I. <br />Now fie upon that everlasting life! I dye! <br /> She hates! Ah me! It makes me mad; <br />As if love fir'd his torch at a moist eye, <br /> Or with his joyes e're crown'd the sad. <br />Oh, let me live and shout, when I fall on; <br /> Let me ev'n triumph in the first attempt! <br /> Loves duellist from conquest 's not exempt, <br />When his fair murdresse shall not gain one groan, <br />And he expire ev'n in ovation. <br /> <br /> II. <br />Let me make my approach, when I lye downe <br /> With counter-wrought and travers eyes; <br />With peals of confidence batter the towne; <br /> Had ever beggar yet the keyes? <br />No, I will vary stormes with sun and winde; <br /> Be rough, and offer calme condition; <br /> March in and pread, or starve the garrison. <br />Let her make sallies hourely: yet I'le find <br />(Though all beat of) shee's to be undermin'd. <br /> <br /> III. <br />Then may it please your little excellence <br /> Of hearts t' ordaine, by sound of lips, <br />That henceforth none in tears dare love comence <br /> (Her thoughts ith' full, his, in th' eclipse); <br />On paine of having 's launce broke on her bed, <br /> That he be branded all free beauties' slave, <br /> And his own hollow eyes be domb'd his grave: <br />Since in your hoast that coward nere was fed, <br />Who to his prostrate ere was prostrated.<br /><br />Richard Lovelace<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/valiant-love/
