The Scrutinie

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Title:     The Scrutinie
Author: Richard Lovelace [More Titles by Lovelace]

SONG.

SET BY MR. THOMAS CHARLES.<1>

I.
Why shouldst thou<2> sweare I am forsworn,
Since thine I vow'd to be?
Lady, it is already Morn,
And 'twas last night I swore to thee
That fond impossibility.

II.
Have I not lov'd thee much and long,
A tedious twelve moneths<3> space?
I should<4> all other beauties wrong,
And rob thee of a new imbrace;
Should<5> I still dote upon thy face.

III.
Not but all joy in thy browne haire
In<6> others may be found;
But I must search the black and faire,
Like skilfulle minerallists that sound
For treasure in un-plow'd-up<7> ground.

IV.
Then if, when I have lov'd my<8> round,
Thou prov'st the pleasant she;
With spoyles<9> of meaner beauties crown'd,
I laden will returne to thee,
Ev'n sated with varietie.

Notes:

<1> This poem appears in WITS INTERPRETER, by John Cotgrave, ed. 1662, p. 214, under the title of "On his Mistresse, who unjustly taxed him of leaving her off."

<2> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads SHOULD YOU.

<3> So Cotgrave. This is preferable to HOURS, the reading in LUCASTA.

<4> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads MUST.

<5> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA has COULD.

<6> So Cotgrave. LUCASTA reads BY.

<7> UNBIDDEN--Cotgrave.

<8> THEE--Cotgrave.

<9> IN SPOIL--Cotgrave.

[The end]
Richard Lovelace's poem: Scrutinie

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