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Shone like the moon in water seen by night。
'O！ where am I？' quoth she； 'in earth or heaven； Or in the ocean
drench'd； or in the fire？ What hour is this？ or morn or weary even？ Do I
delight to die； or life desire？
But now I liv'd； and life was death's annoy； But now I died； and death
was lively joy。
'O！ thou didst kill me； kill me once again： Thy eyes' shrewd tutor； that
hard heart of thine；
Hath taught them scornful tricks； and such disdain； That they have
murder'd this poor heart of mine； And these mine eyes； true leaders to their
queen； But for thy piteous lips no more had seen。
'Long may they kiss each other for this cure！ O！ never let their crimson
liveries wear； And as they last； their verdure still endure； To drive
infection from the dangerous year：
That the star…gazers； having writ on death； May say； the plague is
banish'd by thy breath。
'Pure lips； sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted； What bargains may I
make； still to be sealing？
To sell myself I can be well contented； So thou wilt buy and pay and
use good dealing； Which purchase if thou make； for fear of slips Set thy
seal…manual on my wax…red lips。
'A thousand kisses buys my heart from me； And pay them at thy
leisure； one by one。 What is ten hundred touches unto thee？ Are they not
quickly told and quickly gone？
Say； for non…payment that the debt should double； Is twenty hundred
kisses such a trouble？'
'Fair queen；' quoth he； 'if any love you owe me； Measure my
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strangeness with my unripe years：
Before I know myself； seek not to know me； No fisher but the
ungrown fry forbears： The mellow plum doth fall； the green sticks fast； Or
being early pluck'd is sour to taste。
'Look！ the world's comforter； with weary gait His day's hot task hath
ended in the west； The owl； night's herald； shrieks； 'tis very late； The sheep
are gone to fold； birds to their nest；
And coal…black clouds that shadow heaven's light Do summon us to
part； and bid good night。
'Now let me say good night； and so say you； If you will say so； you
shall have a kiss。'
'Good night；' quoth she； and ere he says adieu； The honey fee of
parting tender'd is： Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace；
Incorporate then they seem； face grows to face。
Till； breathless； he disjoin'd； and backward drew The heavenly
moisture； that sweet coral mouth； Whose precious taste her thirsty lips
well knew； Whereon they surfeit； yet complain on drouth：
He with her plenty press'd； she faint with dearth； Their lips together
glu'd； fall to the earth。
Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey； And glutton…like she
feeds； yet never filleth；
Her lips are conquerors； his lips obey； Paying what ransom the
insulter willeth； Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high； That
she will draw his lips' rich treasure dry。
And having felt the sweetness of the spoil； With blindfold fury she
begins to forage； Her face doth reek and smoke； her blood doth boil； And
careless lust stirs up a desperate courage；
Planting oblivion； beating reason back； Forgetting shame's pure blush
and honour's wrack。
Hot； faint； and weary； with her hard embracing； Like a wild bird being
tam'd with too much handling； Or as the fleet…foot roe that's tir'd with
chasing；
Or like the froward infant still'd with dandling； He now obeys； and
now no more resisteth； While she takes all she can； not all she listeth。
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What wax so frozen but dissolves with tempering； And yields at last to
every light impression？ Things out of hope are compass'd oft with
venturing； Chiefly in love； whose leave exceeds commission：
Affection faints not like a pale…fac'd coward； But then woos best
when most his choice is froward。
When he did frown； O！ had she then gave over； Such nectar from his
lips she had not suck'd。
Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover； What though the rose
have prickles； yet 'tis pluck'd： Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast；
Yet love breaks through and picks them all at last。
For pity now she can no more detain him；
The poor fool prays her that he may depart： She is resolv'd no longer
to restrain him； Bids him farewell； and look well to her heart；
The which； by Cupid's bow she doth protest； He carries thence
incaged in his breast。
'Sweet boy；' she says； 'this night I'll waste in sorrow； For my sick heart
commands mine eyes to watch。
Tell me； Love's master； shall we meet to…morrow Say； shall we？ shall
we？ wilt thou make the match？' He tells her； no； to…morrow he intends To
hunt the boar with certain of his friends。
'The boar！' quoth she； whereat a sudden pale； Like lawn being spread
upon the blushing rose； Usurps her cheeks； she trembles at his tale； And on
his neck her yoking arms she throws：
She sinketh down； still hanging by his neck； He on her belly falls； she
on her back。
Now is she in the very lists of love； Her champion mounted for the hot
encounter：
All is imaginary she doth prove； He will not manage her； although he
mount her； That worse than Tantalus' is her annoy； To clip Elysium and to
lack her joy。
Even as poor birds； deceiv'd with painted grapes； Do surfeit by the eye
and pine the maw； Even so she languisheth in her mishaps； As those poor
birds that helpless berries saw。
The warm effects which she in him finds missing； She seeks to kindle
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with continual kissing。
But all in vain； good queen； it will not be： She hath assay'd as much as
may be prov'd；
Her pleading hath deserv'd a greater fee； She's Love； she loves； and
yet she is not lov'd。 'Fie； fie！' he says； 'you crush me； let me go； You have
no reason to withhold me so。'
'Thou hadst been gone；' quoth she； 'sweet boy； ere this； But that thou
told'st me thou wouldst hunt the boar。 O！ be advis'd； thou know'st not what
it is With javelin's point a churlish swine to gore；
Whose tushes never sheath'd he whetteth still； Like to a mortal
butcher； bent to kill。
'On his bow…back he hath a battle set Of bristly pikes； that ever threat
his foes；
His eyes like glow…worms shine when