Loves Mistesse or Natures Rarity

Anonymous

A text encoding project for Literature and Digital Diversity

S. S.

London

1650

Transcribed from a text in Early English Books Online

Figure: A man, facing to the right towards the second figure, in a cape-like coat.

Tell me you wandering Spirits in the Aire,

when that you saw a nymph more bright, more fair

Then Beauties Darling (wheresoe'r she flyes)

Or twinkling Comets in the Starry Skies,

If in this world a Phoenix may be found,

'Tis she, tis she, whose graces must & shall be crown'd

Oh call her from the fair Elizium Bay

And tell her how my senses fade away,

For in her being was my fixed state;

But she's dissolv'd, my time is out of date:

Shee's flown she's flown unto the Azure Skies,

Then cry, then cry, Amintas for her absence dies.

Turn sacred Nymph, restore my latest breath,

That am designed for untimely death;

Tis she can cure me with her glorious looks,

Figure: A woman facing forward in a large dress.

Without the skill of Doctors or their books:

Then let thy beauty with such splendor shine,

To raise, to raise this drouping love-sick heart of mine.

Search, search the Valleys, where the Vestal train

And Shepherdesses in their state remain;

walk through the woods, & view the mirtle Groves

where loves queen rangeth with her turtle doves;

She's like fair Venus in her glorious Rays,

Then crown her, crown her with a wreath of royal Bays

Walk through the gardens, view the damask Rose

And smell what scent those precious leaves inclose

'tis her sweet breath that gives this odorous smell

And peerless vertue, (richly doth excell:)

If there you see one like the Radiant Sun,

'Tis she, 'tis she, whom I adore, Loves Paragon.

Figure: The same image of a man, with more detail.

Oh fast the fountains silver-streaming Springs

And Hellicon, where Lady Muses sings;

Distill the Sea, wade through the Ocean deep,

She may be Tombed in eternal sleep;

But she's convey'd from every mortal eye,

O Cloris Cloris, come away, or else for thee I die.

Search, search the rocks, where Syrens sing their charmes

She may be lulled in their inchanting arms;

Fish, fish for pearl, and you may Corals find

Or else a Jewel to content the mind;

My bliss, my joys are turnd' to destiny,

That I, that I must yeild to dye for loving thee.

Scale high Olympus, where the Gods remain,

And Goddesses with all their royal Traine,

View perfectly the spangled Orb and see

If Cloris, Cloris be in royalty,

She's gone, she's gone, whilst I in torments frye,

Oppresed, oppresed with pain, fain wold but cannot die

Figure: An image of a woman, facing left, reaching a hand out.

Search every quarter of the world, and see,

If Natures peace so excellent there be;

Turn round the Globe and view each center right

If there you find one like to Phoebus bright,

With lustrous beauty shining in extremes,

'Tis she, 'tis she, eclipsing Luna with her beams.

O stay a while, I may inform you ill;

Were she on Earth, she had been with me still:

Fly, fly to heaven examine every Sphere,

And see what Stars are lately fixed there

If any brighter then the Sun you see,

Fall down, fall down and honour her for that is she

FINIS

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