Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Sir John Suckling. 16091642328. When, Dearest, I but think of Thee
WHEN, dearest, I but think of thee, | |
Methinks all things that lovely be | |
Are present, and my soul delighted: | |
For beauties that from worth arise | |
Are like the grace of deities, | 5 |
Still present with us, tho’ unsighted. | |
Thus while I sit and sigh the day | |
With all his borrow’d lights away, | |
Till night’s black wings do overtake me, | |
Thinking on thee, thy beauties then, | 10 |
As sudden lights do sleepy men, | |
So they by their bright rays awake me. | |
Thus absence dies, and dying proves | |
No absence can subsist with loves | |
That do partake of fair perfection: | 15 |
Since in the darkest night they may | |
By love’s quick motion find a way | |
To see each other by reflection. | |
The waving sea can with each flood | |
Bathe some high promont that hath stood | 20 |
Far from the main up in the river: | |
O think not then but love can do | |
As much! for that ‘s an ocean too, | |
Which flows not every day, but ever! |