Since, cruel Thyrsis, you my torments slight, And take no notice of my amorous flame, In these vermilion letters thus I write My bloody reasons to confirm the same. These of my passion are the lively marks, Which from my veins you here in blood see writ, Touch them, your breast will kindle with the sparks, The ardent characters are reeking yet. Nor...Learn More

See, whilst thou weep'st, fair Chloe, see The world in sympathy with thee. The cheerful birds no longer sing; Each drops his head and hangs his wing: The clouds have bent their bosom lower, And shed their sorrows in a shower; The brooks beyond their limits flow, And louder murmurs speak their woe: The nymphs and swains adopt thy cares: They heave...Learn More

Jove saw the sphere old Archimedes made, And to the other Gods he laughing said, "Such wondrous skill can crafty mortals get, Of my great work to make the counterfeit? Heav'n's and Earth's constitutions, fixt by Fate, This Syracusan's art does imitate; His various planets their just order have, Keeping by springs the motions which he gave; Thro'...Learn More

I make no war, and yet no peace have found, With heat I melt, when starv'd to death with cold. I soar to Heav'n, while grovelling on the ground, Embrace the world, yet nothing do I hold. I'm not confin'd, yet cannot I depart, Nor loose the chain tho' not a captive led; Love kills me not, yet wounds me to the heart, Will neither have m' alive, nor...Learn More

Oh Death! without regard to wrong or right, All things at will thy boundless rage devours; This tender plant thou hast cut down in spight, And scatter'd on the ground its fruit, and flowers. Our love's extinct that with such ardour burn'd, And all my hope of future pleasure dies; Nature's chief master-piece to earth's return'd, Deaf to my passion,...Learn More

O Time! Oh rolling Heavens, that fly so fast, And cheat us mortals ignorant and blind! Oh fugitive Day, swifter than bird or wind! Your frauds I see, by all my suff'rings past. But pardon me, 'tis I myself must blame, Nature that spreads your wings, and makes you fly, To me gave eyes, that I my ills might spy: Yet I retain'd them to my grief, and...Learn More

No human thing in constancy will stay; The learned Chian us'd of old to say, Our life was frailer than the fading leaves; Which Man forgets, and scarce its flight perceives He harbours idle fancies in his brain, Many which he from childhood did retain: And whilst his vigour lasts, he's still inclin'd To fill with trifles his unsettled mind; On Age...Learn More

If Theban Pindar rais'd his country's fame, Whilst its great deeds he does in odes rehearse, And they made greater by his noble verse In gratitude are trophies to his name: Then English Pindar shall for ever live, Since his divine and lofty poetry Secur'd, great Regglo, by thy harmony, Shall to itself immortal glory give. The world's amaz'd to hear...Learn More

You, who to fam'd Guarini, now he's dead, Your verses consecrate, and statues rear, For that sweet Padan swan your tears have shed, Sweetest that ever did, or will sing here. Behold this picture on his fun'ral pile, Your mournful spirits 'twill with joy revive, Tho' th' artist cheats your senses all the while, For 'tis but paint which you would...Learn More

The life we strive to lengthen out, Is like a feather rais'd from ground, Awhile in air 'tis tost about, And almost lost as soon as found; If it continue long in sight, 'Tis sometimes high and sometimes low, Yet proudly aims a tow'ring flight, To make the more conspicuous show. The air with ease its weight sustains, Since 'tis by Nature light, and...Learn More

I fill with sighs the air whene'er I stand On yon' high hill, and thence survey the plain, Where Laura, she who could my heart command, Did in her Earthly Paradise remain. For now she's dead, and left me here alone, Griev'd for her loss, that I could gladly die; Drowning my eyes in making of my moan, My tears have left no space about me dry. There...Learn More

I lov'd thee, faithless Man, and love thee still, Thou fatal object of my fond desires, And that which nourishes these amorous fires, Is Hope, by which I love against my will. Great was the passion thou didst late express, Yet scorn'st me now, whom long thou didst adore, Sporting with others, her thou mind'st no more, Whom thou hast call'd thy...Learn More