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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  346. To Amarantha, that she would dishevel her Hair

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Richard Lovelace. 1618–1658

346. To Amarantha, that she would dishevel her Hair

AMARANTHA sweet and fair, 
Ah, braid no more that shining hair! 
As my curious hand or eye 
Hovering round thee, let it fly! 
 
Let it fly as unconfined         5
As its calm ravisher the wind, 
Who hath left his darling, th’ East, 
To wanton o’er that spicy nest. 
 
Every tress must be confest, 
But neatly tangled at the best;  10
Like a clew of golden thread 
Most excellently ravellèd. 
 
Do not then wind up that light 
In ribbands, and o’ercloud in night, 
Like the Sun in ‘s early ray;  15
But shake your head, and scatter day!