Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne
Thomas Lodge (1558–1625)Phillis’ Sickness
H
How trill her tears the elixir of my senses!
Ambitious sickness, what doth thee so harden?
O spare, and plague thou me for her offences!
Ah! roses! love’s fair roses! do not languish!
Blush through the milk-white veil that holds you covered;
If heat or cold may mitigate your anguish,
I ’ll burn, I ’ll freeze, but you shall be recovered.
Good God! would Beauty mark, now she is crazed,
How but one shower of sickness makes her tender,
Her judgments, then, to mark my woes amazed,
To mercy should opinion’s fort surrender;
And I, oh! would I might, or would she meant it!
Should harry love, who now in heart lament it.