Classic Poem

Unhappy East (not in that awe
you pay your Lords, whose will is law)
but in your owne unmanly raigne
on the soft sex, and proud disdaine!
what state would bring the value downe
of treasure which is all their owne?
Their thoughts to worthlesse objects move
who thus suppresse the growth of Love,
Love that extends the high desire,
Love that improves the manly fire,
and makes the price of Beauty rise
and all our wishes multiplyes;
Such high content dwells not in sense,
nor can the captiv'd fayre dispense
such sweetes as these; no servile Dame
can with her Beauty feed this flame;
such joyes as these requires an heart
in which no other love hath part.
Ah! who would prize his Liberty
(this faint weake pleasure to be Free)
deare as the woundes, which love can give,
the bond in which such servaunts live?
who list in wandring loose desire
vary his love, disperse his fire,
aime at no more than to repeate
the thirst of sense, and quench that heate.
Let my collected passion rise
all and to one a sacrifice:
I fear not her discerning breast
should be with other love imprest,
be to the proud resign'd a prey,
or to the loud, or to the Gay.
why should distorted nature prove
more lovely than my humble love?
what taught the elder tymes successe
in love, but love, and humblenesse?
the Nimphes resign'd their virgin feares
to nothing but the Sheapheards teares.
Nature with wise distrust doth arme
and guard that tender sex from harme.
Long wayting love doth passage find
into the slow beleeving mynde.
Jove when he would with love comply
is sayd to lay his thunder by;
too rough he thinks the shape of Man;
now in the softnesse of a swan,
Now like another Nimph appeares,
and so beguiles Calistaes feares.
by force he could have soone comprest
that which contents the ruder East,
but he by this Diviner Art
makes conquest of the Heavenly part.