| |
|
I.
When
love with unconfined wings
Hovers within my gates;
And my divine ALTHEA brings
To whisper at the grates;
When I lye tangled in her haire,
And fetterd to her
eye,
The birds, that wanton in the aire,
Know no
such liberty.
II.
When flowing cups run
swiftly round
With no allaying THAMES,
Our
carelesse heads with roses bound,
Our hearts with
loyal flames;
When thirsty griefe in wine we steepe,
When healths and draughts go free,
Fishes, that
tipple in the deepe,
Know no such libertie.
III.
When (like committed linnets) I
With shriller
throat shall sing
The sweetnes, mercy, majesty,
And glories of my King.
When I shall voyce aloud, how
good
He is, how great should be,
Inlarged winds,
that curle the flood,
Know no such liberty.
IV.
Stone walls doe not a prison make,
Nor iron
bars a cage;
Mindes innocent and quiet take
That
for an hermitage;
If I have freedome in my love,
And in my soule am free,
Angels alone that sore above
Enjoy such liberty.
|
|
|
