Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

Venetian Song (from Volpone)

COME, my Celia, let us prove,

While we can, the sports of love.

Time will not be ours for ever;

He, at length, our good will sever;

Spend not then his gifts in vain:

Suns that set may rise again;

But if once we lose this light,

’Tis with us perpetual night.

Why should we defer our joys?

Fame and rumour are but toys.

Cannot we delude the eyes

Of a few poor household spies?

Or his easier ears beguile,

Thus removèd by our wile?

’Tis no sin love’s fruits to steal;

But the sweet thefts to reveal,

To be taken, to be seen,—

These have crimes accounted been.