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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  409. To Chloris

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Sir Charles Sedley. 1639–1701

409. To Chloris

AH, Chloris! that I now could sit 
  As unconcern’d as when 
Your infant beauty could beget 
  No pleasure, nor no pain! 
When I the dawn used to admire,         5
  And praised the coming day, 
I little thought the growing fire 
  Must take my rest away. 
 
Your charms in harmless childhood lay 
  Like metals in the mine;  10
Age from no face took more away 
  Than youth conceal’d in thine. 
But as your charms insensibly 
  To their perfection prest, 
Fond love as unperceived did fly,  15
  And in my bosom rest. 
 
My passion with your beauty grew, 
  And Cupid at my heart, 
Still as his mother favour’d you, 
  Threw a new flaming dart:  20
Each gloried in their wanton part; 
  To make a lover, he 
Employ’d the utmost of his art— 
  To make a beauty, she.