I. <br />Cold as the breath of winds that blow <br />To silver shot descending snow, <br /> Lucasta sigh't; when she did close <br /> The world in frosty chaines! <br /> And then a frowne to rubies frose <br /> The blood boyl'd in our veines: <br />Yet cooled not the heat her sphere <br />Of beauties first had kindled there. <br /> <br /> II. <br />Then mov'd, and with a suddaine flame <br />Impatient to melt all againe, <br /> Straight from her eyes she lightning hurl'd, <br /> And earth in ashes mournes; <br /> The sun his blaze denies the world, <br /> And in her luster burnes: <br />Yet warmed not the hearts, her nice <br />Disdaine had first congeal'd to ice. <br /> <br /> III. <br />And now her teares nor griev'd desire <br />Can quench this raging, pleasing fire; <br /> Fate but one way allowes; behold <br /> Her smiles' divinity! <br /> They fann'd this heat, and thaw'd that cold, <br /> So fram'd up a new sky. <br />Thus earth, from flames and ice repreev'd, <br />E're since hath in her sun-shine liv'd.<br /><br />Richard Lovelace<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lucasta-s-world-epode/
