Classic Poem

To Love

I

Great Love, I thank thee, now thou hast
Paid me for all my suff'rings past,
And wounded me with Nature's Pride,
For whom more glory 'tis to die
Scorn'd and neglected, than enjoy
All Beauty in the world beside.

II

A Beauty above all pretence,
Whose very scorns are recompence,
The Regent of my heart is crown'd,
And now the sorrows and the woe,
My Youth and Folly help'd me to,
Are buried in this friendly wound.

III

Led by my Folly or my Fate,
I lov'd before I knew not what,
And threw my thoughts I knew not where:
With judgment now I love and sue,
And never yet perfection knew,
Untill I cast mine eyes on her.

IV

My Soul, that was so base before
Each little beauty to adore,
Now rais'd to Glory, does despise
Those poor and counterfeited rays
That caught me in my childish days,
And knows no power but her eyes.

V

Rais'd to this height, I have no more,
Almighty Love, for to implore
Of my auspicious Stars or thee,
Than that thou bow her noble mind
To be as mercifully kind
As I shall ever faithfull be.