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Ah, fading joy, how quickly art thou past! Yet we thy ruin haste. As if the cares of human life were few, We seek out new: And follow fate, which would too fast pursue. See how on every bough the birds express In their sweet notes their happiness. They all enjoy and nothing spare; But on their mother nature lay their care. Why then should man, the lord of all below, Such troubles choose to know As none of all his subjects undergo? Hark, hark, the waters fall, fall, fall, And with a murmuring sound Dash, dash upon the ground, To gentle slumbers call.

By a dismal cypress lying, Damon cried, all pale and dying, Kind is death that ends my pain, But cruel she I lov'd in vain. The mossy fountains Murmur my trouble, And hollow mountains My groans redouble: Ev'ry nymph mourns me, Thus while I languish; She only scorns me, Who caus'd my anguish. No love returning me, but all hope denying; By a dismal cypress lying, Like a swan, so sung he dying: Kind is death that ends my pain, But cruel she I lov'd in vain.

(from The Tempest ) Full fathom five thy father lies;

Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the devil's foot, Teach me to hear mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy's stinging, And find What wind Serves to advance an honest mind. If thou be'st born to strange sights, Things invisible to see, Ride ten thousand days and nights, Till age snow white hairs on thee, Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me, All strange wonders that befell thee, And swear, No where Lives a woman true, and fair. If thou find'st one, let me know, Such a pilgrimage were sweet; Yet do not, I would not go, Though at next door we might meet; Though she were true, when you met her, And last, till you write your letter, Yet she Will be False, ere I come, to two, or three. Poetry Out Loud Note : In the print anthology, this poem is titled simply "Song." The student may give either title during the recitation.

(from Cymbeline ) Hark, hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings, And Phoebus 'gins arise, His steeds to water at those springs On chaliced flowers that lies; And winking Mary-buds begin To ope their golden eyes: With every thing that pretty is, My lady sweet, arise: Arise, arise.

How sweet I roam'd from field to field, And tasted all the summer's pride, 'Till I the prince of love beheld, Who in the sunny beams did glide! He shew'd me lilies for my hair, And blushing roses for my brow; He led me through his gardens fair, Where all his golden pleasures grow. With sweet May dews my wings were wet, And Phoebus fir'd my vocal rage; He caught me in his silken net, And shut me in his golden cage. He loves to sit and hear me sing, Then, laughing, sports and plays with me; Then stretches out my golden wing, And mocks my loss of liberty.

I once rejoiced, sweet evening gale, To see thy breath the poplar wave; But now it makes my cheek turn pale, It waves the grass o’er Henry’s grave. Ah! setting sun! how changed I seem! I to thy rays prefer deep gloom, — Since now, alas! I see them beam Upon my Henry’s lonely tomb. Sweet evening gale, howe’er I seem, I wish thee o’er my sod to wave; Ah! setting sun! soon mayst thou beam On mine, as well as Henry’s grave!

I prithee spare me gentle boy, Press me no more for that slight toy, That foolish trifle of an heart; I swear it will not do its part, Though thou dost thine, employ’st thy pow’r and art. For through long custom it has known The little secrets, and is grown Sullen and wise, will have its will, And like old hawks pursues that still That makes least sport, flies only where’t can kill. Some youth that has not made his story, Will think perchance the pain’s the glory, And mannerly sit out love’s feast; I shall be carving of the best, Rudely call for the last course ’fore the rest. And oh when once that course is past, How short a time the feast doth last; Men rise away and scarce say grace, Or civilly once thank the face That did invite, but seek another place.

If you refuse me once, and think again, I will complain. You are deceiv’d, love is no work of art, It must be got and born, Not made and worn, By every one that hath a heart. Or do you think they more than once can die, Whom you deny? Who tell you of a thousand deaths a day, Like the old poets feign And tell the pain They met, but in the common way? Or do you think ’t too soon to yield, And quit the field? Nor is that right, they yield that first entreat; Once one may crave for love, But more would prove This heart too little, that too great. Oh that I were all soul, that I might prove For you as fit a love As you are for an angel; for I know, None but pure spirits are fit loves for you. You are all ethereal; there’s in you no dross, Nor any part that’s gross. Your coarsest part is like a curious lawn, The vestal relics for a covering drawn. Your other parts, part of the purest fire That e’er Heav’n did inspire, Makes every thought that is refin’d by it A quintessence of goodness and of wit. Thus have your raptures reach’d to that degree In love’s philosophy, That you can figure to yourself a fire Void of all heat, a love without desire. Nor in divinity do you go less; You think, and you profess, That souls may have a plenitude of joy, Although their bodies meet not to employ. But I must needs confess, I do not find The motions of my mind So purified as yet, but at the best My body claims in them an interest. I hold that perfect joy makes all our parts As joyful as our hearts. Our senses tell us, if we please not them, Our love is but a dotage or a dream. How shall we then agree? you may descend, But will not, to my end. I fain would tune my fancy to your key, But cannot reach to that obstructed way. There rests but this, that whilst we sorrow here, Our bodies may draw near; And, when no more their joys they can extend, Then let our souls begin where they did end.

There's a place I know where the birds swing low, And wayward vines go roaming, Where the lilacs nod, and a marble god Is pale, in scented gloaming. And at sunset there comes a lady fair Whose eyes are deep with yearning. By an old, old gate does the lady wait Her own true love's returning. But the days go by, and the lilacs die, And trembling birds seek cover; Yet the lady stands, with her long white hands Held out to greet her lover. And it's there she'll stay till the shadowy day A monument they grave her. She will always wait by the same old gate, — The gate her true love gave her.