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
R. C., Donne, John, 1572-1631., King, Henry, 1592-1669., Strode, William, 1600 or 1601-1645.
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When he knew not how to please her.
IF any man an endless maze do tread,
Where neither in nor out he finds the way,
If any's fancy be by reason lead,
To one that doth both dally and delay,
If any Anchor cast in careless Cost,
'Tis only I that study to be lost.
My wit is snar'd within a Serpents head,
Where there are many turnings to and fro,
My foolish heart is yet with reason led,
To think it reason that it should be so:
And I my self, I grant, do study most
Conceits of wit, by which I may be lost.
What will you have me do? what will you not?
Shal I be yours? not so, mine own? nor so?
Go I away, I have a new love got,
Stay I, what get I, but but in faith Sir no?
Wish I your love, you say I wish no reason,
Touch I you brest, you say I offer treason.
How will you have me to behave me then?
Not yours, and yet but yours I may not be,
As touching, so not touching doth offend,
Go I, or stay I, there is fault in me,
Yet must I still in this or that offend,
Untill you tell how I may both amend.
