Classic Poem

Song, A: In the Name of a Lover, to His Mistress; Who Said, She Hated Him For His Grey Hairs

I.

O Hate me not for my Gray Hair,
Since you love still Variety,
The Black, the Red, the Brown, the Fair,
All in their Turns, delight your Eye;

II.

Knots of two Colours, nay of three,
Can please you better, than of one;
My Party-colours then shou'd be,
Better than all White, or all Brown;

III.

You, when a Garland, you wou'd make,
Not Flowers of the same Colour chuse;
But Various-colour'd ones wou'd take,
Change, but in me, you wou'd refuse;

IV.

Wou'd you a Bracelet weave, or brede,
You'd different-colour'd Ribbons take;
To set off your Hair of your Head,
With Powder Grey you make of Black;

V.

You the Grey Morning us'd to love,
Which promis'd you Good Days and Bright;
Why then a Grey Head disapprove?
Promising you a Pleasant Night;

VI.

Then hate me not for my Grey Hairs,
Which are not so much mine, as thine;
Since caus'd but by the Grief and Cares,
Thy Love gave me, so thine, not mine.English