THE FAIR FELON
by: James Shirley
- N Love's name you are charged
hereby
- To make a speedy hue and cry,
- After a face, who t'other day,
- Came and stole my heart away;
- For your directions in brief
- These are best marks to know the thief:
- Her hair a net of beams would prove,
- Strong enough to capture Jove,
- Playing the eagle; her clear brow
- Is a comely field of snow.
- A sparkling eye, so pure a gray
- As when it shines it needs no day.
- Ivory dwelleth on her nose;
- Lilies, married to the rose,
- Have made her cheek the nuptial bed;
- Her lips betray their virgin red,
- As they only blushed for this,
- That they one another kiss.
- But observe, beside the rest,
- You shall know this felon best
- By her tongue; for if your ear
- Shall know this felon best
- By her tongue; for if your ear
- Shall once a heavenly music hear,
- Such as neither gods nor men
- But from that voice shall hear again,
- That, that is she, oh, take her t'ye,
- None can rock heaven asleep but she.
'The Fair Felon' was originally
published in The Witty Fair One (1633). |
MORE
POEMS BY JAMES SHIRLEY |
|