Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Sir William Davenant. 16061668302. To a Mistress Dying
Lover. | YOUR beauty, ripe and calm and fresh | |
As eastern summers are, | ||
Must now, forsaking time and flesh, | ||
Add light to some small star. | ||
Philosopher. | Whilst she yet lives, were stars decay’d, | 5 |
Their light by hers relief might find; | ||
But Death will lead her to a shade | ||
Where Love is cold and Beauty blind. | ||
Lover. | Lovers, whose priests all poets are, | |
Think every mistress, when she dies, | 10 | |
Is changed at least into a star: | ||
And who dares doubt the poets wise? | ||
Philosopher. | But ask not bodies doom’d to die | |
To what abode they go; | ||
Since Knowledge is but Sorrow’s spy, | 15 | |
It is not safe to know. |