The First Elegie

I late the Roman youth's loud prayse and pride,Whom long none could obtain, though thousands try'd;Lo, here am left (alas!) For my lost mateT' embrace my teares, and kisse an vnkind fate.Sure in my early woes starres were at strife,And try'd to make a widow ere a wife.Nor can I tell (and this new teares doth breed)In what strange path, my lord's fair footsteppes bleed.O knew I where he wander'd, I should seeSome solace in my sorrow's certainty:I'd send my woes in words should weep for me,(Who knowes how powerfull well-writt praires would be.)Sending's too slow a word; myselfe would fly.Who knowes my own heart's woes so well as I?But how shall I steal hence? Alexis thou,Ah thou thy self, alas! hast taught me how.Loue too that leads the way would lend the wingsTo bear me harmlesse through the hardest things.And where Loue lends the wing, and leads the way,What dangers can there be dare say me nay?If I be shipwrack't, Loue shall teach to swimme:If drown'd, sweet is the death indur'd for him:The noted sea shall change his name with me,I'mongst the blest starres, a new name shall be.And sure where louers make their watry graues,The weeping mariner will augment the waues.For who so hard, but passing by that wayWill take acquaintance of my woes, and sayHere 'twas the Roman maid found a hard fate,While through the World she sought her wandring mateHere perish't she, poor heart; Heauns, be my vowesAs true to me, as she was to her spouse.O liue, so rare a loue! liue! and in theeThe too frail life of femal constancy.Farewell; and shine, fair soul, shine there aboueFirm in thy crown, as here fast in thy loue.There thy lost fugitiue th' hast found at last:Be happy; and for euer hold him fast.