51
Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need. 4
O, what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
In winged speed no motion shall I know: 8
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;
Therefore desire, of perfect'st love being made,
Shall neigh—no dull flesh—in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade,— 12
'Since from thee going he went wilful-slow,
Towards thee I'll run and give him leave to go.'
52
So am I as the rich, whose blessed key
Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure
The which he will not every hour survey,
For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure. 4
Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare,
Since, seldom coming, in the long year set,
Like stones of worth they thinly placed are,
Or captain jewels in the carcanet. 8
So is the time that keeps you as my chest,
Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide,
To make some special instant special blest
By new unfolding his imprison'd pride. 12
Blessed are you, whose worthiness gives scope,
Being had, to triumph; being lack'd, to hope.
1 slow offence: blameworthy slowness
6 swift extremity: extreme speed
8 In winged speed . . . know: though moving with the speed of wings, I shall not seem to myself to be moving at all
11 Shall neigh . . . fiery race; cf. n.
12 for love: for the sake of his love (shown by the slow gait)
14 go: walk
4 For: for fear of
seldom: rarely enjoyed
5 solemn: ceremonious
7 thinly: widely separated
8 captain: chief
carcanet: necklace
9 chest: treasure chest
12 his . . . pride: its gorgeous contents
13 scope: opportunity
