Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/253

 BEN JONSON

Earth, let not thy envious shade

Dare itself to interpose; Cynthia's shining orb was made

Heaven to clear when day did close* Bless us then with wished sight, Goddess excellently bright.

Lay thy bow of pearl apart,

And thy crystal -shin ing quiver, Give unto the flying hart

Space to breathe, how short soever. Thou that mak'st a day of night Goddess excellently bright.

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��795 To Celia

^RINK to me only with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine, Or leave a kiss but in the cup

And I'll not look for wine The thirst that from the soul doth rise

Doth ask a drink divine, But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,

Not so much honouring thee As giving it a hope that there

It could not wither'd be, But thou thereon didst only breathe,

And sent'st it back to me; Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,

Not of itself but thee!

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