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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  99. Phillis 2

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

Thomas Lodge. 1556?–1625

99. Phillis 2

LOVE guards the roses of thy lips 
  And flies about them like a bee; 
If I approach he forward skips, 
  And if I kiss he stingeth me. 
 
Love in thine eyes doth build his bower,         5
  And sleeps within their pretty shine; 
And if I look the boy will lower, 
  And from their orbs shoot shafts divine. 
 
Love works thy heart within his fire, 
  And in my tears doth firm the same;  10
And if I tempt it will retire, 
  And of my plaints doth make a game. 
 
Love, let me cull her choicest flowers; 
  And pity me, and calm her eye; 
Make soft her heart, dissolve her lowers  15
  Then will I praise thy deity. 
 
But if thou do not, Love, I’ll truly serve her 
In spite of thee, and by firm faith deserve her.