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

Thomas Carew (1595?–1639?)

The Protestation

NO more shall meads be decked with flowers,

Nor sweetness dwell in rosy bowers,

Nor greenest buds on branches spring,

Nor warbling birds delight to sing,

Nor April violets paint the grove,

If I forsake my Celia’s love.

The fish shall in the ocean burn,

And fountains sweet shall bitter turn,

The humble oak no flood shall know

When floods shall highest hills o’erflow,

Black Lethe shall oblivion leave,

If ere my Celia I deceive.

Love shall his bow and shaft lay by,

And Venus’ doves want wings to fly,

The Sun refuse to show his light,

And day shall then be turned to night,

And in that night no star appear,

If once I leave my Celia dear.

Love shall no more inhabit earth,

Nor lovers more shall love for worth,

Nor joy above in heaven dwell,

Nor pain torment poor souls in hell,

Grim death no more shall horrid prove,

If ere I leave bright Celia’s love.