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[A]S I went forth to view the Spring,
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which Flora had adorned:
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[In g]orgious rayment everything
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[a] winters rage out scorned.
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[I ca]st mine eye and did espy,
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[a] youth that made great clamor,
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[And] drawing nigh, I heard him cry
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[it's] Omnia vincit amor.
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[Upon] his face he lay along,
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[hard] by a cristal river,
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[And m]ournfully his doleful song
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[with] sighs he did deliver:
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[Wo w]orth her face her comely grace
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[for] which no man can shun her,
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[Her s]plended rayes cuts off my dayes
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[for] Omnia vincit amor.
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[Her] cristal eyes like Comets fair,
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[br]ight Phebus beams out-shining.
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[Hath] caught my heart in Cupids snare
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[an]d makes me die with pining,
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[Fon]d foolish nature did not well
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so curiously to frame her,
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[Her] beauty rare makes me with care
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cry O[m]nia vincit amor.
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[Y]ou cristal streams that swiftly glyd,
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be Partners of my mourning,
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[You] fragrant fields and meadows wide
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condemn her for her scorning.
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[Let] every tree a witness be,
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how justly I may blame her,
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You chanting birds, note these my words
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its Omnia vincit amor.
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[H]ad she been kind as she was fair,
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she might have been admired,
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[In] every place without compare,
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who hath my death conspired;
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Thus said, his breath began to fail,
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he could not speak, but stammer,
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He sighed sore, and said no more,
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but Omnia vincit amor.
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Then I perceiv'd him near his death,
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and ran in haste to save him,
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But quickly he resign'd his breath,
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so deep a wound love gave him.
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Thus for his sake, this vow Ile make,
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my tongue shall still defame her.
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Upon his herse Ile write this verse
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its Omnia vincit amor.
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Thus I considered with myself
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upon the matter rightly.
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Though little Cupid he was blind,
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he prov'd in pith most mighty,
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Not warlike Mars, nor thundring Jove
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nor Vulcan with his hammer
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Durst once gainstand this Boyes command,
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for Omnia vincit amor.
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Thus ye may see the fruits of love
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which gods and men keeps under:
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That nothing can his bonds remove,
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nor torments break asunder,
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There's not a boy into the school,
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that scarsce hath learn'd his grammer
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Upon his book he needs not look,
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for Omnia vincit amor,
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The second Part.
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GReat prince of love thy force doth move
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all flesh for to adore thee,
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Thou breaks thy heart with secret smart
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that would in silence smart thee,
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Which makes a Maid to be afraid,
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while Judges do exame her:
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She dare not show although she know
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that Omnia vincit amor.
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We are but dust, confess we must,
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no flesh is full perfection:
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Nature through kind, moves everie mind,
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to render love subjection.
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Both King and Laws love binds and draws,
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no force nor wit can tame her:
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All yields we see to loves decree,
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for Omnia vincit amor,
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Both birds and beasts by love increase,
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declare themselves most willing,
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Showing their mind to love inclin'd
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the air with Echo's filling.
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Birds sweetly sings, when joy love brings
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and beasts with crying clamor,
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Void of all shame, they do proclaim
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that Omnia vincit amor.
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All loving things that grows and springs
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by land, by sea, and water,
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To love they yield, who can conceal'd
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its not a monstrous matter.
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Man will reprove a Womans love,
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for love they'l blot and blame herr
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Although they see that none is free,
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for Omnia vincit amor.
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Ungrateful men, why are they then
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unto our sex so cruel?
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Since to the fire of Loves desire,
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nature itself gives fewel.
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They praise in vain, love to refrain
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or foolishly defame her;
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Love will ere long revenge our wrong
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since Omnia vincit amor.
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Hell harbours hate, strife and debate,
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hell breeds and feeds dissentions
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From thence proceeds all monstrous death
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envious vile intentions:
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The Scriptures tell there's nought in hell.
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but blasphemy and clamor,
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There none can pray, nor yet can say,
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that Omnia vincit amor.
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I dare approve, who hath not love,
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are Monsters all by nature,
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Some great defect, no just respect,
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can make a monstrous creature,
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To use his tongue love to impunge,
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as if he could condemn her
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Who gave him eyes where with he sees
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that Omnia vincit amor.
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The glorious Sun doth restless run,
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all living things aspiring;
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Even so the earth with fruitless birth
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in love her Lord desiring;
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In stately green, enembled been,
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with colours fine to frame her.
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As she allows to meet her Spouse,
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for Omnia vincit amor.
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Love was the end made Christ descend
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by love he was conceived;
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Our Lord most hie who lov'd to die;
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by love our souls were saved;
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The heavens above they burn for love
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love was their first inflammer.
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From that great light our souls have sight
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that Omnia vincit amor.
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For to be plain, love is the chain,
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holds heaven and earth together.
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Love made our God to spare his rod
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and like a loving Father;
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To calm his wrath he gives us Faith
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of Grace and Peace proclaimer,
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So should we all both great and small
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cry Omnia vincit amor.
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