Richard Lovelace. To Chloe, Courting her for his Friend.

Richard Lovelace.

TO CHLOE,

Courting her for his Friend.

I
Chloe behold ! againe I bowe,
Againe possest, againe I woe ;
From my heat hath taken fire,
Damas, noble youth, and fries :
Gazing with one of mine eyes
Damas, halfe of me expires :
Chloe, behold ! Our Fate's the same,
Or make me Cinders too, or quench his Flame

II
I'd not be King, unlesse there sate
Lesse Lords that shar'd with me in State ;
Who by their cheaper Coronets know
What glories from my Diadem flow :
It's use and rate values the Gem,
Pearles in their shells have no esteem ;
And I being Sun within thy Sphere,
'Tis my chiefe beauty thinner lights shine there.

III
The Us'rer heaps unto his store,
By seeing others praise it more ;
Who not for gaine, or want doth covet,
But 'cause another loves, doth love it :
Thus gluttons cloy'd afresh invite
Their Gusts, from some new appetite ;
And after cloth remov'd, and meate,
Fall too againe by seeing others eate.

Source:
Lovelace, Richard. The Poems of Richard Lovelace.
London: Unit Library, Ltd., 1904. 21-22.

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