The Harmony of the muses, or, The gentlemans and ladies choisest recreation full of various, pure and transcendent wit : containing severall excellent poems, some fancies of love, some of disdain, and all the subjects incident to the passionate affections either of men or women / heretofore written by those unimitable masters of learning and invention, Dr. Joh. Donn, Dr. Hen. King, Dr. W. Stroad [et al].

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Title
The Harmony of the muses, or, The gentlemans and ladies choisest recreation full of various, pure and transcendent wit : containing severall excellent poems, some fancies of love, some of disdain, and all the subjects incident to the passionate affections either of men or women / heretofore written by those unimitable masters of learning and invention, Dr. Joh. Donn, Dr. Hen. King, Dr. W. Stroad [et al].
Publication
London :: Printed by T.W. for William Gilbertson ...,
1654.
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Subject terms
English poetry -- 17th century.
Cite this Item
"The Harmony of the muses, or, The gentlemans and ladies choisest recreation full of various, pure and transcendent wit : containing severall excellent poems, some fancies of love, some of disdain, and all the subjects incident to the passionate affections either of men or women / heretofore written by those unimitable masters of learning and invention, Dr. Joh. Donn, Dr. Hen. King, Dr. W. Stroad [et al]." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A31143.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 14, 2024.

Pages

Page 26

A Sonnet.

WHy do we love these things which we call women, Which are like feathers, blown in every wind? Regarding least those men do most esteem them; And most deceitfull when they seem most kind, And all their Vertue, that their beautie graces, It is but painted, like unto their faces.
Their greatest glory is in rich attire, Which is extracted from some hopefull heires, Whose witts and wealth are lent to their desire, When they regard the gifts, more then the givers: And to increase their hopes of future bliss, They'l sometimes rack their Conscience for a kisse.
Some love the windes, that bring in golden showers, And some are meerly won with commendations, Some love and hat, and all within two houres, And that's a fault amongst them most in fashion, But put them all within a scale together, Their worth in weight will scarce pull down a feather.
And yet I would not discommend them all, If I did know some worth to be in any, 'Tis strange, that since the time of Adams fall, That God did make none good, yet made so many: And if he did, for these I truly mourne, Because they dy'de before that I was borne.
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