ELEGIE VI.
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h, let mee not serve so, as those men serveWhom honours smoakes at once fatten and sterve;Poorely enrich't with great mens words or lookes;Nor so write my name in thy loving bookesAs those Idolatrous flatterers, which still 5Their Princes stiles, with many Realmes fulfillWhence they no tribute have, and where no sway.Such services I offer as shall payThemselves, I hate dead names: Oh then let meeFavorite in Ordinary, or no favorite bee. 10When my Soule was in her owne body sheath'd,Nor yet by oathes betroth'd, nor kisses breath'dInto my Purgatory, faithlesse thee,Thy heart seem'd waxe, and steele thy constancie:So, carelesse flowers strow'd on the waters face, 15The curled whirlepooles suck, smack, and embrace,Yet drowne them; so, the tapers beamie eyeAmorously twinkling, beckens the giddie flie,Yet burnes his wings; and such the devill is,Scarce visiting them, who are intirely his. 20When I behold a streame, which, from the spring,Doth with doubtfull melodious murmuring,Or in a speechlesse slumber, calmely rideHer wedded channels bosome, and then chideAnd bend her browes, and swell if any bough 25Do but stoop downe, or kisse her upmost brow;Yet, if her often gnawing kisses winneThe traiterous banke to gape, and let her in,She rusheth violently, and doth divorceHer from her native, and her long-kept course, 30And rores, and braves it, and in gallant scorne,In flattering eddies promising retorne,She flouts the channell, who thenceforth is drie;Then say I; that is shee, and this am I.Yet let not thy deepe bitternesse beget 35Carelesse despaire in mee, for that will whetMy minde to scorne; and Oh, love dull'd with paineWas ne'r so wise, nor well arm'd as disdaine.Then with new eyes I shall survay thee,'and spieDeath in thy cheekes, and darknesse in thine eye. 40Though hope bred faith and love; thus taught, I shallAs nations do from Rome, from thy love fall.My hate shall outgrow thine, and utterlyI will renounce thy dalliance: and when IAm the Recusant, in that resolute state, 45What hurts it mee to be'excommunicate? [Eleg. VI. _1635-69:_ Elegie VII. _1633_ (Elegie VI. _being_Sorrow who to this house _&c._ _See_ Epicedes _&c._, _p._287): Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_] [2 fatten] flatter _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_] [3 or] and _A18_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_] [6 stiles, _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ style _A25_, _O'F_,_S_, _Chambers and Grosart_ with _all MSS., Chambers and Grosart:_ which (_probably byconfusion of_ w^{ch} _and_ w^{th}) _1633-69_
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