LOVES Unlimitted Power:
Or, Cupids Cruelty,
See here the force of Cupid 's Power ,
which Mortal no way can deny ;
Then happy he, who can be free
from his Usurping Cruelty .
To the Tune of, St[a]t[e] and A[m]biti[o]n. This may be Printed June 6 , 1685. R. L. S.
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T He passions of Love are too great and too cruel,
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my flames they do scorch, and I cannot endure;
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Since every night I do dream of my Jewel,
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we cannot find hope of an an absolute Cure;
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Her Beauty is wounding, her Eyes are so charming,
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she conquers all Souls that her sweetly behold,
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Then let my strong passion to all be a warning,
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Since I do esteem her far better than Gold.
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But what will become of me if she does slight me?
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my life I shall hate, to my Grave I shall pine;
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For she is the Soul that doth only delight me,
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she seems like an Angel, and almost Divine:
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With the glance of her eye full soon she can cure me,
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so sweet and so pleasant she is to behold,
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How happy were I if she would but assure me,
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She prized my passion far better than Gold.
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But O now I tremble to think of unkindness,
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my Bowels do run, and my heart it doth bleed;
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And Love in excess it must needs be a kindness,
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that conquers the Prince, and the Peasant indeed:
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But 'tis a sweet pain, there's none that can heal it,
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till she with soft kisses her love doth unfold,
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My passion is great, and I dare not reveal it,
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Yet say that I prize her far better than Gold.
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If she felt but the pain that I long have endur'd,
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Oh, how would she languish in flames of desire!
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And in vain, all in vain, might desire to be Cured,
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but who can extinguish loves violent fire?
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No, no, I must suffer the pains of a Martyr,
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except in my arms I my Love can infold;
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I vow and protest I will never desert thee,
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Whom I do esteem so much better than Gold.
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But now I am weary and sick of my passion,
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yet still hug the Charms that intangle me sore:
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And if I had had either Wit or Discretion,
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I might have perceived my folly before:
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But 'tis too late, and I must be contented,
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my heart to my dearest if perfectly sold;
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And she for whose love I so long have lamented,
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I prize her far better than Silver or Gold.
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The Maidens kind Answer.
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W Ell, art thou so constant, I will be as Loyal,
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and love thee while I do enjoy my dear breath;
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Then be not cast down, I will ne'r make denyal,
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and nothing shall part thee and me but pale death:
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I'le hug thee and kiss thee, and with thee will dally,
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the pleasures of Love thou shalt freely possess,
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For thou art the Man that I chiefly do value,
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as I am thy joy, thou art my happiness.
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But it grieves me to think thou dost reckon me cruel
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my heart is possest with an amorous Flame,
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And to my hot Flames dearest add not a fuel,
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if thou wilt be faithful, I will be the same:
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No Riches nor Honour shall ever perswade me,
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my Love to forsake, nor no leave in distress,
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Strong passions of Love do aleady invade me,
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and thou art the Fountain of my happiness.
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Then cease to complain, for it grieves me to hear it,
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to think of your sighs adds but sorrow to pain,
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I will be thy true Love, thou need'st not to fear it,
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thy Love and thy suit I will never disdain:
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Be kind, thou shalt find I will not be ungrateful,
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my heart doth design what my tongue doth express,
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And if unto me thou dost once prove deceitful,
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I must bid adieu then to my happiness.
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But the Fates I do hope both our good have designed
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in Wedlock I hope we soon joyned shall be,
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My heart it is thine, and I now do resign it,
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thy true and thy Loyal Consort I will be:
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I never will waver while I have a being,
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then doubt not the words that I now do express,
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Tho' nothing be like to believing and seeing,
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Know that in true love lies my happiness.
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Entred according to Order.
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