| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. 1554–1628 |
| |
| 96. Myra |
| |
| I, WITH whose colours Myra dress'd her head, | |
| I, that ware posies of her own hand-making, | |
| I, that mine own name in the chimneys read | |
| By Myra finely wrought ere I was waking: | |
| Must I look on, in hope time coming may | 5 |
| With change bring back my turn again to play? | |
| |
| I, that on Sunday at the church-stile found | |
| A garland sweet with true-love-knots in flowers, | |
| Which I to wear about mine arms was bound | |
| That each of us might know that all was ours: | 10 |
| Must I lead now an idle life in wishes, | |
| And follow Cupid for his loaves and fishes? | |
| |
| I, that did wear the ring her mother left, | |
| I, for whose love she gloried to be blamèd, | |
| I, with whose eyes her eyes committed theft, | 15 |
| I, who did make her blush when I was namèd: | |
| Must I lose ring, flowers, blush, theft, and go naked, | |
| Watching with sighs till dead love be awakèd? | |
| |
| Was it for this that I might Myra see | |
| Washing the water with her beauty's white? | 20 |
| Yet would she never write her love to me. | |
| Thinks wit of change when thoughts are in delight? | |
| Mad girls may safely love as they may leave; | |
| No man can print a kiss: lines may deceive. | |
| |
|
GLOSS: chimneys] cheminèes, chimney-screens of tapestry work. deceive] betray. |
|
|
