| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| Sir William Davenant. 1606–1668 |
| |
| 302. To a Mistress Dying |
| |
| Lover. | YOUR beauty, ripe and calm and fresh | |
| As eastern summers are, | |
| Must now, forsaking time and flesh, | |
| Add light to some small star. | |
| | | Philosopher. | Whilst she yet lives, were stars decay'd, | 5 |
| Their light by hers relief might find; | |
| But Death will lead her to a shade | |
| Where Love is cold and Beauty blind. | |
| | | Lover. | Lovers, whose priests all poets are, | |
| Think every mistress, when she dies, | 10 |
| Is changed at least into a star: | |
| And who dares doubt the poets wise? | |
| | | Philosopher. | But ask not bodies doom'd to die | |
| To what abode they go; | |
| Since Knowledge is but Sorrow's spy, | 15 |
| It is not safe to know. | |
|
|
