Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with teares,
Hither I come to seeke the spring,
And at mine eyes, and at mine eares,
Receive such balmes, as else cure every thing;
But O, selfe traytor, I do bring
The spider love, which transubstantiates all,
And can convert Manna to gall,
And that this place may thoroughly be thought
True Paradise, I have the serpent brought.
'Twere wholsomer for mee, that winter did
Benight the glory of this place,
And that a grave frost did forbid
These trees to laugh, and mocke mee to my face;
But that I may not this disgrace
Indure, nor yet leave loving, Love let mee
Some senslesse peece of this place bee;
Make me a mandrake, so I may groane here,
Or a stone fountaine weeping out my yeare.
Hither with christall vyals, lovers come,
And take my teares, which are loves wine,
And try your mistresse Teares at home,
For all are false, that tast not just like mine;
Alas, hearts do not in eyes shine,
Nor can you more judge womans thoughts by teares,
Then by her shadow, what she weares.
O perverse sexe, where none is true but shee,
Who's therefore true, because her truth kills mee.
[Twicknam garden. 1633-69: do. or Twitnam Garden. A18,
L74 (in margin), N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD: In a Garden. B: no title, A25, Cy, D, H40,
H49, JC, Lec, P]
[3 eares] years 1669]
[4 balms ... cure 1633, A25, D, H49: balm ... cures
1635-69, A18, B, Cy, L74, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TC
thing; Ed: thing, 1633: thing: 1635-69]
[6 spider] spiders 1669]
[8 thoroughly 1633-39: throughly 1650-69]
[12 did] would A18, A25, N, TC]
[13 laugh,] laugh 1633]
[14 that I may not] since I cannot 1669]
[15 nor yet leave loving, 1633: om. D, H40, H49,
Lec: nor leave this garden, 1635-69, A18, A25, Cy,
JC, L74, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC]
[17 groane A18, D, H40, H49, N, TC: grow
1633-69, B, L74, Lec, O'F, P, S, S96]
[18 my yeare, 1633, 1669, D, H40, H49, Lec: the
yeare. 1635-54, A18, A25, L74, N, O'F, P, TC]
[20 loves] lovers 1639]
[24 womans A18, D, H40, H49, L74, N, TC: womens
1633-69, Lec, P, S96]