Classic Poem

Restrained hopes, though you dare not aspire,
To fly an even pitch with my desire,
Yet fall no lower, and at least take heed,
That you no way unto despair proceed,
Since in what form soe'r you keep intire,
I shall the less all other comforts need.

I know how much presumption did transcend,
When that affection could at most pretend
To be believ'd, would needs yet higher soar,
And love a Beauty which I should adore,
Though yet therein I had no other end,
But to assure that none could love her more.

Only may she not think her beauty less,
That on low Objects it doth still express
An equal force, while it doth rule all hearts
Alike in the remot'st as nearest parts;
Since if it did at any distance cesse,
It wanted of that pow'r it should impart.

Small earthly lights but to some space extend,
And then unto the dim and dark do tend,
And common heat doth at some length so stop,
That it cannot so much as warm one drop,
While light and heat that doth from Heav'n descend
Warms the low Vally more then Mountains top.

Nor do they always best of the Heav'ns deserve,
Who gaze on't most, but they who do reserve
Themselves to know it, since not all that will
Climb up into a Steeple or a Hill,
So well its pow'r and influence observe,
As they who study and remark it still.

Would she then in full glory on me shine,
An Image of that Light which is divine,
I then should see more clear, while she did draw
Me upwards, and the vapors 'twixt us aw:
To open her eyes were to open mine,
And teach me wounders which I never saw.

Nor would there tus be any cause to fear,
That while her pow'r attractive drew me near,
The odds betwixt us would the lesser show,
Since the most common Understandings know,
That inequalities still most appear,
When brought together and composed so.

As there is nothing yet doth so excell,
But there is found, if not its parallel,
Yet something so conform, as though far least
May yet obtain therein an Interest,
Why may not faith and truth then join so well,
As they may suit her rare perfections best?

Then hope, sustain thy self, though thou art hid
Thou livest still, and must till she forbid;
For when she would my vows and love reject,
They would a Being in themselves project,
Since infinites as they, yet never did,
Nor could conclude without some good effect.