Thomas Stanley (1625–1678)

O TURN away those cruel eyes,

The stars of my undoing!

Or death, in such a bright disguise,

May tempt a second wooing.

Punish their blindly impious pride,

Who dare contemn thy glory!

It was my fall that deified

Thy name, and seal’d thy story.

Yet no new sufferings can prepare

A higher praise to crown thee;

Though my first death proclaim thee fair.

My second will unthrone thee.

Lovers will doubt thou canst entice

No other for thy fuel,

And if thou burn one victim twice,

Both think thee poor and cruel!