Short Poems

CHATTERTON

O H cruel night, that closed those questioning eyes, —
Nay, kindly say, stars shine in darkening skies.

Oh cruel night, that stopped those wondering ears, —
Nay, kindly say, who knows what now he hears?

" What! come at last? " she said, and laugh'd,
Each word a seeming-spiteful shaft;
" Be seated, for I ne'er again
Expected here my truant swain. "

Ad Crocum.

Crocus , thou sai'st that thou do'st know more queans
Then many a poore man ears in Autum gleans?
But Crocus, Crocus , if they all know you,
I feare I-faith you haue too much to do.

Of Gellia.

Gellia intic'd her good-man to the Citty,
And often threatneth to giue him the lurch,
See how this sweet sinne makes the simplest witty:
She ( too prophane ) whilst he is at the church,
Ringing the first peale at the greatest bels
At home will ring all in with some one els.

Of Nigrina.

Because Nigrina hath a painted face,
Many suspect her to be light and base:
I see no reason to repute her such,
For out of doubt she will abide the tuch.

To Mira.

Thou fear'st I am in loue with thee (my Deare);
I prethy feare not, It comes with a feare .

Of Bassus.

Eloquent Bassus speakes all with a grace,
Not so much but good morrow, and good night:
I wonder when the Somner did him cite,
For his sweet sinne, how he spake in that case:
I am sure he could with no grace well refuse it
And worse I doubt with any grace excuse it.

Of the same.

Painted Nigrina with the picture face,
Hauing no maske thinks she's without grace,
So with one case she doth another case,
Doth not her maske become her then apace?

Of Nigrina.

Painted Nigrina vnmask'd comes ne're in sight,
Because light wenches care not for the light.

De Ignoto.

Yon fellow thinks mine Epigrams him meane,
Then let me write of euery bawd and queane.