| |
| 1. | DISTANCE of place, my Love and me did part; | |
| Yet both did swear, We never would remove! | |
| In sign thereof, I bade her take my heart; | |
| Which did, and doth, and cannot choose but, love. | |
| Thus did we part, in hope to meet again; | 5 |
| Where both did vow most constant to remain. | |
| |
| 2. | A she there was that passed betwixt us both; | |
| By whom each knew how other’s cause did fare: | |
| For men to trust men in their love are loath. | |
| Thus had we both of love a Lover’s care. | 10 |
| Haply he seeks his sorrows to renew, | |
| That for his love, doth make another sue. | |
| |
| 3. | By her a kiss, a kiss to me She sent; | |
| A kiss for price more worth than purest gold. | |
| She gave it her. To me the kiss was meant. | 15 |
| A she to kiss: what harm if she were bold? | |
| Happy those lips, that had so sweet a kiss! | |
| For heaven itself scarce yields so sweet a bliss. | |
| |
| 4. | This modest she, blushing for shame of this, | |
| Or loath to part from that she liked so well, | 20 |
| Did play false play; and gave me not the kiss: | |
| Yet my Love’s kindness could not choose but tell. | |
| Then blame me not, that kissing, sighed and swore, | |
| “I kissed but her, whom you had kissed before!” | |
| |
| 5. | “Sweet, love me more! and blame me not, sweet Love! | 25 |
| I kissed those lips: yet, harmless, I do vow: | |
| Scarce would my lips from off those lips remove; | |
| For still, methought, sweet Fair, I kissèd you. | |
| And thus kind love, the sun of all my bliss, | |
| Was both begun, and ended, in a kiss. | 30 |
| |
| 6. | “Then send me more; but send them by your friend! | |
| Kiss none but her! nor her, nor none at all. | |
| Beware by whom such treasures you do send! | |
| I must them lose, except I for them call. | |
| And love me, Dear! and still still kissing be! | 35 |
| Both like and love but none, sweet Love! but me! | |
| |
