22
COWLEY'S POEMS.
So torn, and so defac'd, it lies,
That it could ne'er be known by th' eyes;
But, oh! at last I heard it groan,
And knew by th' voice that 't was mine own.
So poor Alcione, when she saw
A shipwreck'd body tow'rds her draw,
Beat by the waves, let fall a tear,
Which only then did pity wear:
But, when the corpse on shore were cast,
Which she her husband found at last,
What should the wretched widow do?
Grief chang'd her straight; away she flew,
Turn'd to a bird and so at last shall I
Both from my murder'd heart and murderer fly.
That it could ne'er be known by th' eyes;
But, oh! at last I heard it groan,
And knew by th' voice that 't was mine own.
So poor Alcione, when she saw
A shipwreck'd body tow'rds her draw,
Beat by the waves, let fall a tear,
Which only then did pity wear:
But, when the corpse on shore were cast,
Which she her husband found at last,
What should the wretched widow do?
Grief chang'd her straight; away she flew,
Turn'd to a bird and so at last shall I
Both from my murder'd heart and murderer fly.
ANSWER TO THE PLATONICKS.
So angels love: so let them love for me;
When I'm all soul, such shall my love too be:
Who nothing here but like a spirit would do,
In a short time, believe't, will be one too.
But, shall our love do what in beasts we see?
Ev'n beasts eat too, but not so well as we:
And you as justly might in thirst refuse
The use of wine, because beasts water use:
They taste those pleasures as they do their food;
Undress'd they take 't, devour it raw and crude:
When I'm all soul, such shall my love too be:
Who nothing here but like a spirit would do,
In a short time, believe't, will be one too.
But, shall our love do what in beasts we see?
Ev'n beasts eat too, but not so well as we:
And you as justly might in thirst refuse
The use of wine, because beasts water use:
They taste those pleasures as they do their food;
Undress'd they take 't, devour it raw and crude:
