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The Second Booke. VI. by Thomas Campion. Aske what honour might denye ; But both loue and her I lose, From my motion if shee flye. Worse then paine is feare to mee : Then hold in fancy though it burne If not happy, safe Ile be, And to my clostred cares returne. Yet, ô yet, in vaine I striue To represse my school'd desire ; 10 More and more the flames reuiue, I consume in mine owne fire. She would pitty, might shee know The harmes that I for her endure : Speake then, and get comfort so ; A wound long hid growes past recure. Wise shee is, and needs must know All th' attempts that beauty moues : Fayre she is, and honour'd so That she, sure, hath tryed some loues. 20 If with loue I tempt her then, 'Tis but her due to be desir'd : What would women thinke of men If their deserts were not admir'd ? Women, courted, haue the hand To discard what they distaste : But those Dames whom none demand Want oft what their wils imbrac't. Could their firmnesse iron excell, As they are faire, they should be sought : 30 When true theeues vse falsehood well, As they are wise they will be caught. Text source: Campion, Thomas. Campion's Works. Percival Vivian, Ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1909. 135-136. |