| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Edmund Waller. 1606–1687 |
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| 305. Go, lovely Rose |
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| GO, lovely Rose— | |
| Tell her that wastes her time and me, | |
| That now she knows, | |
| When I resemble her to thee, | |
| How sweet and fair she seems to be. | 5 |
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| Tell her that 's young, | |
| And shuns to have her graces spied, | |
| That hadst thou sprung | |
| In deserts where no men abide, | |
| Thou must have uncommended died. | 10 |
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| Small is the worth | |
| Of beauty from the light retired: | |
| Bid her come forth, | |
| Suffer herself to be desired, | |
| And not blush so to be admired. | 15 |
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| Then die—that she | |
| The common fate of all things rare | |
| May read in thee; | |
| How small a part of time they share | |
| That are so wondrous sweet and fair! | 20 |
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