Song to Amarantha, that she would Dishevel her Hair
Song to Amarantha, that she would Dishevel her Hair
Original Text
Richard Lovelace, Lucasta (1649). Facs. edn.: Scolar Press, 1972. PR 3542 L2 1649A ROBA.
1 Amarantha sweet and fair
2Ah braid no more that shining hair!
3 As my curious hand or eye
4Hovering round thee let it fly.
5 Let it fly as unconfin'd
6As its calm ravisher, the wind,
7 Who hath left his darling th'East,
8To wanton o'er that spicy nest.
9 Ev'ry tress must be confest
10But neatly tangled at the best;
11 Like a clue of golden thread,
12Most excellently ravelled.
13 Do not then wind up that light
14In ribands, and o'er-cloud in night;
15 Like the sun in's early ray,
16But shake your head and scatter day.
17 See 'tis broke! Within this grove
18The bower, and the walks of love,
19 Weary lie we down and rest,
20And fan each other's panting breast.
21 Here we'll strip and cool our fire
22In cream below, in milk-baths higher:
23 And when all wells are drawn dry,
24I'll drink a tear out of thine eye,
25 Which our very joys shall leave
26That sorrows thus we can deceive;
27 Or our very sorrows weep,
28That joys so ripe, so little keep.
Publication Start Year
1649
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
3RP 1.348-49.
Rhyme