[Wither’s Song, or “Sonnet,” appeared first in his “Fidelia” in 1615, and later with some changes in “Fair Virtue,” 1622. Jonson’s parody, here given, came out in a Collection of Verses, in 1620.]
SHALL I mine affections slack,
’Cause I see a woman’s Black?
Or myself, with care cast down,
’Cause I see a woman Brown?
Be She blacker than the night,...
NEVER 1 despair! Let the feeble in spirit
Bow like the willow that stoops to the blast.
Droop not in peril! ’T is manhood’s true merit
Nobly to struggle and hope to the last.
When by the sunshine of fortune forsaken
Faint sinks the heart of the feeble with fear,
Stand like the oak of the forest—unshaken,
Never despair—Boys—oh!...
Delight's Despair at setting
Is that Delight is less
Than the sufficing Longing
That so impoverish.
Enchantment's Perihelion
Mistaken oft has been
For the Authentic orbit
Of its Anterior Sun.
Despair's advantage is achieved
By suffering — Despair —
To be assisted of Reverse
One must Reverse have bore —
The Worthiness of Suffering like
The Worthiness of Death
Is ascertained by tasting —
As can no other Mouth
Of Savors — make us conscious —
...
No Man can compass a Despair —
As round a Goalless Road
No faster than a Mile at once
The Traveller proceed —
Unconscious of the Width —
Unconscious that the Sun
Be setting on His progress —
So accurate the One
At estimating Pain —
Whose own — has just...
Safe Despair it is that raves —
Agony is frugal.
Puts itself severe away
For its own perusal.
Garrisoned no Soul can be
In the Front of Trouble —
Love is one, not aggregate —
Nor is Dying double —
The difference between Despair
And Fear — is like the One
Between the instant of a Wreck
And when the Wreck has been —
The Mind is smooth — no Motion —
Contented as the Eye
Upon the Forehead of a Bust —
That knows — it cannot see —
