Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

II. Parting and Absence

To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars

Richard Lovelace (1618–1658)

TELL me not, sweet, I am unkinde,

That from the nunnerie

Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde,

To warre and armes I flee.

True, a new mistresse now I chase.—

The first foe in the field;

And with a stronger faith imbrace

A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you, too, shall adore;

I could not love thee, deare, so much,

Loved I not honour more.