{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fmodern\fprq1\fcharset0 Courier New;}{\f1\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 IDENTILIN$$ F02200B 1635 Harvard \\pp.100-02\\EWS\\mf\\1-17-87\\P:JSC\\mf[MH,CtY]\\10-25-95\\P:js\\fc(TxAM))\\10-26-05\par 022.00B.0HE %XE%9leg%0. XVII. /%X%1The Expostulation%2.\par 022.00B.001 T%+O make the doubt cleare, that no woman's true, [p.100]\par 022.00B.002 Was it my fate to prove it strong in you?\par 022.00B.003 Thought I, but one had breathed purest ayre,\par 022.00B.004 And must she needs be false, because she's faire?\par 022.00B.005 Is it your beauties marke, or of your youth,\par 022.00B.006 Or your perfection not to study truth?\par 022.00B.007 Or thinke you heaven is deafe, or hath no eyes,\par 022.00B.008 Or those it hath, smile at your perjuries? [CW:Are]\par 022.00B.009 Are vowes so cheape with women, or the matter [p.101]\par 022.00B.010 Whereof they are made, that they are writ in water,\par 022.00B.011 And blown away with wind? Or doth their breath\par 022.00B.012 (Both hot and cold) at once make life and death?\par 022.00B.013 Who could have thought so many accents sweet\par 022.00B.014 Form'd into words, so many sighes should meete\par 022.00B.015 As from our hearts, so many oathes, and teares\par 022.00B.016 Sprinkled among, (all sweetend by our feares,\par 022.00B.017 And the divine impression of stolne kisses,\par 022.00B.018 That seal'd the rest) should now prove empty blisses?\par 022.00B.019 Did you draw bonds to forfet? signe to breake?\par 022.00B.020 Or must we reade you quite from what you speake,\par 022.00B.021 And finde the truth out the wrong way? or must\par 022.00B.022 He first desire you false, would wish you just?\par 022.00B.023 O I prophane; though most of women be\par 022.00B.024 This kinde of beast, my thoughts shall except thee;\par 022.00B.025 My dearest love; though froward jealousie,\par 022.00B.026 With circumstance might urge thy'inconstancy,\par 022.00B.027 Sooner I'll thinke the Sunne will cease to cheare\par 022.00B.028 The teeming earth, and %1that%2 forget to beare:\par 022.00B.029 Sooner that rivers will runne back, or Thames\par 022.00B.030 With ribs of Ice in %1Iune%2 will binde his streames;\par 022.00B.031 Or Nature, by whose strength the world indures,\par 022.00B.032 Would change her course, before you alter yours.\par 022.00B.033 But o%C that trecherous brest, to whom weake you\par 022.00B.034 Did trust our Counsels, and we both may rue,\par 022.00B.035 Having his fashood found too late, 'twas he\par 022.00B.036 That made me cast you guilty, and you me,\par 022.00B.037 Whil'st he, black wretch, betray'd each simple word\par 022.00B.038 We spake, unto the cunning of a third;\par 022.00B.039 Curst may he be, that so our love hath slaine,\par 022.00B.040 And wander on the earth, wretched as %1Cain%2, [CW:Wretched]\par 022.00B.041 Wretched as he, and not deserve least pitie; [p.102]\par 022.00B.042 In plaguing him, let misery be witty;\par 022.00B.043 Let all eyes shun him, and he shun each eye,\par 022.00B.044 Till he be noysome as his infamy;\par 022.00B.045 May he without remorse deny God thrice,\par 022.00B.046 And not be trusted more on his Soules price;\par 022.00B.047 And after all selfe-torment, when he dyes,\par 022.00B.048 May Wolves teare out his heart, Vultures his eyes,\par 022.00B.049 Swine eate his bowels, and his falser tongue\par 022.00B.050 That utter'd all, bee to some Raven flung,\par 022.00B.051 And let his carrion coarse be a longer feast\par 022.00B.052 To the Kings dogges, then any other beast.\par 022.00B.053 Now have I curst, let us our love revive;\par 022.00B.054 In me the flame was never more alive;\par 022.00B.055 I could begin againe to court and praise,\par 022.00B.056 And in that pleasure lengthen the short dayes\par 022.00B.057 Of my lifes lease; Like Painters that doe take\par 022.00B.058 Delight, not in made worke, but whiles they make.\par 022.00B.059 I could renew those times, when first I saw\par 022.00B.060 Love in your eyes, that gave my tongue the Law\par 022.00B.061 To like what you lik'd; and at Maskes and Playes\par 022.00B.062 Commend the selfe-same Actors, the same wayes;\par 022.00B.063 Aske how you did, and often with intent\par 022.00B.064 Of being officious, be impertinent;\par 022.00B.065 All which were such soft pastimes, as in these\par 022.00B.066 Love was as subtilly catch'd, as a disease;\par 022.00B.067 But being got, it is a treasure sweet,\par 022.00B.068 Which to defend is harder then to get:\par 022.00B.069 And ought not be profan'd, on either part,\par 022.00B.070 For though 'tis got by %1chance%2, 'tis kept by %1art%2. [CW:EPI-]\par 022.00B.0SS [om] \par 022.00B.0$$ %1No ind; poem followed by%2: [ital]The end of the Elegies.\par \par \f1\par }