The Home Book of Verse, vol 2
Book Excerpt
Samuel Daniel [1562-1619]
LOVE'S PERJURIES From "Love's Labor's Lost"
On a day, alack the day! Love, whose month is ever May, Spied a blossom passing fair Playing in the wanton air: Through the velvet leaves the wind, All unseen, 'gan passage find; That the lover, sick to death, Wished himself the heaven's breath. Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow; Air, would I might triumph so! But, alack, my hand is sworn Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn: Vow, alack, for youth unmeet; Youth so apt to pluck a sweet. Do not call it sin in me That I am forsworn for thee: Thou for whom e'en Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiope were, And deny himself for Jove, Turning mortal for thy love.
William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
VENUS' RUNAWAY From "The Hue and Cry After Cupid"
Beauties, have ye seen this toy, Called Love, a little boy, Almost naked, wa