Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

Sir William Davenant (1606–1668)

On the Captivity of the Countess of Anglesey

O WHITHER will you lead the fair

And spicy daughter of the morn?

Those manacles of her soft hair,

Princes, though free, would fain have worn.

What is her crime? what has she done?

Did she, by breaking beauty, stay,

Or from his course mislead the sun,

So robbed your harvest of a day?

Or did her voice, divinely clear,

Since lately in your forest bred,

Make all the trees dance after her,

And so your woods disforested?

Run, run! pursue this gothic rout,

Who rudely love in bondage keep;

Sure all old lovers have the gout,

The young are overwatched and sleep!