Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/406

 RICHARD CRASHAW

She offers them her dearest breath,

With Christ's name in 't, in change for death.

She'll bargain with them, and will give

Them God, and teach them how to live

In Him; or, if they this deny,

For Him she'll teach them how to die.

So shall she leave amongst them sown

Her Lord's blood, or at least her own.

Farewell then, all the world, adieu ' Teresa is no more for you. Farewell all pleasures, sports, and joys, Never till now esteemed toyt>' Farewell whatever dear may be Mother's arms, or father's knee' Farewell house, and farewell home' She 's for the Moors and Martyrdom.

Sweet, not so fast, lo' thy fair spouse, Whom thou scek'st with so swift vows, Calls thec back, and bids thec come T* embrace a milder martyrdom. . ..

O how oft shalt thou complain Of a sweet and subtle pain! Of intolerable joys' Of a death, in which who dies Loves his death, and dies again, And would for ever so be slain ; And lives and dies, and knows not why To live, but that he still may die' How kindly will thy gentle heart Kiss the sweetly-killing dart! And close in his embraces keep

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