For every houre that thou wilt spare mee now,
I will allow,
Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
When with my browne, my gray haires equall bee;
Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let
Mee travell, sojourne, snatch, plot, have, forget,
Resume my last yeares relict: thinke that yet
We'had never met.
Let mee thinke any rivalls letter mine,
And at next nine
Keepe midnights promise; mistake by the way
The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
Onely let mee love none, no, not the sport;
From country grasse, to comfitures of Court,
Or cities quelque choses, let report
My minde transport.
This bargaine's good; if when I'am old, I bee
Inflam'd by thee,
If thine owne honour, or my shame, or paine,
Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine.
Doe thy will then, then subject and degree,
And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee,
Spare mee till then, I'll beare it, though she bee
One that loves mee.
[Loves Vsury. 1633-69, L74: no title, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, Lec, O'F, P, S: Elegie. S96]
[5 raigne, 1633, B, Cy, D, H40, H49, L74, Lec,
P, S: range, 1635-69, O'F, S96. See note]
[6 snatch, 1633, 1669: match, 1635-54]
[7 relict] relique 1669]
[12 that] her 1669]
[13 sport; 1669: sport 1633-54: sport, most MSS.]
[15 let report 1633, 1669, B, Cy, D, H40, H49,
L74, Lec, P, S: let not report 1635-54, O'F,
S96, Chambers. See note]
[19 or paine 1633, 1669, and most MSS.: and paine 1635-54,
O'F]
[22 fruit] fruites B, D, H49, Lec, O'F, S96]
[24 loves 1633, 1669 and all the MSS.: love 1635-54]