Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Andrew Marvell. 16211678358. The Picture of Little T. C. in a Prospect of Flowers
SEE with what simplicity | |
This nymph begins her golden days! | |
In the green grass she loves to lie, | |
And there with her fair aspect tames | |
The wilder flowers, and gives them names; | 5 |
But only with the roses plays, | |
And them does tell | |
What colour best becomes them, and what smell. | |
Who can foretell for what high cause | |
This darling of the gods was born? | 10 |
Yet this is she whose chaster laws | |
The wanton Love shall one day fear, | |
And, under her command severe, | |
See his bow broke and ensigns torn. | |
Happy who can | 15 |
Appease this virtuous enemy of man! | |
O then let me in time compound | |
And parley with those conquering eyes, | |
Ere they have tried their force to wound; | |
Ere with their glancing wheels they drive | 20 |
In triumph over hearts that strive, | |
And them that yield but more despise: | |
Let me be laid, | |
Where I may see the glories from some shade. | |
Meantime, whilst every verdant thing | 25 |
Itself does at thy beauty charm, | |
Reform the errors of the Spring; | |
Make that the tulips may have share | |
Of sweetness, seeing they are fair, | |
And roses of their thorns disarm; | 30 |
But most procure | |
That violets may a longer age endure. | |
But O, young beauty of the woods, | |
Whom Nature courts with fruits and flowers, | |
Gather the flowers, but spare the buds; | 35 |
Lest Flora, angry at thy crime | |
To kill her infants in their prime, | |
Do quickly make th’ example yours; | |
And ere we see, | |
Nip in the blossom all our hopes and thee. | 40 |