-violl;
BY WILLIAM KING Organist of New-Colledge In the University of OXON:
OXFORD, Imprinted By William Hall, For the Author 1668.
TO ALL LOVERS OF MUSICK.
THE only Reason that caus'd mee to Print these Songs, was to serve the desires of my Friends; And since they are publique, I must content my selfe with what Fortune they meet with, or what Acceptation they shall have. I intended many more Songs, which might have made this Book farr larger; But considering that they were not so fit company for the Great COWLEY, I have given them leave to find out more suitable Acquaintance.
Farewell.
SOme few faults have escap'd the Presse by the Authors absence; and where any Cliffe or Notes are misplac'd, you shall find the letters put under or over them, which will plainly be understood.
The CONCEALEMENT.
[...] NO; to what purpose should I speak?
[...] No, wretched Heart, Swell till you break!
[...] she cannot love me if she Would;
[...] and to say truth, 'twere pity that she Should.
[...] as No, to the Grave thy sorrows bear,
[...] Silent, as they will be there▪
[...] since that lov'd [Page 2] Hand this mortal wound do's give,
[...] so Handsomely the thing contrive,
[...] that she may Guiltless of it live.
[...] So perish, that her killing Thee
[...] may a Chance-Medley, and no Murther Bee.
2
'Tis nobler much for me, that I
By'her Beauty, not her Anger dy;
This will look justly, and become
An Execution; that a Martyrdome.
The censuring world will ne'r refrain
From judging men by Thunder slain.
She must be angry sure, if I should be
So bold to ask her to make me
By being hers, happi'er then she.
I will not; 'tis a milder fate
To fall by her not Loving then her Hate.
3.
And yet this death of mine, I fear,
Will ominous to her appear:
When, sound in every other part,
Her Sacrifice is found without an Heart.
For the last Tempest of my death
Shall sigh out that too, with my breath.
Then shall the world my noble ruine see,
Some pity, and some envy Mee,
Then She herself, the mighty Shee
Shall grace my fun'rals with this truth
Twas onely Love destroy'd the gentle Youth.
DAVIDS Song to MICHAL.
[...] Awake, awake my Lyre,
[...] and tell thy silent Masters humble tale,
[...] in sounds that may prevaile;
[...] such Sounds that gentle thoughts inspire,
[...] Though so Exalted she and I so Lowly be,
[...] Tell her such diffe'rent Notes make all thy Harmonie.
2.
Hark, how the Strings awake,
And though the Moving Hand approach not near,
Themselves with awful fear,
A kind of num'erous Trembling make.
Now all thy forces try,
Now all thy charms apply,
Revenge upon her Ear the Conquests of her Eye.
3.
Weak Lyre! thy vertue sure
Is useless here, since thou art onely found
To Cure, but not to Wound,
And she to Wound, but not to Cure.
Too weak too wilt thou prove
My Passion to remove,
Physick to other Ills, thou'rt Nourishment to Love.
4.
Sleep, sleep again, my Lyre;
For thou can'st never tell my humble tale,
In sounds that will prevail,
Nor gentle thoughts in her inspire;
All thy vain mirth lay by,
Bid thy strings silent ly,
Sleep; sleep again, my Lyer, and let thy Master dy.
The ENJOYMENT.
[...] THen like some wealthy Island thou shalt ly;
[...] and Like the Sea about it I.
[...] Thou like faire Albi'on To the Sailers sight,
[...] sprea╌ding her beauteous Bosome all in White,
[...] like the kind Oce'an I will Be
[...] with loving Arms for ever clasping Thee.
But I'll embrace Thee gentli'er far then so;
As their fresh Banks soft Rivers do,
Nor shall the proudest Planet boast a power
Of making my full Love to ebb one hour;
It never dry or low can prove,
Whilst thy unwasted Fountain feeds my Love.
3.
Such Heat and Vigour shall our Kisses bear,
As if like Doves we'engendred there.
No bound nor rule my pleasures shall endure,
In Love there's none too much an Epicure.
Nought shall my hands or Lips controul;
I'll kiss Thee through, I'll kiss thy very Soul.
4.
Yet nothing, but the Night our sports shall know;
Night that's both blind and silent too.
Alpheus found not a more secret trace,
His lov'd Sicanian Fountain to embrace,
Creeping so far beneath the Sea,
Then I will do t'enjoy, and feast on Thee.
5.
Men, out of Wisdom; Women, out of Pride,
The pleasant Thefts of Love do hide.
That may secure thee; but thou hast yet from Me
A more infallible Securitie.
For there's no danger I should tell
The Joys, which are to Me unspeakable.
Her NAME.
[...] WIth more then Jewish Reverence, as yet,
[...] do I the Sacred Name con╌ceale;
[...] When yee kind Stars, ah! When will it be fit,
[...] This gentle Mistr'y to reveale,
[...] When will our Love be nam'd, & we posses,
[...] that Christning As a Badge of Happinesse.
2.
So bold as yet no verse of mine has been,
To wear that Gem on any Line;
Nor, til the happy Nuptial Muse be seene,
Shall any Stanza with it shine.
Rest, mighty Na [...]e, till then; for thou must be
Laid down by Her, e're taken up by Me.
Then all the fields and woods shall with it ring;
Then Ecchoes burden it shall be;
Then all the Birds in sev'eral notes shall sing,
And all the Rivers murmur Thee;
Then ever'y wind the Sound shall upwards bear,
And softly whisper't to some Angels Ear.
4.
Then shall thy Name through all my Verse be spread
Thick as the flowers in Meadows lye,
And, when in future times they shall be read,
(As sure, I think, they will not dye)
If any Critick doubt that They be mine,
Men by that Stamp shall quickly know the Coyn.
5
Mean while I will not dare to make a Name
So good to represent thee by;
Adam (Gods Nomenclator) could not frame
One that enough should signifie.
Astraea' or Caelia as unfit would prove
For Thee, as 'tis to call the Deity, Jove.
A Comparison between ART and NATURE.
[...] ARt lives on Nature's Almes is weak and poore
[...] Nature her selfe hath inexhausted store
[...] Wallows in Wealth and runns a hidden Maze
[...] that no vulgar eye can trace Art's
[...] like th'ig╌noble Crowe rapin and noize does Love
[...] whilst Nature's like the sacred Bird of Jove
[...] now beares Loud Tho╌un╌ders,
[...] and anon with silent Joy the beaut'uos Phrig'ian Boy,
[...] defeats the strong ore-takes the fly╌ing Prey,
[...] and sometimes bask's it'h open flames of Day,
[...] and some times too he shrouds his soaring Wings
[...] a╌mong the Clouds.
CUPID'S Complaint.
[...] Cupid once when weary grown with Womens Arrants
[...] Laid him down on a refreshing rosy Bed, the same sweet
[...] Covert harboured a Bee and as she alwaies had a quarrell
[...] to Love's Idle Trade stings the soft Boy: Paine
[...] and strong fears streight melts him into Cryes and
[...] Tears. As wings and feet would lett each other
[...] Home he hastens to his Mother, There on her knees he
[...] Hangs his Head, and Cryes, O Mother, I am dead
[...] An ugly Snake they call a Bee (O see I swell!)
[...] has murther'd mee▪ Venus with smiles reply'd, O
[...] Sir, does a Bee's sting make all this stirr, Think what
[...] paines attend those Darts wherewith thou still art
[...] wounding Hearts. E'en let it smart may chance that
[...] then Thou'l't learn more pitty towards Men.
MY FATE.
[...] GOe bid the Needle his dear North forsake, to
[...] which with trembling Reve'rence it does bend. Go
[...] bidd the Stones a Journey upwards make: Go
[...] bid th'ambiti'ous Flames no more t'ascend
[...] And when these false to their own Moti'ons prove,
[...] Then shall I cease, Thee Thee alone to Love.
2.
The fast-link'd Chain of everlasting Fate
Does nothing tye more strong, then Me to You;
My fixt Love hangs not on your Love or Hate;
But will be still the same, what e're you do.
You cannot kill my Love with your disdain,
Wound it you may, and make it live in pain:
3.
Mee, mine example let the Stoicks use,
Their sad and cruel doctrine to maintain,
Let all Praedestinators me produce,
Who struggle with aeternal bonds in vain.
This Fire I'm born to, but'tis she must tell,
Whether't be Beams of Heav'en, or Flames of Hell.
4.
You, who mens fortunes in their faces reade,
To find out mine, look not, alas, on Mee;
But mark her Face, and all the features heed;
For onely there is writ my Destinie.
Or if stars shew it, gaze not on the skyes;
But study the Astrol'ogy of her Eyes.
5.
If thou find there kind and propitious rays,
VVhat Mars or Saturn threaten I'll not fear;
I well believe the Fate of mortal days
Is writ in Heav'en; but, oh my heav'en is there.
What can men learn from stars they scarce can see?
Two great Lights rule the world and her two, Mee.
LOVES FIELD.
[...] MEn of Warr, march bravely on, The Field is easy
[...] to be wonn; There's no danger in that Warr, where
[...] Lipps both Swords and Bucklers are, Here's no
[...] Cold to Chill you, A Bedd of Doune's your
[...] Field Here's no Sword to kill you unless you
[...] please to yeild. Here is nothing to in╌cumber,
[...] Here will be no Scars to number.
ALEXIS Singing.
[...] Yes yes, It is Alexis sings to his Theorboe,
[...] whil'st the strings tremble to heare his lusty
[...] voice, out-shake their well-Tun'd mellow
[...] noize. And eve'ry Songster in the Fields, to
[...] his sweet straines the better yeilds, when He sings
[...] high, The Nightingall baffl'd doth hush her pretty
[...] Tale. when lower the Melodi'ous Bee would
[...] Hum and imitate, but Shee finding it is in vaine to
[...] strive, for griefe doth creep in-to her Hive, Thus with Ap╌Plauding
[...] silence All admire each slide, each rise, each
[...] fall. If they perceave that He drawes nigh This Cadence
[...] ends his Harmony. Then voice they thus a second strain, sweet Alexis sing again.
All-over LOVE.
[...] TIs well, 'tis well with them (say I,) whose short liv'd
[...] Passi'ons with themselves can dye: For none can be unhappie
[...] who mid'st all his Ills a time does know, Though ne're so
[...] long when he shall not be so.
2.
What ever parts of Me remain,
Those parts will still the Love of thee retain;
For 'twas not only in my Heart,
But like a God by pow'rful Art,
'Twas all in all, and all in every part.
3.
My Affection no more perish can
Then the First Matter that compounds a Man.
Hereafter if one Dust of Mee
Mixt with anothers substance bee,
'Twill Leaven that whole Lump with Love of Thee.
4.
Let Nature if she please disperse
My Atoms over all the Universe,
At the last they easi'ly shall
Themselves know, and together call;
For thy Love, like a Mark; is stamp'd on all.
LOVES VISIBILITY.
[...] With much of paine, and all the Art I knew, have
[...] I endev'ourd hither-to; To hide my Love, and yet
[...] all will not doe.
2.
The world perceives it, and it may be, she;
Though so discreet and good she be,
By hiding it, to teach that skill to Me.
3.
Men without Love have oft so cunning grown,
That something like it they have showne,
But none who had it ever seem'd t'have none.
4.
Love's of a strangely open, simple kind,
Can no arts or disguises find,
But thinks none sees it cause it self is blind.
5.
The very Eye betrays our inward smart;
Love of himself left there a part,
When thorow it he past into the Heart.
6.
Or if by chance the Face betray not it,
But keep the secret wisely, yet,
Like Drunkenness, into the Tongue t'will get.
LOVE Undiscovered.
[...] I; others may with safety tell, the mode'rate flames which
[...] in them dwell, and either find some med'cine there, or
[...] cure themselves ev'en by despaire: My Love's so
[...] great that it may prove, dange'rous to tell her that I
[...] Love; So tender is my wound, it must not beare
[...] any Sa-lute though of the kindest ayr.
2.
I would not have her know the pain,
The Torments for her I sustain.
Lest too much goodness make her throw
Her Love upon a Fate too low.
Forbid it Heaven my Life should be
Weigh'd with her least Conveniencie:
No; let me perish rather with my grief,
Then to her disadvantage find relief.
3.
Yet when I dye, my last breath shall
Grow bold, and plainly tell her all.
Like covetous Men who ne'r descry,
Their dear hid Treasures till they dy.
Ah fairest Maid, how will it chear
My Ghost, to get from Thee a tear!
But take heed; for if me thou Pitiest then,
Twenty to one but I shall live agen.
The given LOVE.
[...] Ile on for what should hinder mee, from Loving
[...] and enjoy╌ing Thee, Thou can'st not those excepti'ons make
[...] which thin Soul'd under-Mortalls take, That my Fate's too meane and
[...] low, 'twere pity I should love thee so, If that dull cause could
[...] hinder mee in Loving and en╌joying Thee.
2.
It does not me a [...] please
Since that the rich [...] seize;
That you all Titles [...] our own,
Are Valiant, [...] alone.
But if you claime o're Women too
The power which ove▪ Men ye do;
If you alone must Lovers be,
For that, Sirs, you must pardon me.
3.
Rather then lose what does so neare
Concern my Life and Being here,
I'll some such crooked ways invent,
As you, or your Fore-fathers went,
I'll flatter or oppose the King,
Turn Puritan, or Any Thing;
I'll force my Mind to arts so new:
Grow Rich, and Love as well as You.
4.
But rather thus let me remain,
As Man in Paradise did reign;
When perfect Love did so agree
With Innocence and Povertie.
Adam did no Joynture give,
Himself was Joynture to his Eve:
Untoucht with Av'arice yet or Pride,
The Rib came freely back to 'his side,
5.
A curse upon the man who taught
VVomen, that Love was to be bought;
Rather dote onely on your Gold?
And that with greedy av'arice hold;
For if Woman too submit
To that, and sell her self for it,
Fond Lover, you a Mistress have
Of her, that's but your Fellow-slave.
vide Cowley fol. 6. Mist.
COUNCELL.
[...] Ah! what advice can I receave, No, satisfy mee
[...] first; For who would Physick pot'ions give, to one that
[...] dyes with thirst. A little puff of breath we find small
[...] fires can quench and kill, But when they'r great the
[...] adverse wird, does make them greater still, now whilst you
[...] speake, it moves me much, but streight I'me just the
[...] same: Alas! th'ef╌fect must needs be such of cutting
[...] through a flame.
Upon the graveing a Name on a Tree.
[...] A╌las! how barbarous are wee, thus to re╌ward the curte'ous
[...] Tree, who it's broad shade affording us, deserves not to be
[...] wounded thus. See, see how the yeilding barke com╌plies with our un╌gratefull
[...] injuries; And seeing this say how much then, Trees
[...] are more generous then Men, Who by a Nobleness so
[...] Pure, Can first obleige and then en╌dure.
LOVES CURE.
[...] GO soft de-sires Loves gentle Progeny, And on the
[...] Heart of charming Silv'ia seize, Then quickly back again re╌turne
[...] to Mee, since that's the on╌ly Cure of my disease
[...] But if you miss her Breast whom I a╌dore
[...] Then take your flight and vi╌sit mine no more.
The Given HEART.
[...] I won╌der what those Lovers meane who
[...] say, they have give'n their Hearts away,
[...] Some good kind Lovers, tell me how, for mine is
[...] but a tor╌ment to me now.
2.
If so it be, one place both hearts contain,
For what do they complain?
What courtesie can Love do more,
Then joyn Hearts, that parted were before?
3.
Wo to her stubborn Heart, if once mine com
Into the self same room;
'Twill tear and blow up all within,
Granado-like into a Magazin.
4.
Then shall Love keep the ashes, and torn parts,
Of both our broken Hearts:
Shall out of both one new one make,
From hers, th' Allay; from mine, the Mettal take.
5.
For of her heart, he from the flames will find
But little left behind:
Mine onely will remain entire;
No dross was there, to perish in the Fire.
Clad in VVHITE.
[...] FAirest Thing that shines below, why in this
[...] Robe dost thou ap╌peare, would'st thou a white most
[...] perfect show, Thou must at all no garment wear
[...] For Thou wilt seem much whiter so, Then winter
[...] when 'tis clad in Snow.
2.
'Tis not the Linnen shews so fair:
Her skin shines through, and makes it bright;
So clouds themselves like Suns appear,
When the Sun pierces them with Light:
So Lillies in a glass enclose,
The Glass will seem as white as those.
3.
Thou now one heap of beauty art;
Nought outwards, or within is foul:
Condensed beams make every part:
Thy Body's Cloathed like the Soul.
Thy soul, which does it self display,
Like a star plac'd i'th Milky way.
4.
Such robes the Saints departed weare,
Wooven all with Light divine;
Such their exalted Bodies are,
And with such full glory shine.
But they regard not mortals pain;
Men pray, I fear, to both in vain.
5.
Yet seeing thee so gently pure,
My hopes will needs continue still;
Thou wouldst not take this garment sure,
When thou hadst an intent to kill.
Of Peace and yielding who would doubt,
VVhen the white Flag he sees hung out.
The DISTANCE.
[...] I▪ have follow'd Thee a year at least, and
[...] ne╌ver stopt my selfe to rest, but yet can
[...] Thee or'etake no more, then this day can the
[...] Day that went be╌fore.
2.
In this our fortunes aequal prove
To Stars, which govern them above;
Our Stars that move for ever round,
With the same distance still betwixt them found.
3.
In vaine, alas, in vain I strive
The wheel of Eate faster to drive;
Since if a round it swiftlier fly
She in it mends her pace as much as I.
4.
Hearts by Love strangely shuffled are,
That there can never meet a Pare!
Tamelier then Wormes are Lovers slain;
The wounded Heart ne'r turns to wound again.
LOVES FUELL.
[...] SInce Love hath in thine and mine Eyes, Kindled an
[...] holy flame, what pi╌tie 'twere to let it dye, what
[...] Sinn to quench the same; The Stars that seem ex╌tinct
[...] by day, dis╌close their beams at night
[...] and in a subtle sence con╌vey, Their Loves in flames of Light.
2.
VVhat though our Bodies doe not meet,
Love's fuell's more Divine;
The fixt-stars by their twinkling greet,
Although they never joyne.
Falce Meteors that do change their place,
Though they seem faire and bright;
Yet when they covet to embrace,
Fall down, and loose their light.
3.
If thou percev'st thy Love decay,
Come light thine Eyes at mine:
And if I find mine wast away,
I'le fetch fresh fire from thine;
Thus while we shall preserve from wast,
The flame of our desires;
No Vestall shall maintain more chast,
Nor more Immortall fires.
AGE.
[...] Oft am I by the VVomen told, Poore A╌nacreon
[...] thou grow'st old; See how thy haires
[...] are fall╌ing all, Poor A╌na╌cre╌on how they
[...] fall; Whether I grow old or noe? By the ef╌fects
[...] I doe not know, This I know with╌out being
[...] told, 'Tis time to Live if I growe Old,
[...] 'Tis time short plea╌sures then to
[...] take, Of little Life the best to make,
[...] And manage wise╌ly the last stake.
Turne over for the Second Part.
The Second Part.
[...] Fill the bowle with ro╌sie wine, round our
[...] Temples ro╌ses twine; And let us chear╌fully
[...] a while like the Wine and Ro╌ses smile
[...] Crowned thus wee will con╌temn Gyges wealthie
[...] Diadem: To day is ours what need wee feare
[...] To day is ours wee have it here, Lets gently
[...] treat it, that it may, VVish at Least with us to
[...] stay. Lets bannish busi'ness, ban╌nish sor╌row
[...] to the Gods be╌longs to mor╌row.
The Heart-Breaking.
[...] IT gave a pit'eous groane, and so it broke
[...] In vaine some╌thing it would have spoke
[...] The Love with╌in too strong for't was, Like Poyson
[...] put into a Venice Glasse.
2.
I thought that this some Remedy might prove,
But, oh, the mighty Serpent Love
Cut by this chance in pieces small,
In all still liv'd, and still it stung in all.
3
And now (alas) each little broken part
Feels the whole pain of all my Heart:
And every smallest corner still
Livs with that torment which the whole did kill.
4
Even so rude Armies when the field they quit,
And into several Quarters get;
Each Troop does spoil and ruine more,
Then all joyn'd in one Body did before.
5.
How many Loves raign in my bosom now?
How many Loves, yet all of you?
Thus have I chang'd with evil fate
My Monarch-Love into a Tyrant State.
The MONOPOLY.
[...] What Mynes of Sulphur in my Breast doe lye,
[...] That feed th'ae╌ternall burnings of my Heart;
[...] Not AEtna flames more fierce or con╌stant╌ly, the
[...] sounding shopp of Vulcans smoaky Art; Vulcan his
[...] shop hath placed there, And Cu╌pids forge is set up here.
2.
Here all those Arrows mortal Heads are made,
That flye so thick unseen through yielding ayr;
The Cyclops here, which labour at the trade
Are Jealousie, Fear, Sadness and Despair.
Ah cruel God! and why to me
Gave you this curst Monopolie?
3
I have the trouble, not the gains of it;
Give me but the disposal of one Dart;
And then (I'll ask no other benefit]
Heat as you please your furnace in my Heart.
So sweet's Revenge to me, that I
Upon my foe would gladly dy.
4
Deep into'her bosom would I strike the dart;
Deeper then Woman e're was struck by Thee;
Thou giv'st them small wounds, and so far from th'Heart,
They flutter still about inconstantly.
Curse on thy Goodness, whom we find
Civil to none but Woman-kind!
5
Vain God! who woman dost thy self adore!
Their wounded hearts do still retain the powers
To travel, and to wander as before;
Thy broken Arrows 'twixt that sex and ours
So'unjustly are distributed;
They take the Feathers, we the Head
The 133 Psal. Mr Sands's Translation Two voyces to the Organ.
[...] O blest e-state, blest from a╌bove blest from above O blest e╌state blest from above when brethren joyne in mutu'all blest from a╌bove when Brethren joyne in mut'uall Love in mu╌tu'all Love, Tis like the pret'ious Odors Love in mu╌tuall Love. [Page 51] [...] shed on consecrated Aa╌ron's 'Tis like the pretious odours shed on consecrated Aaron's Head which trick╌led trick╌led from his Head which trickled trickled from his and breast down down to the borders of his vest to the Head and breast down to the borders of his vest to the [Page 52] [...] bor╌ders of his Vest. Tis like the Pearls of Dew that drop drop bor╌ders of his Vest. 'Tis like the pearls of Dew▪ that Drop on Syons e╌ver fra╌grant Top, Or which the smy╌ling Heav'ens didrop, on Syons e╌ver fra╌grant Top, Or which the smyling-still on happy Syons sacred Hill, for there the Lord his▪ Heavens distill on happie Syons sacred Hill, for there the Lord his [Page 53] [...] favours plac't and life which shall and life which favours plac't and life which shall shall for ever Last and life which shall and life which shall for e╌ver last and life which shall For e╌ver Last Allelui'ah Al╌le╌luiah Al╌le╌luiah For e╌ver last [Page 54] [...] Al (repeat) Al (repeat) Alleluiah Al (repeat) Al (repeat) Al (repeat) Al (repeat) Al (repeat) Alle╌lui╌ah Al (repeat) Al (repeat) Al (repeat) ▪Alle╌lui╌ah
Bassus. Gloria Patri &c. 3 Voc:
[...] Glo╌ri╌a Pa╌tri & Filio & Spiritui Sancto & Spiri╌tui Sancto & Spiritui Sancto Sancto & Spi╌ri╌tu╌i Sancto Sicut erat in principio est nunc & semper est nunc (repeat) Semper & in Saecula & in Secula Saeculorum & in Secula Saeculorum A╌men.
Contra-Tenor.
[...] Gloria Pa╌tri & Fi╌li╌o & Spi╌ri╌tu╌i Spi╌ri╌tu╌i Sancto & Spiritui San╌cto & Spiritui San╌cto & Spiritui San╌cto sicut erat in prin╌cipio est nunc & semper est nunc & semper & in sae╌cu╌la & in se╌cu╌la & in sae╌cu╌la sae╌cu╌lo╌rum & in saecula saeculorum A╌men.
Treble.
[...] Gloria Pa╌tri & Fi╌li╌o & Spiritui San╌cto & Spiritui San╌cto & Spiritui San╌cto Sicut erat in prin╌ci╌pi╌o est nunc & semper est nunc & semper & in saecula saeculorum & in saecula secula secu╌lorum & in sae╌cu╌la sae╌cu╌lo╌rum A╌men.
FINIS.