Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden
Andrew Marvell (16211678)Young Love
C
While thine unsuspected years
Clear thine aged father’s brow
From cold jealousy and fears.
By young Love old Time beguil’d,
While our sportings are as free
As the nurse’s with the child.
Such as yours should swifter move,
Whose fair blossoms are too green
Yet for lust, but not for love.
Or the wanton kid, does prize
As the lusty bull or ram
For his morning sacrifice.
Thee before thy time away;
Of this need we ’ll virtue make,
And learn love before we may.
And, if good to us she meant,
We that good shall antedate,
Or, if ill, that ill prevent.
Other titles to their crown,
In the cradle crown their king,
So all foreign claims to drown.
Now I crown thee with my love:
Crown me with thy love again.
And we both shall monarchs prove.