IDENTILIN$$ F02200F 1654, Yale \pp.96-8\EWS\mf\1-17-87\P&C:JSC\mf[CSmH,CtY]\10-25-95 022.00F.0HE %XE%9leg%0. XVII. /%X%1The Expostulation%2. 022.00F.001 T%+O make the doubt cleare, that no woman's true, [p.96] 022.00F.002 Was it my fate to prove it strong in you? 022.00F.003 Thought I, but one had breathed purest ayre, 022.00F.004 And must she needs be false, because she's faire? 022.00F.005 Is it your beauties marke, or of your youth, 022.00F.006 Or your perfection not to study truth? 022.00F.007 Or thinke you heaven is deafe, or hath no eyes, 022.00F.008 Or those it hath, smile at your perjuries? 022.00F.009 Are vowes so cheape with women, or the matter 022.00F.010 Whereof they are made, that they are writ in water, 022.00F.011 And blown away with winde? Or doth their breath 022.00F.012 (Both hot and cold) at once make life and death? 022.00F.013 Who could have thought so many accents sweet 022.00F.014 Form'd into words, so many sighes should meet 022.00F.015 As from our hearts, so many oathes, and teares 022.00F.016 Sprinkled among, (all sweetned by our feares,) 022.00F.017 And the divine impression of stolne kisses, 022.00F.018 That seal'd therest, should now prove empty blisses? 022.00F.019 Did you draw bonds to forfet? signe to breake? 022.00F.020 Or must we reade you quite from what you speake, 022.00F.021 And finde the truth out the wrong way? or must 022.00F.022 He first desire you false, would wish you just? 022.00F.023 O I prophane; though most of women be [CW:This] 022.00F.024 This kinde of beast, my thoughts shall except thee [p.97] 022.00F.025 My dearest love; though froward jealousie, 022.00F.026 With circumstance might urge thy inconstancy, 022.00F.027 Sooner I'll thinke the Sunne will cease to cheare 022.00F.028 The teeming earth, and %1that%2 forget to beare: 022.00F.029 Sooner that rivers will runne back, or Thames 022.00F.030 With ribs of Ice in %1June%2 will bind his streames; 022.00F.031 Or Nature, by whose strength the world indures, 022.00F.032 Would change her course, before you alter yours. 022.00F.033 But o%C that trecherous brest, to whom weak you 022.00F.034 Did trust our Counsels, and we both may rue, 022.00F.035 Having his falshood found too late, 'twas he 022.00F.036 That made me cast you guilty, and you me, 022.00F.037 Whilst he, black wretch, betray'd each simple word 022.00F.038 We spake, unto the cunning of a third; 022.00F.039 Curst may he be, that so our love hath slain, 022.00F.040 And wander on the earth, wretched as %1Cain%2, 022.00F.041 Wretched as he, and not deserve least pitie; 022.00F.042 In plaguing him, let misery be witty. 022.00F.043 Let all eyes shun him, and he shun each eye, 022.00F.044 Till he be noysome as his infamy; 022.00F.045 May he without remorse deny God thrice, 022.00F.046 And not be trusted more on his Soules price; 022.00F.047 And after all selfe-torment, when he dyes, 022.00F.048 May Wolves teare out his heart, Vultures his eyes, 022.00F.049 Swine eat his bowels, and his falser tongue 022.00F.050 That utter'd all, be to some Raven flung, 022.00F.051 And let his carrion coarse be a longer feast 022.00F.052 To the Kings dogges, then any other beast. 022.00F.053 Now have I curst, let us our love revive; 022.00F.054 In me the flame was never more alive; 022.00F.055 I could begin againe to court and praise, [CW:And] 022.00F.056 And in that pleasure lengthen the short dayes [p.98] 022.00F.057 Of my lifes lease; Like Painters that doe take 022.00F.058 Delight, not in made works, but whiles they make. 022.00F.059 I could renew those times, when first I saw 022.00F.060 Love in your eyes, that gave my tongue the law 022.00F.061 To like what you lik'd; and at Maskes and Playes 022.00F.062 Commend the selfe-same Actors, the same wayes; 022.00F.063 Aske how you did, and often with intent 022.00F.064 Of being officious, be impertinent; 022.00F.065 All which were such soft pastimes, as in these 022.00F.066 Love was as subtilly catch'd, as a disease; 022.00F.067 But being got, it is a treasure sweet, 022.00F.068 Which to defend is harder than to get: 022.00F.069 And ought not be prophan'd, on either part, 022.00F.070 For though 'tis got by %1chance%2, 'tis kept by %1art%2. [CW:EPI-] 022.00F.0SS [om] 022.00F.0$$ %1No ind;%2 [ital]The end of the Elegies. %1follows this poem%2