Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Anonymous. 160264. How can the Heart forget her? Davison’s Poetical Rhapsody ? F. or W. Davison
AT her fair hands how have I grace entreated | |
With prayers oft repeated! | |
Yet still my love is thwarted: | |
Heart, let her go, for she’ll not be converted— | |
Say, shall she go? | 5 |
O no, no, no, no, no! | |
She is most fair, though she be marble-hearted. | |
How often have my sighs declared my anguish, | |
Wherein I daily languish! | |
Yet still she doth procure it: | 10 |
Heart, let her go, for I can not endure it— | |
Say, shall she go? | |
O no, no, no, no, no! | |
She gave the wound, and she alone must cure it. | |
But shall I still a true affection owe her, | 15 |
Which prayers, sighs, tears do show her, | |
And shall she still disdain me? | |
Heart, let her go, if they no grace can gain me— | |
Say, shall she go? | |
O no, no, no, no, no! | 20 |
She made me hers, and hers she will retain me. | |
But if the love that hath and still doth burn me | |
No love at length return me, | |
Out of my thoughts I’ll set her: | |
Heart, let her go, O heart I pray thee, let her! | 25 |
Say, shall she go? | |
O no, no, no, no, no! | |
Fix’d in the heart, how can the heart forget her? |