DIAPHENIA. by Henry Constable
Diaphenia like the daffodowndilly
White as the sun, pure as the lily,
Heigh Ho, how I do love thee!
I do love thee as my lambs
Are beloved of their dams,
How blest were I if thou wouldst prove me.
Diaphenia, like the spreading roses,
That in thy sweets all sweets encloses,
Fair sweet, how I do love thee!
I do love thee as each flower
Loves the sun's life-giving power,
For, dead, thy breath to life might move me.
Diaphenia, like to all things blessed,
When all thy praises are expressed,
Dear joy, how I do love thee,
As the birds do love the Spring
Or the bees their careful king,
Then in requite, sweet virgin, love me !
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My true-love Hath My Heart. by Sir Philip Sidney.
My true-love hath my heart, and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other given,
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,
There never was a better bargain driven.
His heart in me keeps me and him in one,
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides,
He loves my heart, for once it was his own,
I cherish his because in me it hides.
His heart his wound received from my sight,
My heart was wounded with his wounded heart.
For as from me on him his heart did light,
So still methought in me his heart did smart.
Both equal hurt, in this change sought our bliss,
My true-love have my heart, and I have his.
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It Was the Time of Roses. by Thomas Hood.
It was not in the winter
Our loving lot was cast ;
It was the time of roses -
We plucked them as we passed !
That churlish season never frowned
On early lovers yet !
O no, the world was newly crowned
With flowers, when we first met.
'Twas twilight, and I bade you go,
But still you held me fast,
It was the time of roses -
We plucked them as we passed .....
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I'll Overtake Thee. author unknown
I'll weave my love a garland,
He shall be dressed so fine.
I'll set it round with roses,
With lilies, pinks and thyme,
And I'll present it to my love,
When he comes back from sea;
For I love my love, and I love my love
Because my love loves me.
I wish I were an arrow
That sped into the air,
To seek him as a sparrow
And if he be not there
Then quickly I'd become a fish
To search the raging sea;
For I love my love, and I love me love
Because my love loves me .
I would I were a reaper,
I'd seek him in the corn;
I would I were a keeper,
I'd hunt him with my horn,
I'd blow a blast, when found at last,
Beneath the greenwood tree,
For I love my love, and I love my love,
Because my love loves me.
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