Some that have deeper digg'd loves Myne then I,
Say, where his centrique happinesse doth lie:
I have lov'd, and got, and told,
But should I love, get, tell, till I were old,
I should not finde that hidden mysterie;
Oh, 'tis imposture all:
And as no chymique yet th'Elixar got,
But glorifies his pregnant pot,
If by the way to him befall
Some odoriferous thing, or medicinall,
So, lovers dreame a rich and long delight,
But get a winter-seeming summers night.
Our ease, our thrift, our honor, and our day,
Shall we, for this vaine Bubles shadow pay?
Ends love in this, that my man,
Can be as happy'as I can; If he can
Endure the short scorne of a Bridegroomes play?
That loving wretch that sweares,
'Tis not the bodies marry, but the mindes,
Which he in her Angelique findes,
Would sweare as justly, that he heares,
In that dayes rude hoarse minstralsey, the spheares.
Hope not for minde in women; at their best
Sweetnesse and wit, they'are but Mummy, possest.
[Loves Alchymie. 1633-69: Mummye. A18, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, JC, L74 (or Alchymy. added in a later
hand), Lec, N, O'F, S, S96, TCC, TCD:
Elegie. P: no title, A25]
[14 Bubles] Bubless 1669]
[15 my 1633-69 and MSS.: any S96, 1855, and Grolier
(perhaps from some copy of 1633)]
[23-4 punctuation from MSS:
at their best,
Sweetnesse, and wit they'are, but, Mummy, possest.
1633-54: 1669 omits all punctuation in these lines]