| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910. | | | | Ode: ‘Fair Isabel, if ought but thee’ | | By Charles Cotton (1630–1687) |
| | | FAIR Isabel, if ought but thee | |
| I could, or would, or like, or love; | |
| If other beauties but approve | |
| To sweeten my captivity: | |
| I might those passions be above, | 5 |
| Those powerful passions that combine | |
| To make and keep me only thine. | |
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| Or, if for tempting treasure I | |
| Of the world’s god, prevailing gold, | |
| Could see thy love, and my truth sold, | 10 |
| A greater, nobler treasury; | |
| My flame to thee might then grow cold, | |
| And I, like one whose love is sense, | |
| Exchange thee for convenience. | |
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| But when I vow to thee, I do | 15 |
| Love thee above or health or peace, | |
| Gold, joy, and all such toys as these, | |
| ’Bove happiness and honour too: | |
| Thou then must know, this love can cease | |
| Nor change, for all the glorious show | 20 |
| Wealth and discretion bribes us to. | |
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| What such a love deserves, thou, sweet, | |
| As knowing best, may’st best reward; | |
| I for thy bounty well prepared, | |
| With open arms my blessing meet. | 25 |
| Then do not, dear, our joys detard; | |
| But unto him propitious be, | |
| That knows no love, nor life, but thee. | | | | |
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