| Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921. |
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| Thomas Stanley |
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| 55. To Celia pleading want of Merit |
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| DEAR urge no more that killing cause | |
| Of our divorce; | |
| Love is not fetter'd by such laws, | |
| Nor bows to any force: | |
| Though thou deniest I should be thine, | 5 |
| Yet say not thou deserv'st not to be mine. | |
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| Oh rather frown away my breath | |
| With thy disdain, | |
| Or flatter me with smiles to death; | |
| By joy or sorrow slain, | 10 |
| 'Tis lesse crime to be kill'd by thee, | |
| Then I thus cause of mine own death should be. | |
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| Thy self of beauty to devest | |
| And me of love, | |
| Or from the worth of thine own breast | 15 |
| Thus to detract, would prove | |
| In us a blindnesse, and in thee | |
| At best a sacrilegious modestie. | |
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| But (Celia) if thou wilt despise | |
| What all admire, | 20 |
| Nor rate thy self at the just price | |
| Of beauty or desire, | |
| Yet meet my flames and thou shalt see | |
| That equal love knows no disparity. | |
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