Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/141

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��SIR WALTER RALEIGH 84 The Silent Lover

IASSIONS are liken'd best to floods and streams' The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb; So, when affection yields discourse, it seems

The bottom is but shallow whence they come. They that are rich in words, in words discover That they are poor in that which makes a lover.

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WRONG not, sweet empress of my heart, The merit of true passion, With thinking that he feels no smart, That sues for no compassion.

Silence in love bewrays more woe Than words, though ne'er so witty:

A beggar that is dumb, you know, May challenge double pity.

Then wrong not, dearest to my heart, My true, though secret passion;

He smarteth most that hides his smart, And sues for no compassion.

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