Some man unworthy to be possessor
Of old or new love, himselfe being false or weake,
Thought his paine and shame would be lesser,
If on womankind he might his anger wreake,
And thence a law did grow,
One might but one man know;
But are other creatures so?
Are Sunne, Moone, or Starres by law forbidden,
To smile where they list, or lend away their light?
Are birds divorc'd, or are they chidden
If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?
Beasts doe no joyntures lose
Though they new lovers choose,
But we are made worse then those.
Who e'r rigg'd faire ship to lie in harbors,
And not to seeke new lands, or not to deale withall?
Or built faire houses, set trees, and arbors,
Only to lock up, or else to let them fall?
Good is not good, unlesse
A thousand it possesse,
But doth wast with greedinesse.
[Confined Love 1635-69: no title, 1633, A18, B, D,
H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, TCC, TCD: To the
worthiest of all my lovers. Cy: To the of all my loves my
virtuous mistriss. P]
[3 his] this 1669
lesser] the lesser A18, Cy, JC, P]
[6 might 1633-69: should B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74,
Lec, O'F, S, TC]
[9 lend] bend 1669]
[11 mate, 1633-39: meate, 1650: meat, 1669
a night (i.e. a-night) 1633-54: all night 1669]
[12 Beasts] Beast 1635]
[15 ship] ships 1669, Chambers]
[16 seeke new lands 1633-35 and MSS.: seeke lands 1639-69,
Chambers, whose note is incorrect
withall 1633: with all 1635-69]
[17 built 1633-35: build 1639-69]